48 at the time that he recorded his Harold Arlen tribute album in 1978, Tommy Flanagan had a successfully emerged from relative obscurity. Although an important graduate of the Detroit jazz scene of the 1950s and the leader of several rewarding record dates during 1957-61 after moving to New York, Flanagan worked as Ella Fitzgerald's pianist and music director during 1963-65 and 1968-78. While that association gave him the opportunity to work steadily and travel the world, it contributed to him not leading any record dates during 1962-74 and being in danger of being forgotten or, at the least, being taken for granted. While Flanagan headed a few sessions during 1975-77, it was not until he began leading his own trio in 1978 that his recording career blossomed. Tommy is a product of Detroit, a city that produced so many jazzmen who would play a vital role in the new developments of the bebop era. His first instrument was the clarinet, but he ...