Ballads & Blues (Milt Jackson album)

Ballads & Blues is an album by the American jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson of performances recorded in 1956 and released on the Atlantic label.

Reception
The AllMusic review awarded the album 4½ stars.

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "near-perfect Jackson fare," and wrote: "The others mostly keep out of his way and let him blow, although Lucky Thompson is on the final three tracks and in excellent fettle."

Jazz Journal's Derek Ansell stated that the album "makes me want to trot out the tired old cliché – they don't make 'em like this anymore. The trouble is it's true, they really don't."

A reviewer for Billboard commented: "The fans should heartily welcome this 'blowing' session... An excellent set that should sell well."

Track listing

 * All compositions by Milt Jackson, except as indicated

Recorded in New York City on January 17 (tracks 6, 8 & 9) and January 21 (tracks 1, 3 & 5) and at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey on February 14 (tracks 2, 4 & 7), 1956
 * 1) "So in Love" (Cole Porter) - 3:14
 * 2) "These Foolish Things" (Eric Maschwitz, Jack Strachey, Harry Link) - 4:25
 * 3) "Solitude" (Duke Ellington) - 4:43
 * 4) "The Song is Ended" (Irving Berlin) - 4:40
 * 5) "They Didn't Believe Me" (Jerome Kern, Herbert Reynolds) - 3:45
 * 6) "How High the Moon" (Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis) - 6:13
 * 7) "Gerry's Blues" - 5:02
 * 8) "Hello" - 3:47
 * 9) "Bright Blues" - 6:13

Personnel

 * Milt Jackson – vibes
 * Lucky Thompson - tenor saxophone (tracks 6, 8 & 9)
 * John Lewis - piano (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 & 9)
 * Barry Galbraith (tracks 1, 3 & 5) or Barney Kessel (tracks 2, 4 & 7) or Skeeter Best (tracks 6, 8 & 9 – guitar
 * Oscar Pettiford (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 & 9) or Percy Heath (tracks 2, 4 & 7) - double bass
 * Kenny Clarke (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 & 9) or Lawrence Marable (tracks 2, 4 & 7) – drums
 * Ralph Burns - arranger (tracks 1, 3 & 5)