BritJazzhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cpZj-P6q3E0/SyvVQN3TB2I/AAAAAAAAABQ/ZPNa5kgeZJs/S1600-R/britjazz.

0219 Humphrey Lyttelton [Humph Plays Standards] FLAC 10(37.12)

2012-01-29T07:48:00.003Z

Personnel:
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet, vocal
John Picard - trombone
Tony Coe - alto, clarinet
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Joe Temperley - baritone
Ian Armit - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums

Tracks:
01 Love for Sale (Porter) (4:44)
02 Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (3:36)
03 Ida (Leonard) (3:08)
04 Willow Weep for Me (Ronnell) (4:30)
05 That's My Weakness Now (Green, Stept) (2:13)
06 Blue Lou (Mills, Sampson) (3:38)
07 The Man I Love (Gershwin) (3:33)
08 Undecided (Shavers, Robin) (3:23)
09 Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered (Rodgers, Hart) (3:46)
10 Body and Soul (Green) (4:40)

Contributed by aroonie, who writes:-

In my opinion his best band ever with a great sax section of Tony Coe, Jimmy Skidmore and Joe Temperley. To me Skid was THE greatest of the Hawkins inspired tenor players (of the Brits, that is) and here he proves it on Body and Soul. But there is not a weak track.

Note: Please welcome new contributor aroonie, affording a welcome break to the regulars and in fine style. BJ

0148 Lita Roza [Drinka Lita Roza Day] FLAC 12(45.55)

2012-01-27T09:43:00.000Z

Personnel:
Lita Roza - vocal
Ronnie Hughes - trumpet
Johnny Keating - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - soprano, alto
Ronnie Ross - alto, baritone
Duncan Lamont - tenor
Dave Lee - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Andy White - drums

Tracks:
01 Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington/Bob Russell) (3:26)
02 I Loves You Porgy (Ira Gershwin/George Gershwin/Dubose Heyward) (4:14)
03 How Deep is the Ocean (Irving Berlin) (3:32)
04 Trouble is a Man (AlecWilder) (3:22)
05 I'm Afraid the Masquerade is Over (Herbert Magidson/Allie Wrubel) (3:57)
06 What is There to Say (Vernon Duke/E.Y "Yip" Harburg) (3:30)
07 The Man that Got Away (Harold Arlen/Ira Gershwin) (3:51)
08 Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn) (3:46)
09 Lover Man (Davis/Ramirez/Sherman) (4:57)
10 Something to Live For (Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn) (3:17)
11 Love for Sale (Cole Porter) (4:14)
12 Ill Wind (Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler) (3:49)

Pye NPL18047

Recorded May 4 1960

Contributed by delmonico

0140 Various [Blackstick] FLAC 10(40.52)

2012-01-26T13:03:00.000Z

Personnel:
Al Fairweather - trumpet
John Picard - trombone
Dick Heckstall-Smith - soprano
Vic Ash - clarinet
Tony Coe - clarinet
Sandy Brown - clarinet
Archie Semple - clarinet
Bruce Turner - clarinet
Maurice Biella - vibes
Ian Armit - piano
Fred Hunt - piano
Stan Jones - piano
Harry Smith - piano
Bill Bramwell - guitar
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Arthur Watts- - bass
Chris Staunton - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
Johnny Richardson - drums
Allan Ganley - drums

Tracks:
01 Bali Ha'i
02 Portrait of Mies
03 Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
04 Lover Man
05 Tipsy
06 Blue n' Boogie
07 The Needle
08 High Priest
09 Sans Humph
10 I Cover the Waterfront
11 Sugar
12 5/8ths

Recorded November 1957 and March 1958

Simon Spillett mentioned this album on August 24 last year (see Vic Ash [Session for Four]); `Why not try and dig out his rare tracks Blue 'n Boogie and High Priest from the Nixa "Blackstick" album. Even Vic hasn't got them!`

So here is the album - Pye issue. A good balance of styles and variety to portray comprehensively one of the archetypal instruments of jazz. Strong playing from all participants and some very big names in there. All the clarinetists acquit themselves well, including Vic of course. I particularly noticed the tunes by the Tony Coe group but that may have been due to a style preference rather than the performances. I can't say I'd ever heard of Maurice Biella before and when I Googled the name just now I got five hits, all about bikes! Nothing in Tom Lord's "The Jazz Discography" either.

Ripped from the LP. An attempt has been made to clean it up but I will leave you to judge the results as I would not want to be seen as blowing my own blackstick! BJ

Contributed by BritJazz and delmonico.

0188 Jimmy Deuchar [Jazz International] FLAC 7(38.01)

2012-01-24T07:46:00.000Z

Personnel:
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Billy Byers- trombone
Allen Eager - tenor
Martial Solal - piano
Benoit Quersin - bass
Kenny Clarke - drums

Tracks:
01 Trianon (4:00)
02 Kenny Special (5:21)
03 Illusion (3:21)
04 Love Me or Leave Me (7:22)
05 Cinerama (4:23)
06 Vogue (6:43)
07 Buyer's Blues (6:52)

Recorded September 24 1956

Vogue lp LAE 12029

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"An usual grouping of Jimmy Deuchar, Allen Eager and Billy Byers with a French based rhythm section and recorded in Paris in 1956. Deuchar was playing a short engagement with a Tommy Whittle group in Paris, Eager was resident in the city temporarily, Byers and Kenny Clarke were permanent residents there whilst the bassist was Belgian and the pianist French. International indeed.
All the front line musicians play well and overall the session is a great treat. It surely deserves a cd release so that it can become better known.
FLAC with lp cover scans.
Thanks to yewsta for help with restoring a particularly difficult first track."

Note: January 24 2012 - see comment lower down for new link. BJ

0218 Tony Kinsey [Trio with Joe Harriott] FLAC 2(14.29)

2012-01-22T08:36:00.002Z

Personnel:
Joe Harriott - alto
Bill LeSage - vibes, piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

Tracks:
01 Chirracahaua (LeSage) (7:40)
02 Teddi (LeSage) (6:50)

Esquire ep 36

Recorded December 9 1954

Contributed by bellawoods, who writes:-

More fine music from Joe Harriott with Tony Kinsey on Esquire.

