For the uninitiated, Joe Williams can be a revelation. His tone, his phrasing, his rich baritone voice and a style that is comfortable with blues, ballads, or scat jazz, led to his being voted best singer of the year several times in the 60s, 70s, and 80s by jazz and blues critics. This collaboration with Harry "Sweets" Edison is fun, melodic, and interesting - and like ALL of Joe's work, it swings. This ranks up their with his best work with the Count Basie Orchestra (check out "The Greatest" to hear Joe's swinging version of "Singing in the Rain") and Dinah Washington (for a very different take on "Together"). This wouldn't be the first Joe Williams CD I'd suggest you buy (that would be The Greatest or Swinging Night at Birdland), but this is among the top five.
