The Poll Winners Ride Again

The Poll Winners returned to Contemporary with a jazz ensemble recording that captures the relaxed sophistication of West Coast cool jazz in the late 1950s. Built around a rotating cast of session musicians who’d dominated the era’s popularity polls, the album pairs modal improvisation with lush orchestral arrangements—think Chet Baker’s restraint meeting Dave Brubeck’s compositional ambition. Contemporary’s house sound of warm, close-miked recording emphasizes the interplay between horns and rhythm section, making this a snapshot of jazz at its most urbane and accessible.