0217 Dick Morrissey [It’s Morrissey, Man!] FLAC 12(42.27)

2012-01-15T07:43:00.002Z

Personnel:
Dick Morrissey - tenor
Stan Jones - piano
Malcolm Cecil - bass
Colin Barnes - drums

Tracks:
01 St Thomas (Rollins) (3:54)
02 Cherry Blue (Le Sage) (3:14)
03 A Bench In The Park (Ager, Yellen) (3:07)
04 Sancticity (Hawkins) (3:27)
05 Mildew (Griffin) (3:00)
06 Puffing Billy (Jones) (4:23)
07 Gurney Was Here (Jones) (2:49)
08 Happy Feet (Ager, Yellen) (3:08)
09 Where Is Love (Bart) (3:58)
10 Dancing In The Dark (Schwartz, Dietz) (3:38)
11 Willow Weep For Me (Ronnell) (4:50)
12 Jellyroll (Mingus) (3:00)

Fontana TFL5194

Recorded April 27 1961

Contributed by grumpy

0216 Johnny Dankworth [And His Orchestra] FLAC 4(10.11)

2012-01-08T09:22:00.002Z

Personnel:
Derrick Abbott - trumpet
Charlie Evans - trumpet
Tommy McQuater - trumpet
Frank Donlan - trumpet
Garry Brown - trombone
Bill Geldard - trombone
Laurie Monk - trombone
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Rex Rutley - alto
Ronnie Fenwick - alto
Peter Warner - tenor
John Xerri - tenor
Alex Leslie - baritone
Dave Lee - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Kenny Clare - drums

Tracks:
01 Memories of You (Razaf, Blake) (2:43)
02 Moby Dick (Dankworth) (2:08)
03 Feather Merchant (Mundy, Basie) (3:06)
04 Back Home Again in Indiana (MacDonald, Hanley) (2:14)

Parlophone ep GEP 8570

Recorded November 2, December 15 1955, January 20 1956

Contributed by bluebird, who comments:-

Some Dankworth big band tracks from 1955/56 are heard here. There were not too many well known names in the band at this time, the best known perhaps, being drummer Kenny Clare.
Later bands in the early/mid 1960s attracted many big jazz names.
FLAC with ep cover scans.

0215 Dill Jones [Jones the Jazz] FLAC 9(37.24)

2012-01-01T07:50:00.002Z

Personnel:
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Keith Christie - trombone
Vic Ash - tenor, clarinet
Dill Jones - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Benny Goodman - drums

Tracks:
01 Struttin' with Some Barbeque (Armstrong) (4:14)
02 Gone Tomorrow (Jones) (6:07)
03 The Preacher (Silver, Gonzales) (2:46)
04 Farewell Blues (Schoebel, Rappolo, Mares) (5:44)
05 Them There Eyes (Pinkard, Tracey, Tauber) (3:24)
06 Caravan (Ellington, Tizol) (4:43)
07 St David (Traditional - arr Jones) (2:49)
08 I Can't Give you Anything but Love, Baby (McHugh, Fields) (2:42)
09 Jones the Jazz (Jones) (4:55)

Columbia 33SX 1336

Recorded January 26 and 27 1961

Contributed by bluebird

FLAC with lp cover scans and pdf file

This post is made on the start of our third year. Happy New Year to all - visitors and contributors - and with thanks to all those who continue to support us with their comments.

0214 Various Artists [London Jazz Scene The 40's] FLAC 14(37.55)

2011-12-25T08:59:00.003Z

Personnel:
Jimmy Miller - leader, vocal
Tommy McQuater - trumpet
Archie Craig - trumpet
Clifton Ffrench - trumpet
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Jimmy Watson - trumpet
Alan Franks - trumpet
Freddy Randall - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Eric Breeze - trombone
Geoff Love - trombone
Jimmy Durrant - soprano, tenor, clarinet, bass clarinet
Tommy Bradbury - alto, clarinet
Monty Levy - alto, clarinet
Harry Lewis - alto, clarinet
Derek Hawkins - alto, clarinet
Freddy Gardner - alto, baritone
Cliff Townsend - alto, baritone, clarinet
Frank Ballerini - tenor
Laurie Gold - tenor
Walter Crombie - tenor, baritone
Andy McDevitt - tenor, clarinet
Bruce Turner - clarinet
Reg Conroy - vibes
Ronnie Aldrich - piano
George Shearing - piano
Dill Jones - piano
Harry Chapman - harp
Bert Weedon - guitar
Jack Llewellyn - guitar
Vic Lewis - guitar
Sid Colin - guitar, vocal
Arthur Madden - bass
Jack Fallon - bass
Joe Nussbaum - bass
Hank Hobson - bass
George Gibbs - bass
Jock Cummings - drums
Norman Burns - drums
Al Philcock - drums
Dave Fullerton - drums
Max Abrams - drums
Stephane Grappelli - violin
Stan Andrews - violin
Lynn Shaw - vocal

Tracks:
01 South Rampart Street Parade (Haggart, Baudue, Crosby) (2:47)
02 These Foolish Things (Strachey, Marvell, Link) (3:01)
03 Barefoot Blues (White) (2:20)
04 Body and Soul (Green, Sour, Eyton, Heyman) (3:16)
05 That's A-Plenty (Pollack, Gilbert) (2:27)
06 Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar (Ray, Prince, Sheehy) (2:38)
07 High Society (Piron, Williams) (3:10)
08 Anchors Away (Zimmerman, Savino) (2:42)
09 Black and Blue (Razaf, Brooks, Waller) (2:37)
10 Henderson Stomp (Henderson) (2:14)
11 After You've Gone (Creamer, Layton) (3:06)
12 Clarinet Blues (2:19)
13 I Only Have Eyes for You (Warren, Dubin) (2:33)
14 Ring Dem Bells (Ellington, Mills) (2:47)

Ace Of Clubs 12" lp ACL 1121

Recorded July 30 1940, April 9 1941, April 23 1941, June 10 1941, August 1 1941, May 21 1942, January 7 1943, May 28 1945, May 21 1947, November 27 1947, November 26 1948, February 24 1949.

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:

This is not wholly representative of the London Jazz scene in the 1940s but it's what Decca had in the vaults so it's quite limited and traditional in scope.

The big record companies were not interested in recording the emerging 'new' jazz in the late 1940s so it was left to the small independent labels like Melodisc, Esquire, Paxton and a few others to bring this music to a wider public.

One for the nostalgia buffs.

FLAC with lp cover scans.

Note from BJ: Have a good Christmas and we wish you all the best for 2012. Don't forget to keep the comments coming - they are much appreciated.

0213 Various Artists [Bluebird's Christmas Pudding] MP3 320 18(52.19)

2011-12-18T09:00:00.005Z

This is not a serious musical contribution and it’s not very Christmassy either.

But it’s party time, so let your hair down but if you have no hair and your party days are over, then a glass of Sanatogen and a Ginger Nut might fill the bill just as well.

Looking out of my window on a rainy August afternoon (yes, like all good programmers we do plan well ahead) I have decided to suspend my critical judgement for one day only to bring you some jazz, some near jazz and some nowhere near jazz for your seasonal enjoyment. It will help fill that torpid hour after Christmas lunch.

The programme includes bizarre, unusual, amusing and sometimes quite beautiful music and I have taken liberties with dates and the nationality of musicians in a few cases but I’m sure those lovely people at BritJazz will indulge me just this once. (Where’s your Christmas Spirit BritJazz?)

In most cases I have not given information about titles, musicians etc so it’s up to you.

And when you’ve finished, you can colour the Christmas Pudding picture.

Answers on a postcard please but don’t bother sending them. Now go and print this out before listening.

TRACK 1

This is by a pair of brothers (do I mean that? How many brothers are there in a pair? Four? No, just two) and they play a tune I always associate with Spike Jones and His City Slickers. I wonder why? Who are the brothers?

TRACK 2

Think Michael Caine. Think Minis. Peter King gets a credit for the tenor solo but it’s not him. Who is it and what’s the film in which the tune features?

TRACK 3

Big, blonde and busty. Not Marilyn M. but I spy something beginning with D. Who is she? The Wally Stott Orchestra provides the backing.

