At the Embers

This long-forgotten recording session is a rare opportunity to hear trombonist Tyree Glenn as a bandleader, though he is far better known for his work as a valuable sideman with Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Cab Calloway. The excellent supporting cast includes Hank Jones, trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker, guitarist Mary Osborne, bassist Tommy Potter, and drummer Jo Jones. Glenn's memorable muted solo on a snappy take of Mary Lou Williams' "Lonely Moments," Baker's haunting treatment of "What Will I Tell My Heart," and Hank Jones' unforgettable interpretation of the often banal "How High the Moon" are among the many highlights. Glenn switches to vibes for the happy riff tune "Sinbad the Sailor"; he also wrote the lush ballad "After the Rain" (not to be confused with the song of the same name later written by John Coltrane). Like many LPs of the era that imply a live nightclub recording, the lack of audience reaction and extraneous noise indicate that this is a studio session. Out of print for decades, this somewhat rare LP is well worth acquiring.