This 1961 release from Pete Rugolo and His Orchestra features an unusual, striking instrumentation of ten saxophones and two basses, offering a unique timbral landscape within the cool jazz idiom. The album showcases Rugolo's distinctive arranging style and penchant for adventurous sonic exploration.
- The album was recorded in Hollywood, California, with Rugolo himself producing. It was released on the short-lived TP4 Music label. The unconventional ensemble was noteworthy for its exploration of saxophone voicings and the resulting dense harmonies.
- This album was released during a period when Rugolo was also actively composing for television shows like "The Fugitive" and "Run for Your Life." The ensemble's focus on saxophones allowed for a wide range of colors and textures, from lush voicings to biting, dissonant passages.
- Though not as widely recognized as some of his earlier Capitol Records output, "10 Saxophones and 2 Basses" is considered by some critics to be a highly original and rewarding listen, representing a bold experiment in large ensemble jazz composition.
Pete Rugolo led a West Coast-based orchestra that was a fixture of the cool jazz scene. He was a prolific composer and arranger, known for his work with big bands and television soundtracks.
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