TRACK 4

This is the girlfriend of Roger’s psychiatrist. Buddy Featherstonehaugh is on baritone and there is a terrible tenor solo. Could it be a very young Bobby Wellins? No other musicians apart from the leader are identified on this BBC broadcast. What’s the tune?

TRACK 5

‘Blues for 8’ by Harry Parry. Tommy Pollard is named as on piano but then he seems to play his solo on another instrument altogether. What is it? A celeste or harpsichord? I think it’s a tinky-tonk.

TRACK 6

This almost unknown American singer came to the UK in the mid 1950s, made a couple of pop records and then 4 jazz sides with a Harry Klein small group including Dill Jones on piano. No other musicians are identified.

Here is one of those sides by her. She then disappeared from view, at least in this country.

Anybody heard of Cynthia Lanagan? No, I thought not.

TRACK 7

This is a track by a Chris Barber Band. Chris has been in the music business for so long that he has played with every known musician living or dead. Here’s two of them (live at the time but dead now), playing trumpet and tenor sax, who you would not normally associate with him. The trumpet is only heard in ensemble. Any ideas, at least about the tenor player?

TRACK 8

This is where the knicker elastic (underpants for our American cousins) of BritJazz gets stretched to breaking point. The musicians are American but there is a British connection so that’s alright isn’t it?

The tune was composed by Royalty for Royalty after a concert by the Royal Orchestra in Leeds, where I was born (in the Town not at the concert) and only a single record of the music from which this tune was taken was pressed at the time for the special recipient. It was only released commercially after the composer’s death. Simply gorgeous. Tune title, composer and the Suite from which it was taken?

TRACK 9

No living creatures were harmed during the making of this record but the piano player’s reputation must have taken a bit of a battering. It’s one I guess he would not like to be reminded about. No wonder he is on the label as Sam Tacit.

If Simon Spillett reads this then ask Clark to remind his Dad about it just to wind him up. The tune is ‘Happy Little Caterpillar’. The B-side or should that be the Z side has the tune ‘Skippy’ on it. Name and shame the pianist.

Actually, having played it a few times during the preparation for this, it’s beginning to grow on me. Help!

TRACK 10

This tune features Art Ellefson on alto sax, Art Ellefson on tenor sax, Art Ellefson on baritone sax with special guest Art Ellefson on bass clarinet – well it saves on session fees.

I hope he didn’t play them all at once otherwise he would have had a very sore mouth.

Art was an honorary Brit having stayed here for so long but what is his true nationality?

TRACK 11

Firstly, a little geography lesson and a bit of social history.

Yorkshire (The White Rose County) is the biggest and best County in England, and probably in the World. It’s known by everyone as ‘God’s Own Country’ and it includes the Peoples Republic Of South Yorkshire, a semi-autonomous State. For American readers it’s comparable to Texas.

Now to the music. This is the Yorkshire National Anthem played by a group of expatriates living in America. I went to school in the Town named in the title, which is of no relevance whatsoever. The tune title is actually in the Yorkshire language so you need to identify the tune and then translate it into English.

The pianist is very well known to ‘jazzman’ and although British by birth is now resident in the USA.

If you get tune title, translation and pianist right then BritJazz has agreed to issue a limited number of Yorkshire passports to the winners.

TRACK 12

I mentioned the word bizarre somewhere in the introduction and here it is. This British born singer’s first recording although one might be hard pressed to describe it as singing. Recorded in Paris with a Jacques Dieval group. If there was a tune title ‘Forgettable’ then this would qualify admirably. It’s actually called ‘Le Vent Vert’. Was it some kind of musical joke?

Who’s the ‘singer’? A big pal of Dave Lambert.

TRACK 13

What can be more British than this?

If you don’t know the title then you must have been locked up somewhere for many years. John Barry plays it and originally claimed composer rights. After a long legal battle the true composer emerged as Monty Norman who probably lived well on the royalties for the rest of his life.

Do you really not know the tune title? It’s got a ‘B’ for BritJazz in it.

TRACK 14

This tune’s not quite in the ‘Caterpillar’ class but it appeared on an old Ember album called ‘Teenage Dance Party’ with the tenor player seeking anonymity. Recently rescued from the skip (dumpster) and polished up for the jazz market with his name now in lights.

It’s the Little John Anthony Band with Little John himself on drums (Tony Crombie), Ashley Kozak on bass and a rather nice pianist and guitarist who are not identified.

Who is the tenor player?

TRACK 15

Composer and pianist Harry South wrote this for a very well known and long running TV series in the UK. The opening theme is better known but this is the closing version.

Title?

TRACK 16

It’s all talk but who is he? He had a very nasty friend called ‘Old Evil’.

TRACK 17

Here are two entries for the shortest ‘tunes’ ever written.

The first is by bassist Johnny Hawkesworth, and not many people know that. It consists of just eight notes or chords. It really was so well known on UK TV at the time but I bet you’ve forgotten it now.

The second is a vocal announced as ‘ XX XX Sings George Gershwin’. If yewsta reads this he might recognize the voice.

So, title for the first and singer for the second. They run on together for all of 14 seconds.

TRACK 18

Well, we had to have a nod towards Christmas in this compilation and the BritJazz knicker elastic is stretched to the limits once more.

Not a Brit in sight but Bing takes the Bird to Berlin. See – all Bs. And the pianist Al Haig visited the UK many times and we had a few chats (name-dropper).

Who’s the alto player? Bonus points if you get the announcer too.

If you don’t know the alto player then go and stand in the corner with the dunce’s cap on.

All will be revealed in a future post.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Note: The first few comments which look as if made by Britjazz are actually bluebird's.

BLUEBIRD’S CHRISTMAS PUDDING

ALL IS REVEALED

1. The Christie Brothers, Ian and Keith. The add-on is by Spike Jones who really has to be seen rather than heard.

2. The tenor solo is by Tubby Hayes and the film is ‘The Italian Job’.

3. The singer is Diana Dors who did a fine job on what was her only lp.

4. The tune is ‘The Sweetheart Of Sigmund Freud’ one of the greatest song titles ever.

5. You decide.

6. As Eric Morecambe used to say ‘There’s no answer to that’.

7. Jimmy Deuchar on trumpet is heard in the ensemble and Ronnie Scott takes the tenor solo.

8. Duke Ellington composed and plays the tune ‘Single Petal Of A Rose’ from the Queen’s Suite written in honour of Queen Elizabeth after the Duke played in her presence at the 1958 Leeds Music Festival. Duke recorded the six-part Suite in 1959 and had a single copy pressed for the Queen. It was not commercially released until 1976 after his death.

9. Stan Tracey.

10. Canadian.

11. The tune is ‘Ilkley Moor Baht ‘At’ which translates as ‘Ilkley Moor Without A Hat’. The pianist is Derek Smith.

12. Annie Ross.

13. James Bond Theme.

14. Tubby Hayes.

15. The Sweeney.

16. Phil Seamen. Phil, a long term heroin addict, referred to his habit as ‘Old Evil’

17. ‘Salute to Thames’ which was the Station ID for Thames Television. The singer is Peter Sellars.

