This set brings together the work of two artists who delighted in turning language into humorous jive-talk. Gaillard's 14 tracks are all from the mid-'40s and feature three different ensembles: his 10-piece orchestra, a trio under his name, and another trio dubbed the Boogiereeners. His seemingly off-the-cuff riffing belies a dazzling set of skills. Wordplay and invented phrases roll through everything with infectious exuberance. Gaillard was not only an excellent singer, but also an inventive pianist and guitarist. The six numbers that close the set offer a fine contrast in vocalizing as Babs Gonzales carves out his own corner of the scat-singing world. He worked in the '50s, and was a contemporary of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. However, where they created lyrics to popular instrumental jazz numbers, Gonzales created his own songs, which drew heavily from the pre-beatnik era of jazz talk.
