Mainstream-swing-to-bop's the thing on the two 1960 Swingville gems paired here, both of which feature one of the foremost Basieites on tenor saxophone, George "Buddy" Tate. Tate (1913-2001), whose big-toned blues mastery is his longtime calling card, is an integral part of a lively quintet date led by Claude Hopkins (1903-1984), the first of three fine albums the pianist-composer-bandleader would pilot for Swingville. Joining Tate on the front line is another distinguished Basie al… MORE