18. Charlie Parker is the alto player. ‘Symphony Sid’ Torin is the MC

So how did you do? Not very well? Never mind , just sit back and enjoy the music. BritJazz has assured me that I won't get a return engagement.

Anyway, the judges have been up all night to count the votes and BritJazz is able to announce the winners in true Miss World reverse order.

3rd Prize goes to 'the jazzman'. He gave one correct answer (he only answered one - no stamina these Americans) and his prize is a luxury tented weekend in Afghanistan kindly donated by the 116th Infantry Brigade. BritJazz will not be offended if he decides to give this prize to someone else.

2nd Prize goes to 'yewsta' who staggered along the whole way and got a few right. His prize is a set of tuned belles played by the legendary Edith Rhodes and Her Hot Trio at the Hollywood Bowl in 1946. Edward Seagoon played maracas.

And the Winner is, unsurprisingly, 'bluebird' who got all the correct answers. He wins a red plastic replica of Buddy Bolden's saxophone mouthpiece (you didn't know he also played saxophone did you?) and a ten minute rummage in the jazzman's famed garage with all he can carry away.

Thanks to all who might have read all this nonsense. I hope it raised perhaps just a small smile in these hard times.

bluebird

0212 Geoff Taylor [Sextet] FLAC 4(11.18)

2011-12-11T09:57:00.005Z

Personnel:
Geoff Taylor - alto
Kenny Thorne - vibes
Al Mead - piano
Barry Fox - guitar
Bill Thorne - bass
Len Livesy - drums

Tracks:
01 All of Me (Marks, Simons) (2:55)
02 Easy Going (Deloof) (3:11)
03 Solitude (Ellington) (2:41)
04 The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else) (Kahn, Jones) (2:32)

Esquire ep 55

Recorded June 23 1954

Contributed by bellawoods, who writes:-

Here's another from the little known altoist Geoff Taylor.
If you like Earl Bostic then you'll love this. If you don't, then forget it.
FLAC with ep cover scans (scans kindly provided by David Taylor from the British Modern Jazz website - well worth a visit.)

0211 [Ronnie Scott Orchestra Esquire EP 61] FLAC 4(14.59)

2011-12-04T07:06:00.002Z

Personnel:
Hank Shaw - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Benny Green - baritone
Victor Feldman - vibes, piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Parisian Thoroughfare (Powell) (4:19)
02 Time After Time (Styne, Cahn) (2:42)
03 Don't Worry 'Bout Me (Bloom, Koehler) (4:07)
04 Quicksilver (Silver) (3:50)

Esquire EP 61

Recorded February 23 1955

Contributed by bellawoods, who writes:-

Another scarce ep from the Ronnie Scott Orchestra of 1955.

FLAC with cover and pdf file.

0210 Dennis Wilson [Piano Romance] FLAC 10(23.01)

2011-11-27T09:38:00.004Z

Personnel:
Dennis Wilson - piano
unknown - bass
unknown - drums

Tracks:
01 It Might as Well be Spring (Rodgers, Hammerstein) (2:38)
02 Where or When (Rodgers, Hart) (2:10)
03 'S Wonderful (Gershwin, Gershwin) (2:14)
04 How About You? (Van Heusen, Lane Freed) (2:03)
05 I Get a Kick Out of You (Porter) (2:40)
06 The Nearness of You (Carmichael, Washington) (1:48)
07 It's Easy to Remember (Rodgers, Hart) (3:00)
08 Mountain Greenery (Rodgers, Hart) (1:47)
09 Heat Wave (Berlin) (2:29)
10 Poor Little Rich Girl (Coward) (2:12)

HMV DLP 1130

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-

More from this jazz fringe pianist from the mid/late 1950s. The other musicians in the trio are not identified.

FLAC with lp cover scans.

0209 Victor Feldman [Modern Jazz Quintet-Septet] FLAC 2(14.14)

2011-11-20T10:09:00.003Z

Personnel:
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Derek Humble - alto
Victor Feldman - vibes
Tommy Pollard - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Umf (Dizzy Reece) (7:41)
02 Bird's Last Flight (Wardell Gray) (6:33)

Esquire ep 64
Recorded March 3 1955

Contributed by bellawoods, who writes:-

One track on each side recorded on 3rd March 1955. Charlie Parker died in New York just after this session so one track - 'Bird's Last Flight' was dedicated by the group to him.
FLAC with ep cover scans.

R.I.P. Michael Garrick M.B.E. May 30 1933 to November 11 2011

2011-11-15T15:30:00.001Z

Michael Garrick, pianist, composer, arranger and music educator died in hospital on 11 November aged 78 after suffering from heart problems for some years.

Michael was one the UK's best known and loved musicians whose first recordings were made back in 1958. He will be remembered particularly for his work with Joe Harriott and Shake Keane in the 1960s which produced such albums as 'Black Marigolds', 'October Woman' and 'Promises' all of which are still available and then later with Ian Carr and Don Rendell.

The association with Rendell/Carr was particularly fruitful and produced the classic albums 'Dusk Fire', 'Phase 3' and 'Live'. He was an early supporter of poetry with jazz and again several recordings exist.

A 1972 trio album, 'Cold Mountain', shows off Michael's piano work to great effect and this will remain as a lasting tribute to him. Later works were for the New Jazz Orchestra and other big bands.

Michael continued working in a variety of settings right up to his death and he became a respected music educator and supporter of young musicians worldwide. He formed his own record label - 'Jazz Academy' - to feature his music and his pupils.

His autobiography 'Dusk Fire' was published in 2010 and he was honoured by the award of the MBE in the same year.

Michael Garrick will be remembered fondly by his former pupils, by his fellow musicians and by the jazz community at large. His legacy will surely be the many fine recordings he made in many different settings over the last 50 years.

Britjazz has recently presented some fine material from Michael Garrick - see item 0206 Kronos - and we hope to be able to post more examples of this outstanding musician's work in the future.

Note: We have been trying to post examples of their artistry together with notices of the passing of those who leave us but this has presented some difficulties. Subsequently, as here and for gordon Beck, we intend to refer to previous items and/or tell you of the prospects for future posts where approriate.

R.I.P. Gordon Beck September 16 1935 to November 6 2011

2011-11-15T15:03:00.001Z

The UK jazzmen seem to be disappearing fast.

Pianist Gordon Beck died on November 6 aged 76 followed by Michael Garrick on November 11. Two modern jazz pianists, very different in approach and style with the lesser known Beck perhaps not enjoying the success that Garrick had.

Gordon, born in 1935, first had a career in aeronautical engineering design before starting out as a full time jazz musician in 1961. His obvious influence was Bill Evans and he kept coming back to his 'Evans roots' in his recordings throughout his career.

He played with all the greats of British modern jazz in the 1960s and had a long and productive stay with Tubby Hayes (1962-1965) in various permutations of his bands.

As many other jazz musicians experienced, the 1970s and 1980s were lean times in the UK and Gordon had to spend time in Europe to earn a living, playing notably with Phil Woods and The European Rhythm Machine. He was based in Paris at one stage and made many recordings with local jazzmen. Singers loved his accompaniments and he appeared on tour and on recordings with Mel Torme, Lena Horne, Freddy Cole and particularly with Helen Merrill.

