Jones arranged and conducted three recording sessions during September 1956, each with a different line-up, from a nonet to a fifteen piece big band.

Musicians on the album include Charles Mingus, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Lucky Thompson, Hank Jones, Paul Chambers, Milt Jackson, Art Pepper, Zoot Sims, and Herbie Mann.

The bonus tracks on the CD release include compositions by Jimmy Giuffre, Lennie Niehaus and Charlie Mariano.

The album was produced by Creed Taylor and released by ABC-Paramount.

The digital reissue on CD in 1992 was repackaged with the label Impulse!, ABCs sub-label for contemporary jazz established by Taylor four years after these sessions took place.