MARCH 11

                       JOHNNY SMITH
               Moonlight in Vermont


                     Recording Date:
                          March 11, 1952

                     Personnel:
                          Stan Getz         TS
                          Johnny Smith    G
                          Sanford Gold     P
                          Eddie Safranski  B
                          Don Lamond      D

                          R1106-3 Where Or When
                          R1107-2 Tabu
                          R1108-2 Moonlight In Vermont
                          R1109-2 Jaguar


 April 1952

    Zoot Sims         TS                       R1134-1 Jaguar

    Johnny Smith    G                        R1135-1 Ghost Of A Chance

    Sanford Gold     P                        R1136-2 Vilia

    Eddie Safranski  B                        R1137-2 My Funny Valentine

    Don Lamond      D

LINK RETIRED

Review by Scott Yanow
All of guitarist Johnny Smith's most important recordings are on this definitive CD reissue. The talented guitarist (who always featured a very attractive tone and a relaxed style) had a major hit with "Moonlight in Vermont," thanks in large part to tenor saxophonist Stan Getz (who is heard on seven of the selections), and Smith was quite popular during the first half of the 1950s. This CD has all of the guitarist's 1952-1953 recordings except for three cuts (two done with organist Joe Mooney) and has a previously unreleased alternate take of "Jaguar." With such sidemen as Getz or fellow tenors Zoot Sims and Paul Quinichette and a solid rhythm section, Smith brings melodic beauty to a variety of standards, including "Where or When," "My Funny Valentine," "Tenderly," and "Cherokee." Recommended.