Just how much fun can you squeeze into a couple of silver discs? A lot! Davis needs no intro here, but this 46-cut, 2-CD compilation from various labels (Epic, Everest et al) and culled from classic albums like At Birdland is itself a good intro to the world of Wild Bill.

It's curious to think the organ wasn’t initially welcomed in the jazz world (especially by roadies) because of its gospel and church associations, two core roots of jazz. But the organ was so much more for Davis: with the post-war demise of the big band, Davis saw the Hammond as a big band in its own right, replete with orchestral possibilities. His glorious take on ‘Flying Home’ fits his ambition perfectly. Who needs Lionel Hampton? A skilled arranger, respected by Ellington, Basie and Louis Jordan, Davis could build a massive sound world which was so much more than the blues belting style he's sometimes tagged with. Mind you, he could do that too especially in cahoots with blues maestro Bill Jennings. And it's interesting to trace Davis’ innovative use of the trio forward to the likes of the Graham Bond Organisation, whose Wade in the Water anthology is reviewed elsewhere in these pages.

There are of course other compilations, not least The Everest Years, but for a budget price catch all collection this anthology is a splendid start. Let's all catch that Night Train.