By choice I am a hard bop man but do collect widely for my jazz library. For some time now I have been adding Proper's box sets to my collection, thus I bought this one as a matter of course rather than specific interest - now I cannot stop listening to it.All you Coltrane fans should go out and get it immediately: you will hear the foundations of the man's music in this and also hear the most thrilling soloist, on reed, prior to Parker, in jazz.
Add to that the comprehensive listings, excellent photographic reproductions and well-written musical biography and you are purchasing a true gem, and at the price of a large organic chicken!
This is a collection to be savoured; Bechet's work flows like a great river through it showing the way, to every future soloist, what jazz can sound like when played by a master.
Well done Proper, you have excelled yourself. Everyone who likes music from Bach to Marsalis should buy this one!
