Known for his work with Charles Mingus, pianist Horace Parlan made his first Blue Note appearance with Lou Donaldson before recording six quintessential hard bop dates in 1960–61 including the quintet album Up & Down featuring his trio with George Tucker and Al Harewood, plus Grant Green and Booker Ervin.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.