As an independent record producer going back to the early 1940s, Norman Granz started building a personal network of record companies, disc by disc, artist by artist, innovation by innovation that grew into a tsunami by the time he sold Verve Records at the end of 1960. It remains a feat unmatched to this day. This 4-LP box set celebrates the fascinating spectrum of recordings made during the Norman Granz era of Verve Records. It includes vocal tracks by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday; Charlie Parker with strings; a raucous live jam session; Beatnik poetry by Jack Kerouac and stand-up comedy.

Tracklist:

LP 1 / Side 1

1. Jazz at the Philharmonic — Blues 10:34

2. Coleman Hawkins — Picasso 3:17

3. Oscar Peterson — Tenderly 3:46

4. Bud Powell — Like Someone in Love 1:54

LP 1 / Side 2

1. Count Basie and His Orchestra — New Basie Blues 3:26

2. Johnny Hodges — Castle Rock 2:49

3. Andre’s All Stars — Con Poco Coco 6:51

4. Lionel Hampton and Stan Getz — Louise 6:47

LP 2 / Side 1

1. Lester Young and Teddy Wilson — Taking a Chance on Love 5:10

2. The JATP Quintet — Easy Living 5:31

3. Benny Carter — Flamingo 2:53

4. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong — You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) 3:40

5. Art Tatum — I’ll Never Be the Same 2:48

LP 2 / Side 2

1. Roy Eldridge — Dale’s Wail 3:37

2. Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt — On the Sunny Side of the Street 5:43 *

3. Lionel Hampton — That Old Black Magic, Part 1 6:34

4. The Modern Jazz Quartet — D & E Blues 4:59

LP 3 / Side 1

1. Charlie Parker — Laura 3:00

2. Jam Session #1 — Ballad Medley: All the Things You Are/Dearly Beloved/The Nearness of You/I’ll Get By/Everything Happens to Me/The Man I Love/What’s New?/Someone to Watch Over Me/Isn’t It Romantic 17:22

LP 3 / Side 2

1. Jack Kerouac — The Subterraneans 3:11

2. Mort Sahl — The Future Lies Ahead — excerpt 6:00

3. Jonathan Winters — Football Game 3:25

4. Shelley Berman — Department Store 6:06

LP 4 / Side 1

1. Count Basie and Joe Williams — Thou Swell 2:22

2. Spike Jones and His City Slickers — Cocktails for Two 3:35

3. Rose Murphy — You Were Meant for Me 2:47 *

4. Buddy Rich — Can’t We Be Friends? 3:30 *

5. Woody Herman — I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan 2:55 *

6. Margaret Whiting — Why Was I Born? 3:18

LP 4 / Side 2

1. Mel Tormé — On the Street Where You Live 2:55

2. Anita O’Day — Lullaby of the Leaves 3:08

3. Bing Crosby and Buddy Bregman — Blue Room 2:21

4. Billie Holiday — I Thought About You 2:46

5. Ella Fitzgerald — Chelsea Bridge — rehearsal 7:00

6. Fred Astaire — No Strings (I'm Fancy Free) 2:57