Jazz Moods: Hot

This CD was released as part of the extensive Bluebird/Legacy Jazz Moods series. There are two ways to look at this release. The 14 selections, other than the fact that most of them are cookers (or, in the parlance of the swing era, solid senders), are reissued in random order. The exact recording dates are not given (just the year) nor is there a personnel listing. The only liner notes, a paragraph on the back cover, informs listeners that "the Miller band was a star-laden organization which at various times featured the greatest soloists...." Nope, Miller's band was famous for its precise ensembles and did not have any famous soloists. The notes also state that "'Moonlight Serenade' is here, of course, are such other Miller mega-hits originally made for Bluebird and Columbia as 'Little Brown Jug'...." "Moonlight Serenade" and "Little Brown Jug" are not on this sampler and Miller's early records for Columbia resulted in zero hits; none of the Columbia recordings are here anyway. On the other hand, the music that is included is quite fun and does stick mostly to the rousing instrumentals, so listeners just wanting a sampling of Miller's jazz side will find these performances enjoyable.