He appeared to be the forgotten man of jazz in the UK until an American record label - Art Of Life - re-issued some of his earlier recordings in the 1990s on cd and later commissioned new music.

A solo recording at the Bath International Music Festival in 1997 ('Reflections') shows Gordon at his best and highlights his Evans influence.

BritJazz has little to offer in view of our posting policy but look out for an item we hope to make available in the fairly near future.

0208 Various Artists [Mainstream At Nixa] FLAC 4(23.12)

2011-11-13T07:06:00.002Z

Personnel:
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Keith Christie - trombone, valve trombone
Bruce Turner - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Fred Hartz - baritone
Martin Slavin - vibes, xylophone
Dill Jones - piano
Derek Smith - piano
Ike Isaacs - guitar
Jack Fallon - bass
Frank Clarke - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Time's A-Wastin' (Ellington) (6:09)
02 Three Little Words (Ruby) (4:33)
03 Blues for John (Graham) (9:15)
04 Sidewalks of Cuba (Oakland) (3:15)

Nixa NJT 501 - 10" LP

Recorded January 16 and 18 1956

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-

Volume 2 of 'Mainstream at Nixa' has already been posted so this is volume 1 although it is not named as such.

Four longish tracks give plenty of solo space for all concerned and there is another fine view of the River Thames showing the former Battersea Power Station now re-born as The Tate Modern Art Gallery.

FLAC with lp cover scans.

0207 [The Betty Smith Quintet] FLAC 4(10.30)

2011-11-06T14:34:00.002Z

Personnel:
Betty Smith - tenor, vocal
Brian Lemon - piano
Terry Walsh - guitar
Berry Phillips - guitar
Ray Dempsey - guitar
Jack Peberdy - bass
Stan Bourke - drums

Tracks:
01 There's a Blue Ridge Round My Heart Virginia (Bryan, Phillips, Schuster)
02 Who's Sorry Now (Snyder, Kalmar, Ruby)
03 Everything is Peaches Down in Georgia (Ager, Meyer, Clarke)
04 Because My Baby Don't Mean Maybe Now (Donaldson)

Decca ep DFE 6446
Recorded July 2 and November 11 1957

Contributed by bellawoods, who writes:-

There are not many lady jazz musicians but here is one who, as far as I know, is still around but perhaps not playing.
Betty was married to the bass player, Jack Peberdy, at the time of these recordings in 1957 and was known as
much for her singing as her tenor playing.
Three vocals here and just one feature for her tenor which is a pity.
FLAC with scans of ep sleeve.

0206 Michael Garrick and James Grant Kellas [Kronos] FLAC 11(47.30)

2011-10-30T06:15:00.004Z

Personnel:
Tony Sions - alto
Rae Ramchandani - alto
Derek Horsfield - tenor
Alan King - tenor
Alan Bromley - baritone
Peter Shade - vibes
James Grant Kellas - leader, piano
Michael Garrick - leader, piano
Paul Hemmings - bass
David Iggulden - bass
Brian Barnes - drums
Derek Wimpress - drums
Derek West - drums

Tracks:
01 Henry VIII's Favourite Laye (Garrick) (5:02)
02 Vishnu (Garrick) (2:59)
03 Kronos (Garrick) (5:53)
04 Barbara Allen (Garrick) (3:14)
05 White Moon (Garrick) (4:34)
06 Jazzism 1960 (Kellas) (4:40)
07 Sax Appeal (Kellas) (3:11)
08 Northern Lights (Kellas) (4:39)
09 Jazz Study No. 2 (Kellas) (5:24)
10 Jazz Study in A Minor (Kellas) (2:17)
11 Ode to Saxes (Kellas) (5:37)

HEP 2013

Recorded January, February 1959 and February 7, March 13 1960

Personnel:
Tony Sions - alto
Rae Ramchandani - alto
Derek Horsfield - tenor
Alan King - tenor
Alan Bromley - baritone
Peter Shade - vibes
James Grant Kellas - leader, piano
Michael Garrick - leader, piano
Paul Hemmings - bass
David Iggulden - bass
Brian Barnes - drums
Derek Wimpress - drums
Derek West - drums

Tracks:
01 Henry VIII's Favourite Laye (Garrick) (5:02)
02 Vishnu (Garrick) (2:59)
03 Kronos (Garrick) (5:53)
04 Barbara Allen (Garrick) (3:14)
05 White Moon (Garrick) (4:34)
06 Jazzism 1960 (Kellas) (4:40)
07 Sax Appeal (Kellas) (3:11)
08 Northern Lights (Kellas) (4:39)
09 Jazz Study No. 2 (Kellas) (5:24)
10 Jazz Study in A Minor (Kellas) (2:17)
11 Ode to Saxes (Kellas) (5:37)

HEP 2013

Recorded January, February 1959 and February 7, March 13 1960

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-

Two very different sessions with each group occupying one side of the lp.
The first side by a Michael Garrick Quartet, sounding very much like an English version of the MJQ, was Michael's first recording and dates from 1959.
Nothing too exciting happens and Michael moved on to far greater things and more interesting work in later years.
Nice vibes playing from the little known Peter Shade and all the tunes were composed/arranged by Garrick.
The second side is a saxophones plus rhythm session led by pianist James Grant Kellas and the overall feel is very West Coastish with some excellent writing for the saxophones by pianist Kellas.
He did not pursue a career in music, unlike Garrick, and after his Ph.D. studies in London he ended his academic career as Professor of Politics at Glasgow University.

FLAC with lp cover scans.

0205 [Jimmy Deuchar Quartet] FLAC 4(13.20)

2011-10-23T09:42:00.003+01:00

Personnel:
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Alan Clare - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

Tracks:
01 Why Do I Love You (Kern) (2:52)
02 This Can't Be Love (Rodgers) (3:15)
03 The Things We Did Last Summer (Styne, Cahn) (4:01)
04 Just One of Those Things (Porter) (3:11)

Esquire ep 93

Recorded November 12 1954

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-

Alternate takes of those tunes heard on an earlier lp post - 'Jimmy Deuchar - Thou Swell'. Alan Clare is the pianist.
FLAC with ep cover scans.

NOTICE: Due to the paucity of suitable material, we are having to reduce the frequency of posts to one a week, normally on Sundays, from now on.

