Hal McKusick had a lithe, vibrato-free tone that would seem to indicate West Coast cool jazz, but this versatile multi-horn player (here on alto sax and clarinet) was an East Coaster. Backed by guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Osie Johnson on this 1955 release, McKusick glides through seven originals from arranger Manny Albam and three standards. Highlights include a tender reading of “What’s New” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Albam’s “Blue-Who” and “Taylor Made” (which was no doubt a reference to the legendary Creed Taylor, who produced this session).