On "The Night of the Cookers", Freddie Hubbard plays with Lee Morgan, James Spaulding, Harold Mabern, Jr., Larry Ridley, Pete LaRoca and Big Black. Recorded on April 9 & 10, 1965 and released that same year, the album has been described as "one of the most compelling documents of a live band in full flight" (Maxwell Chandler, Jazz Police).

Throughout a career of a half-century and counting, Steve Kuhn has earned renown as one of the most lyrical and affecting pianists in jazz, with an unfailingly beautiful touch and a sophisticated sense of swing. This piano-trio release for Japanese Venus records, features George Mraz on bass and Pete LaRoca Sims on drums.

Booker Little, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He appeared on a number of recordings, both as side-man and as leader. Little was closely associated with Max Roach, but also performed with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy and was strongly influenced by Sonny Rollins and Clifford Brown. This was Booker Little's last album, recorded shortly before his premature death at the age of 23.

Scott LaFaro was one of the twentieth century’s most influential jazz musicians. During his tragically short life, Scott LaFaro quickly developed into one of the most advanced bassists around, competing with Charlie Haden and Charles Mingus. He emphasized high notes, could play with great speed, and his interplay with Bill Evans in their trio was mutually stimulating and influential. Best known for his landmark recordings with Bill Evans, LaFaro played bass a mere seven years before his life and career were cut short by an automobile accident when he was only 25 years old, his sudden death causing a major shock to the jazz world.

New Soil is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1959 and released on the Blue Note label. It features McLean in a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Walter Davis Jr., bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Pete La Roca.

Freddie Hubbard leads two ensembles of stellar musicians, an octet and septet, on this 1965 session of all-original material. Included in the lineup are unconventional jazz instruments such as congas and euphonium, even flute, resulting in a varied hard bop set that displays soul-jazz and Latin influences.