0204 Vic Lewis [In Concert Featuring Tubby Hayes] FLAC 15(46.59)

2011-10-16T09:31:00.005+01:00

Personnel:

Vic Lewis - leader, percussion
Dave Loban - trumpet
Colin Wright - trumpet
Ronnie Baker - trumpet
Dave Power - trumpet
Johnny Watson - trombone
Jack Botterill - trombone
Laurie Franklin - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - alto
Bernard Allen - alto
Tubby Hayes - tenor
Les Wigfield - tenor
Brian Rogerson - baritone
Don Riddell - piano
Dave Willis - bass
Ken Hollick - drums
Roy Garnett - percussion

Tracks:
01 Jolly Rogers (Rogers) (2:26)
02 Harlem Nocturne (Hagen) (2:30)
03 Moonlight in Vermont (Suessdorf) (2:12)
04 Too Marvellous for Words (Whiting) (6:02)
05 Bweebida Bobbida (Mulligan) (3:27)
06 Peanut Vendor (Simons, Sunshine, Gilbert) (6:23)
07 Fearless Fosdick (Holman) (3:06)
08 Bill's Blues (Russo) (2:06)
09 Sextet (Mulligan) (2:34)
10 Jump for Joe (Rolan) (2:16)
11 Bark for Barksdale (Mulligan) (2:55)
12 The Creep (2:59)
13 Walkin' Shoes (Mulligan) (2:24)
14 Limelight (Mulligan) (2:58)
15 Intermission Riff (Wetzl) (2:41)

Hep 20

Recorded January 29 1954

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

Recorded in concert at the City Hall, Sheffield in 1954 and with a very young Tubby Hayes (almost 19) in the sax section. Lewis allows him generous solo space and his feature with just the rhythm section on 'Too Marvellous For Words' is a 'tour de force'.
The original recording could have been better but it is quite acceptable. Does it sound slightly speeded up or is this just my imagination? Lewis' announcements sound like he has been sniffing the helium.
FLAC with lp cover scans.

0203 Derek Smith [Jazz At The Flamingo Volume 2] FLAC 4(13.19)

2011-10-12T09:39:00.002+01:00

Personnel:
Harry Klein - baritone
Derek Smith - piano
Freddie Logan - bass
Allan Ganley - drums

Tracks:
01 Sweet Georgia Brown (3:33)
02 Play Fiddle, Play (3:24)
03 They Can't Take That Away from Me (2:54)
04 Our Love is Here to Stay (3:28)

Decca ep DFE 6266

Recorded winter 1954 or perhaps March 15 1955

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-

Another volume in this series - there is a 3rd ep to come later.

FLAC with ep cover scans and pdf file.

0202 Kenny Baker [Operation Jam Session] FLAC 2(22.17)

2011-10-09T12:49:00.001+01:00

Personnel:
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Keith Christie - trombone
Joe Harriott - alto
Bertie King - alto
Bruce Turner - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Dill Jones - piano
Cedric West - guitar
Frank Clarke - bass
Eric Delaney - drums

Tracks:
01 Balad Medley (11:47) - What's New/Making Whoopee/How Long Hass This Been Going On?/Sweet and Lovely/I'm Beginning to See the Light
02 Blues in Threes (10:30)

Polygon 10" lp - JTL 1

Recorded February 21 and March 16 1955

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:

Two long tracks in the jam session style originally on a 10" lp and including that old time favourite - The Ballad Medley.
The guitar player, Cedric West, never sought the limelight but he was much admired by his fellow musicians and it is a pity that there is so little of his work on record. What there is usually consists of short solos, so anything by him of more than eight bars is welcome.
Here's a link to YouTube showing the great Joe Pass visiting Cedric at his home in Essex, sitting on the sofa in his living room and duetting on 'Indian Summer'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCspmwjJ-I&feature=player_detailpage
As the young people say today - 'How cool is that?'
FLAC with cover picture and sleeve notes. Also pdf file.

0201 Ian Armit [Jazz Club Piano] FLAC 4(13.45)

2011-10-05T10:04:00.002+01:00

Personnel:
Ian Armit - piano

Tracks:
01 Rose Room (Williams, Hickman) (3:05)
02 Yancey Blues (Armit) (4:07)
03 Exactly Like You (McHugh, Fields) (3:01)
04 Black and White Blues (Armit) (3:31)

Decca ep DFE 6436

Recorded live in between sets of a BBC Jazz Club Session on July 12 1957.

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:

Ian played on a part time basis with most of the 'traddies' during the 1950s before joining Humphrey Lyttelton in 1957. He made his home in Switzerland in the late 1970s working with local groups and his own Quartet. He died in Zurich in 1992.

FLAC with ep cover scans.

0200 Joe Harriott [Free Form] FLAC 8(46.13)

2011-10-02T11:17:00.003+01:00

Personnel:
Shake Keane - trumpet, flugelhorn
Joe Harriott - alto
Pat Smythe - piano
Coleridge Goode - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Formation (Harriott) (6:14)
02 Coda (Harriott) (8:00)
03 Abstract (Harriott) (3:40)
04 Impression (Harriott) (5:33)
05 Parallel (Harriott) (5:42)
06 Straight Lines (Harriott) (5:58)
07 Calypso (Harriott) (4:44)
08 Tempo (Harriott) (6:23)

Jazzland JLP 49

Recorded 1960

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"This is a landmark post for BritJazz in that this is the first time a toe is being dipped into the sometimes murky waters of 'Free Form' jazz.

Having said that, one wonders what all the fuss was about when this was released in 1960 when today's standards are applied. The music was compared, usually favourably, with the recordings of Ornette Coleman from the same period although Coleman's music was more aggressive and angry.

The British public was ambivalent about the music back in 1960 when it was felt in some quarters that it was too revolutionary and that it wasn't 'proper' jazz. Joe used to alternate a free piece with a more conventional piece at his concerts/club dates in order to satisfy the public but the music critics were very supportive.

Hearing the music now it cannot really be described as totally 'free'. Whilst the front line instruments enjoy a great deal of musical freedom, the rhythm section (which surprisingly has Phil Seamen on drums) maintains a steady beat but overall the music is fresh, original and very enjoyable."

0199 Johnny Dankworth [London To Newport] FLAC 8(47.57)

2011-09-28T09:36:00.009+01:00

Personnel:
Derrick Abbott - trumpet
Stan Palmer - trumpet
Bob Carson - trumpet
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
Dickie Hawdon - trumpet, tenor horn
Tony Russell - trombone
Danny Elwood - trombone
Garry Brown - trombone
Laurie Monk - trombone
Ron Snyer - tuba
Johnny Dankworth - alto, clarinet
Danny Moss - tenor, clarinet, bass clarinet
Alex Leslie - baritone, flute, clarinet
Dave Lee - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums

Tracks:
01 Introduction by Willis Conover (2:24)
02 Firth of Fourths (7:03)
03 Caribe (6:01)
04 Royal Ascot (5:39)
05 Don't Get Around Much Anymore (4:16)
06 Doggin' Around (4:40)
07 Jones (8:57)
08 Take the `A` Train (8:57)

Recorded July 3 1959

Top Rank 30/019

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:

This was the Band's first visit to the USA and the invitation to play at the prestigious 1959 Newport Jazz Festival was a great honour for the Band and for UK jazz. Originally recorded live at Newport by Top Rank, it had lp issues in both the USA and the UK (albeit under different album titles) and was well received in both countries.
This was a great Dankworth Band - one of the best - but there is, understandably, a sign of nervousness in places. Dankworth admitted that some of the solos 'didn't come right up to form'. But overall the appearance was a great success and was followed by further US dates (including one at Birdland) and a promise of a return Birdland booking at a later date.
FLAC with original sleeve notes and a small original US front cover.

0198 [Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists] FLAC 2(13.44)

2011-09-25T10:11:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Leo Wright - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Alan Rowe - tenor
Bill Andrews - baritone
Victor Feldman - vibes, conga drum
Lennie Metcalfe - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Kings Cross Climax (6:52)
02 Caravan (6:52)

Esquire ep 83

Recorded May 6 1955

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

One long track on each side of this ep.

