Pianist
Lou Stein's numerous jazz credentials included full-time stints with
Charlie Ventura and
Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band, not to mention sporadic featured spots with
Coleman Hawkins,
Benny Goodman,
Lester Young, and
Joe Venuti. This Collectables two-fer provides a reminder of
Stein's dazzling, yet entertaining jazz chops that were similar to
Art Tatum.
House Hop is a pleasant set of standards featuring
Milt Hinton on bass and
Jimmy Crawford on drums. The stronger set is
The Lou Stein Three, Four and Five. Not only does it feature
Stein's well-known composition "East of the Suez," but it adds additional spice by employing the horns of
Peanuts Hucko,
Johnny Barrows, and
James Buffington. This recommended reissue is an affordable way to acquire these long-out-of-print albums
–
Al Campbell, Rovi