Jimmy Rushing established a style of singing that epitomized swing: he created a wonderful tension between band and vocalist by singing ahead of or behind the beat and toyed with the rhythm. He was a blues singer and a jazz singer, and his ability to work within both styles had an incalculable influence on succeeding generations of popular music vocalists. Rushing's career covers nearly the entire history of jazz, spending some time with Jelly Roll Morton in Los Angeles, as well as with Bennie Moten and Count Basie. After leaving Basie in 1948, Rushing worked mostly as a soloist but continued to appear with great instrumentalists. Here he is live with legendary tenor duo Al Cohn & Zoot Sims who are also featured in two instrumental tracks. Shifting between relaxed and then punching swing, Rushing bellows up front with such assurance that these will surely count among Rushing's best sessions on record.

With: Zoot Sims & Al Cohn, tenor saxophones; Dave Frishberg, piano; Major Holley/John Beal, bass; Mousey Alexander, drums

Tracks: 'Deed I Do; Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You; I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me; I Want a Little Girl; The Red Door; Goin' to Chicago; I Cried For You; Everyday I Have the Blues; It's Noteworthy; Good Morning Blues

 Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?

I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me

I Cried For You

It's Noteworthy