'Kings Cross Climax' written by Graham for the Heath Band is a feature for the two percussionists. Phil Seamen and Victor Feldman.

FLAC with ep cover scans.

0197 Ted Heath [Kenny Graham's Australian Suite] FLAC 4(8.55)

2011-09-21T12:48:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Ted Heath - leader
Bobby Pratt - trumpet
Bert Ezzard - trumpet
Duncan Campbell - trumpet
Eddie Blair - trumpet
Don Lusher - trombone
Wally Smith - trombone
Ric Kennedy - trombone
Jimmy Coombes - trombone
Roy Willox - soprano, alto
Les Gilbert - alto
Danny Moss - tenor
Henry Mckenzie - tenor, clarinet
Ken Kiddier - baritone
Frank Horrox - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Ronnie Verrell - drums

Tracks:
01 Kings Cross Climax (2:18)
02 Boomerang (2:13)
03 When a Bodgie Meets a Widgie (2:52)
04 Dance of the Dingos (1:32)

Decca ep DFE 6300

Recorded February May 14 31 and June 8 1955

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

Kenny Graham wrote this suite for Ted Heath in readiness for the Band's Australian Tour in 1955. There were six movements but only four are recorded here. The other two movements did not prove popular. One was 'Kangeroo' and the other 'Lovers On Bondi Beach'. 'Kangeroo' has disappeared without trace and was never recorded.

Kenny used the theme from 'Lovers...' in another song he wrote for Heath and it was re-titled as 'Beaulieu Abbey' - sometimes just called ' The Abbey'. Heath recorded this in 1959 on his album 'In Concert- Beaulieu Jazz Festival' (although it was a studio recording and not recorded at the Festival. It might have been played there though). We shall hear this Beaulieu album in a later post but here are the 4 surviving titles from the 'Australian Suite'.

'Kings Cross Climax' stayed in the Heath book and there is a further recording of it from Carnegie Hall in New York but the other titles fell into obscurity. Kenny Graham also recorded this title with his Afro-Cubists and this again we shall hear in another post.

The sleeve note writer thought it was a piece of train music and went into raptures about steam, pistons and wheezing into a small station but he got it completely wrong. It has nothing at all to do with trains or the mainline railway station of Kings Cross in North London, as the song is named after the bohemian entertainment district of Sydney in Australia.

How wrong can you be?

FLAC with ep cover scans and pdf file.

Note: If anyone, perhaps in Australia, has any recordings from the tour we would very much like t ohear about them. BJ

0196 Jimmy Deuchar [Swingin' In Studio Two and Opus De Funk] FLAC 4(27.05)

2011-09-18T09:21:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Derek Humble - alto
Tubby Hayes - tenor
Eddie Harvey - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (6:22)
02 Opus de Funk (7:06)
03 Lullaby in Rhythm (7:12)
04 Milestones (6:26)

Recorded March 29 1957

Tempo eps EXA 79 and 81

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"A pair of eps issued originally on Tempo and dating from a session held on 29 March 1957. There is an opportunity to hear the great Derek Humble at some length but the other saxophonist present is no slouch either.

One other title from this session, 'How Long Has This Been Going On', appeared on a Tempo compilation lp which has been published earlier on this blog.

The music is a mixture of old and new standards."

FLAC with booklet scans and pdf file.

0195 Victor Feldman [Modern Jazz Quartet] FLAC 2(12.54)

2011-09-18T09:11:00.006+01:00

Personnel:
Victor Feldman - vibes, conga drum
Tommy Pollard - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 What Goes? (6:21)
02 Monsoon (6:33)

Esquire EP 35

Recorded December 14 1954

Contributed by azule serape, who writes:-

"Feldman recorded prolifically before he left the UK for the USA and this fine session from 1954 features him on vibes with his regular quartet.

Phil Seamen, who was regarded as unreliable (in the not turning up for the session sense but sometimes in the musical sense) by most of his contemporaries has the drum chair."

FLAC with ep cover scans and pdf file.

This is last Wednesday's post, a little late - only just realized I did not do it.

However, in the New Year, after our second birthday, we are likely to reduce to one a week as material is not all that plentiful.

0194 Sandy Brown [Sandy's Sidemen] FLAC 8(41.37)

2011-09-11T09:57:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Al Fairweather - trumpet
Spike Mackintosh - trumpet
John R T Davies - trombone
John Picard - trombone
Dick Heckstall-Smith - soprano
Sandy Brown - clarinet
Alan Thomas - piano
Dave Stevens - piano
Diz Disley - guitar
Mo Umansky - banjo
Brian Parker - bass
Graham Burbidge - drums
Stan Greig - drums
Bob Clarke - violin

Tracks:
01 Nobody Met the Train (4:37)
02 Candy Stripes (5:20)
03 High Time (5:14)
04 Swiss Kriss (5:09)
05 Stay (6:20)
06 Mouseparty (4:42)
07 Look the Other Way (4:31)
08 My Neck of the Woods (5:45)

Tempo TAP 3

Recorded May 27 1956 and June 21 1956

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:

"All the tunes are compositions by trumpeter Al Fairweather and, as the title implies, feature the sidemen. Apart from the first track, which features the regular sidemen, invited guests then each have a solo spot on the remaining tracks."

FLAC with small front cover picture and track/personnel details and pdf file.

0193 Joe Harriott [No Strings] FLAC 4(12.40)

2011-09-07T07:39:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Joe Harriott - alto
Max Harris - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Just Goofin' (2:02)
02 Everything Happens to Me (4:44)
03 Just Friends (2:42)
04 Joe's Blues (3:13)

Recorded August 24 1955

Nixa NJE 1003 (ep)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

A reference to his ep 'With Strings' recorded a few months earlier but this is Joe just with his working Quartet playing two standards and two of his originals. Fine stuff indeed.

FLAC with cover picture, track details and pdf file.

0192 Don Rendell [Presents the Jazz Six] FLAC 9(42.13)

2011-09-04T07:26:00.003+01:00

Personnel:
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Ronnie Ross - alto, baritone
Don Rendell - tenor
Ken Moule - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Arthur Watts - bass
Don Lawson - drums

Tracks:
01 I Saw Stars (4:07)
02 The Ignis Fatuus Suite 1. Jack o' Lantern (4:34)
03 The Ignis Fatuus Suite 2. Will o' the Wisp (5:55)
04 The Ignis Fatuus Suite 3. Ignis Fatuus (6:47)
05 Star Eyes (4:21)
06 I Know Why (5:09)
07 Taking a Chance on Love (4:17)
08 Limehouse Blues (3:48)
09 Out of Nowhere (3:14)

Recorded January 15, 18, 31 1957

Nixa NJL7

Contributed by delmonico and yewsta who write:

"Tuneful outings by the groups here, swinging nicely and displaying to great advantage the attractive arrangements. "The Jazz Six" was a name suggested by Alun Morgan, the prominent jazz writer and critic.

The Jazz Six lasted for about four years."

