Pianist Lou Stein's numerous jazz credentials included full-time stints with Charlie Ventura and Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band, not to mention sporadic featured spots with Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, and Joe Venuti. This Collectables two-fer provides a reminder of Stein's dazzling, yet entertaining jazz chops that were similar to Art Tatum. House Hop is a pleasant set of standards featuring Milt Hinton on bass and Jimmy Crawford on drums. The stronger set is The Lou Stein Three, Four and Five. Not only does it feature Stein's well-known composition "East of the Suez," but it adds additional spice by employing the horns of Peanuts Hucko, Johnny Barrows, and James Buffington. This recommended reissue is an affordable way to acquire these long-out-of-print albums ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
