Here's another of Avid's compilations of classic vinyl albums, the second such Jackson collection, taking in his Ballads and Blues, Soul Brothers, Bags & Flutes, and Ballad Artistry releases, largely from the Atlantic label and all pleasingly worthwhile. Jackson's ballad playing has always been seen as one of the great adornments of vibraphone jazz; here he's supported, initially, by a woodwind group. Jackson's timing and exposition of each of these standards is exquisite – all this a far cry, of course, from his usual modernist associations. Thompson emerges to gratifying effect on three tracks viz ‘How High the Moon’, with Barney Kessel, Pettiford and Clarke swinging tastefully and John Lewis crisp at the piano. The collaboration with Ray Charles calls for a more down-to-earth approach; the surprise is that Jackson opts for piano on ‘Soul Brothers’ and Charles for rather raunchy alto. The remainder revert to type and keep the blues message uppermost. ‘How Long Blues’ is superb; preachy and deeply felt, with more plaintive RC alto plus Billy Mitchell on song and some nice guitar from Skeeter Best. Jackson adds his own neatly idiomatic guitar to ‘Bags Guitar Blues’. Why not? The flute album is self-explanatory with Flanagan and Heath in support, and has an agreeable feel throughout as does the final album which, again, majors on the Great American Songbook with arranger Quincy Jones conducting the backing orchestra. It's good to hear Jackson reconfiguring things like ‘Makin’ Whoopee‘ as the strings ebb and flow. Not the most startling facets of Jackson's wonderful career, perhaps, but irresistible at the price.