One of the greatest jazz albums of all time, 'Ah Um' from 1959, is like a benediction to the roots of African-American music and gospel. Recorded at a time when the great bass man was frequently paying homage to inspirational jazz figures like Waller, Monk and, on this occasion, Lester Young ('Goodbye Porkpie Hat'), Ellington ('Open Letter To Duke') and Jelly Roll Morton ('Jelly Roll'). The band, featuring Jimmy Knepper's trombone and Horace Parlan on piano, in addition to a hard blowing front line of Ervin, Handy III and Hadi, whip up an incredible intensity and inject the compositions with a sense of both drama and comedy. An amazing achievement.