Handy was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1933, and first came to prominence while working with Charles Mingus in the 1950s. During the 1960s, Handy led several groups, among them a quintet featuring Michael White (violin), Jerry Hahn (guitar), Don Thompson (bass) and Terry Clarke (drums). This group's performance at the 1965 Monterey Jazz Festival was recorded and released as an album, earning Handy Grammy nominations for 'Spanish Lady' (Best Jazz Performance) and 'If Only We Knew' (Best Jazz Composition).
DISC 1
1 I’ll Close My Eyes 3:05
2 First Time 7:03
3 Suggested Line 5:29
4 Problem Too 4:26
5 Quote, Unquote 3:08
6 Blues In The Vernacular 5:08
7 Dance To The Lady 5:15
8 I’ll Never Smile Again 3:39
9 To Randy 6:19
10 Tales Of Paradise 4:56
11 Boo’s Ups And Downs 8:17
12 Hi Number 7:01
13 Pretty Side Avenue 5:32
14 No Coast 6:30
DISC 2
1 From Bird 5:55
2 Blues For M.F. 7:29
3 East OF The Sun (West Of The Moon) 8:01
4 No Smiles Please 6:55
5 Strugglin’ 6:26
6 Afternoon Outing 6:47
7 Naima (In Memory Of John Coltrane) 9:26
8 A Little Quiet 9:12
9 Tears Of Ole Miss (Anatomy Of A Riot) 22:27
DISC 3
1 Dancy Dancy 5:34
2 Theme X 7:30
3 Blues For A Highstrung Guitar 6:08
4 Dance For Carlo B 4:35
5 Scheme #1 13:45
6 If Only We Knew 24:54
7 Spanish Lady 19:35
DISC 4
1 Three In One 4:04
2 Projections 3:18
3 A Song Of Uranus 9:12
4 Senora Nancye 6:34
5 Dance To The Lady 7:25
6 Sanpaku 2:30
7 Eros 3:58
8 All The Way To The West By God Virginia 8:07
9 Rainbow (Part I) 8:39
10 Rainbow (Part II) 16:12
11 Rainbow (Part III) 5:30
12 Rainbow (Part IV) 4:21