This 1963 Verve release captures Gibbs and his band tackling a program of Jewish folk songs and liturgical music in a swinging jazz idiom. It's a unique concept album from a period when such explorations were uncommon.
- The album was arranged by Bob Florence, who would go on to win multiple Grammy Awards for his big band compositions. Terry Gibbs' original compositions and arrangements were a significant part of his output in the early 1960s. The album charted at number 11 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.
- The album was recorded in Los Angeles at United Recorders on January 23 and 24, 1963. The personnel on the album includes prominent jazz musicians such as Buddy DeFranco on clarinet and Herb Geller on alto saxophone. This was one of several albums Gibbs recorded for the Verve label during this period.
- Verve Records, a subsidiary of MGM, was known for its high-quality jazz recordings and this album is no exception. The album featured a unique blend of jazz improvisation and traditional Jewish melodies. It remains a distinctive entry in Gibbs' discography and the jazz vocal tradition.
Vibraphonist Terry Gibbs was a bandleader and popularizer of jazz. He was a key figure in the West Coast jazz scene.
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