Ray Bryant Hollywood Jazz Beat/Take a Bryant Step [Limited Deluxe Edition Digipack] *

Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana in 1931 (he is 87 at this writing), soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson is most widely known as the sax soloist on Henry Mancini'sThe Pink Panther Theme. Johnson recorded profusely both as a leader and with a variety of different groups.Presented here are two rare quintet albums which he originally issued for contractual reasons under the pseudonym Johnny Beecher: Sax 5th Ave. (MGM Records/CRC Charter CLS 102), and On the Scene (MGM Records/CRC Charter CLS 104). The title track of the first album, Sax 5th Avenue, was also issued as a single, billed as Johnny Beecher and His Buckingham Road Quintet and made its dent on the charts at # 65 Billboard Pop Hot 100. That song was backed on the single with Jack Sax the City, from the sames essions, which has been added here as a bonus.