Once again German label Bear Family Records and its Rocks collection hit the nail on the head, this time featuring an anthology dedicated to Big John Greer, an essential name, but often overlooked, of 50’s rhythm & blues. This album captures the essence of a multifaceted artist: a tenor sax player with a robust tone and a singer whose warmth vocal tone reminds Nat King Cole, but with an added shot of swing and pure street-level adrenaline.

The compilation moves away from his softer ballads to focus on his most vibrant side, where Jump Blues inevitably merges into the birth of Rock and Roll. Throughout the thirty tracks which have been selected, you can realize the evolution of a sound that was present in all the jukeboxes of that time, highlighting classics like “Bottle It Up And Go” or the iconic “Got You On My Mind.”

What makes this edition special is the faultless remastering -a hallmark of this German label- which allows us to totally appreciate every nuance of the combo and the drive of the well teamed horn section which displays excellent arrangements. Furthermore, the album includes a very complete liner-notes that provide the vital historical context to understand Big John Greer’s importance in the New York scene and the time he was with RCA Victor company.

This recording becomes an essential collector’s piece for those of you who are interested in tracing the DNA of rock and early rhythm and blues, thanks to an artist gifted with an unmatched class and rhythm. A small treasure that must be included in any good record collection. Word of Zúmel!!.