Early in my recording career, Norman Granz decided that he would like to have me do an album with a big band as opposed to another album from the trio. He commissioned a gentleman who I had never met before to arrange the scores for the big band. The gentleman he commissioned was a man well-known in the music industry, and most certainly to the musical elements in Los Angeles. Having written albums for various musical luminaries, Russ Garcia seemed to be more than overjoyed to have the opportunity to write an album for me, and expressed his avid anticipation to me during our early meetings to put the album together. He had come to listen to us at varied times on our appearances in L.A., and was no stranger to the trio.

Somehow, Russ vividly recalls an incident that took place during the recording of this album, and one which I somehow had forgotten or lost. On his recent visit to my home, he reminded me that during that particular session with the big band, as I was playing my solo against the background, Nat Cole, who had been busy recording in a studio opposite ours, decided to visit, and quietly walked over to the piano and put his hand out to shake mine. Russ remembers and remains astonished at the fact that I apparently, upon Nat's gesture for a handshake, shook his hand with my right hand, and continued my solo with my left. This seems to be an item of great import to him to this day, and an incident that he obviously refuses to forget. He and his wife Gina now live in New Zealand, and spend their time conducting various symphony orchestras, performing works by various composers. Russ is a gifted composer on his own, and also conducts his own works. I was enlightened to a fact that I did not realize in all these years that I have known him. I found out during his visit that he wrote the score for Chaplin's movie, Limelight. This alone shows the scope of this man's huge talents. I am hoping sometime in the future to be able to perform some of my compositions with him conducting his scores for a large orchestra. I have great love and respect for Russ and his huge musical talent.