MUSIC

High Quality
• The Cats was released in December 1959 on New Jazz, a subsidiary of Prestige Records. While spending time in Detroit in the mid-1950s, John Coltrane met pianist Tommy Flanagan. Fellow locals—drummer Louis Hayes, bassist Doug Watkins, and guitarist Kenny Burrell—joined the two, along with trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, for an energetic session. • Though he became one of the most highly valued jazz pianists, Tommy Flanagan’s appearances during this era were primarily as a sideman: well-appreciated by his fellow musicians, but not recognized for his display of superior abilities by a wider audience. • This album let the pianist shine, containing nearly all Flanagan-penned tunes. Coltrane, Burrell, and Idrees Sulieman were choice, empathic soloists, and it is a delight to hear them interact with Tommy and his rhythm section. • This 180-gram reissue was cut from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed at RTI, and comes packaged in a tip-on jacket with Obi.