One of the most musical drummers there ever was, Cozy Cole is best remembered for his 1958 #1 hit "Topsy Part 2," one of the few recordings featuring a drum solo that ever hit the Billboard top 100. Cole's recording career began in 1928; among the many greats he held the drum chair for were Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Benny Carter, Cab Calloway, Stuff Smith and Louis Armstrong's All Stars. In 1961 he recorded this very ambitious jazz suite based on George Bizet's Carmen. Cozy is joined on this recording by Bernie Privin (flugelhorn, trumpet), George Holt (trumpet), Bob Hammer (piano, glockenspiel, organ), Al Klink (tenor sax, bass clarinet), John Hafer (tenor sax), Jerome Richardson (baritone sax, bass clarinet, clarinet, piccolo), Milt Hinton, Jack Lesberg (bass) and Phil Kraus, Douglas Allen (percussion). All selections newly re-mastered.