Various Artists - The Very Best of Prestige Records

Produced by Nick Phillips, this compilation of instrumental improvisational music features a who's who of the jazz world in the '50s and '60s. When producer Bob Weinstock founded Prestige Records in 1949, little did he know that his tiny independent recording company would become iconic in documenting an era when jazz was in its golden age. While the label also recorded blues and folk music in its lifetime, Prestige was primarily known as the label that stood for high-premium jazz throughout its active history. Its legacy continued first as a reissue imprint with Fantasy Records and today with the Concord Music Group. The Very Best Of Prestige Records opens a wide window on a 20-year period when jazz made great evolutionary strides, from bebop to soul jazz. Phillips says, "As we toast the 60^th anniversary of Prestige, we offer this collection as an appetizer, knowing full well that it can't help but whet your appetite for much, much more of the tasty and ageless musical offerings available from the iconic label."