Bass and Bosses

Veteran French bassist Pierre Michelot has had very few chances throughout his career to lead record sessions, so this CD is a real rarity. Michelot teams up with the great harmonica player Toots Thielemans, violinist Pierre Blanchard, pianist Maurice Vander, and drummer Billy Higgins for a well-rounded program highlighted by Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks," "Jitterbug Waltz," "A Child Is Born," and the bassist's feature "Blues in the Closet." Everyone plays well, and the unusual combination of instruments makes these standards sound quite fresh.