Perfection: Buddy Childers - Sentimental Sam (1955)

Summer always reminds me of Los Angeles and the thick, humid heat. But it's not so much the heat as it is the mood. Because I'm a romantic, when I'm in L.A. in the summer, I always imagine it's 1955. A private detective with his tie loosened and light-colored suit jacket off is sitting in a black Buick Century staking out a tropical-themed, one-story apartment building.

That's enough to get me thinking of Hollywood trumpet ballads.

Here's one that always comes to mind. It's Buddy Childers playing Sentimental Sam, from his Sam Songs album, recorded in November 1955. The track features Buddy Childers (tp), Herbie Steward (ts), Bob Harrington (p), Harry Babasin (b) and Milt Holland (d)...