0191 Kenny Baker [The Kenny Baker Quartet] FLAC 4(11.05)

2011-08-31T09:16:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Stan Tracey - piano
Cliff Ball - bass
Don Lawson - drums

Tracks:
01 Hayfoot, Strawfoot (2:46)
02 The Continental (2:43)
03 That's My Desire (3:02)
04 Stompin' at the Savoy (2:33)

Parlophone ep GEP 8658

Recorded October 15 1953

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:

Kenny heard here with a quartet including Stan Tracey on piano in 1953.

FLAC with cover scans and pdf file.

0190 Reg Owen [Swing Me High] FLAC 12(30.28)

2011-08-28T09:13:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Stan Roderick - trumpet
Jimmy Watson - trumpet
Tommy McQuater - trumpet
Moe Miller - trumpet
Laddie Busby - trombone
Jackie Armstrong - trombone
George Chisholm - trombone
Ken Goldie - trombone
Bob Burns - alto
Bill Povey - alto
Keith Bird - tenor
Frank Reidy - tenor
Al Baum - baritone
Max Harris - piano
Bert Weedon - guitar
Joe Muddel - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Bobby Midgley - percussion

Tracks:
01 Swing Me High (2:25)
02 Soho Blues (3:12)
03 Slow Train Blues (2:33)
04 Pushin' (2:19)
05 Sweepin' the Floor (2:06)
06 Scotch on the Rocks (2:16)
07 Sinbad (2:20)
08 Babylone Blues (2:50)
09 Madwalk (2:30)
10 Sunset Strip (2:34)
11 Easy Now (2:43)
12 Harlem Swing (2:40)

Bally BAL-12006

Recorded 1957/1958

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"Reg Owen is perhaps better known as a composer/arranger although he worked as a saxophonist with the Ted Heath Orchestra between 1945 and 1950 and was later a staff arranger with that band.
He also wrote and arranged for many of the band leaders during the 1950s and later and his recording of 'Manhattan Spiritual' (not on this record) enjoyed some commercial success when released as a single.
His excursions into jazz were few, so this big band containing some well known jazz names and swung along by Phil Seamen is a real treat. The recording date is not given but it is thought to be from the 1957/1958 period.
He died in Spain in 1978 aged 62."

FLAC with cover scans and pdf file.

0189 Victor Feldman Kenny Graham [Experiment In Time] FLAC 4(21.32)

2011-08-24T08:49:00.003+01:00

Personnel:
Kenny Graham - tenor
Victor Feldman - vibes, piano, drums, conga
Phil Seamen - vibes, drums, timbales
Ray Dempsey - guitar
Eric Peter - bass
Dizzy Reece - conga
Barry Morgan - maracas, timbales

Tracks:
01 Mogambo (5:00)
02 Keep Happy (6:03)
03 Algo Bueno (5:32)
04 S.O.S. (4:57)

Esquire 10" lp - 20-064

Recorded May 8 1955

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

Esquire claimed that this music broke new ground and it certainly provides some interesting variations on 'time'. There is even a little of what sounds like free blowing in places by Kenny Graham.

Dizzy Reece has a very minor role here playing conga drums and Phil Seamen, who seems to appear on most of BritJazz posts, not only plays drums but vibes too and that must be a first.

Not wholly successful - S.O.S. is tedious and repetitive but Esquire must be congratulated for recording this session back in 1955 which would perhaps not have had the same commercial appeal as other recordings by this label. Is this maybe why it has never been re-issued in any format?

FLAC with lp cover scans.

0187 Tony Crombie [And His Orchestra] FLAC 4(10.33)

2011-08-17T08:48:00.006+01:00

Personnel:
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Les Condon - trumpet
Joe Temperley - tenor
Sammy Walker - tenor
Lennie Dawes - baritone
Harry South - piano
Ashley Kozac - bass
Tony Crombie - drums
Annie Ross - vocals
Bobby Breen - vocals

Tracks:
01 Stop It
02 All of Me
03 Perdido
04 Love You Madly

Decca ep DFE 6247

Recorded 1954

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:

Tony Crombie was a man of many parts, early bebopper and Club 11 Founder member, big band leader, rock and roll star and writer of film and TV music. Here he leads a fine big band from 1954 with vocalists Annie Ross and Bobby Breen having a song apiece. Bobby had a long career in music and sang with all the best musicians. Unusually for a singer he had a rather endearing pronounced lisp but it didn't prevent him from tackling those songs which, in theory, should have been a nightmare for him. The following extract from 'Dave Corsby-Jazz Notes' illustrates this well:

'TV South had an evening local news programme and every month or so the producer used to feature a jazz spot. Their small studio in Dover only had two cameras so one was used for close ups and the other moved around taking long shots from different angles. West Indian singer Bobby Breen was the guest. Bobby who had a lisp chose to sing "Route Thixty Thix" and "Like Thomeone in Luth". After a talk through in the pub which lasted from eleven to three we returned to record the two songs and interview in one continuous take ready for unedited transmission at six. The first take was too long. The second take was fine but unusable because in the interview Bobby was asked to what he owed his success and answered "draft Guinneth". The next take was great. Everyone played well and in my four bar solo break everything came off better than intended. Unfortunately the distance cameraman slipped on a cable and came up with a shot of Bobby Breen's boots. By this time we were running short of film and time. The final take was relatively tame as everybody played safe. But an enduring memory is Bobby singing "Lately I find mythelth gathing at thtarth, hearing guitarth like thomone in luth". '

FLAC with ep cover scans and pdf file.

0186 Johnny Dankworth and Ronnie Scott [Bop at Club 11] FLAC 13(55.41)

2011-08-14T07:58:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Dennis Rose - trumpet
John Dankworth - alto
Johnny Rogers - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Tommy Pollard - piano
Norman Stenfalt - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Joe Muddel - bass
Tony Crombie - drums
Ginger Johnson - bongos
Laurie Morgan - drums

Tracks:
01 Wee Dot (2:55)
02 Coquette (2:33)
03 52nd Street Theme (4:40)
04 Bremavin (3:36)
05 Lover Man (3:39)
06 Ow! (4:59)
07 Don't Blame Me (5:17)
08 Second Eleven (4:43)
09 Body and Soul (3:53)
10 Stoned (4:00)
11 Scrapple from the Apple (6:49)
12 A Night in Tunisia (3:59)
13 Donna Lee (4:06)

Esquire 315

Recorded April 9 1949

Contributed by Blue Prince, who writes:

"A concert featuring these two groups on 9 April 1949 at St. George Hall, London and recorded live by Carlo Krahmer for his Esquire label. Krahmer's disc recording equipment was primitive and the results reflect this but it was an historic occasion for British jazz - one of the earliest live Bop recordings."

Flac with LP cover scans and pdf file.

0185 Bertie King & Kenny Baker [Symphony in Riffs] FLAC 1(10.27)

2011-08-10T06:38:00.002+01:00

Personnel:
Kenny Baker - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Bertie King - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Vic Ash - clarinet
Dill Jones - piano
Bill Le Sage - accordion
Cedric West - guitar
Frank Clarke - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums

Track:
01 Symphony In Riffs (10:27)

Nixa ep NJE 1006

Recorded April 20 1955

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"This is an extended Benny Carter composition which occupies both sides of the ep and features mainly the alto of Bertie King although there are other big names present in the group. There are solos by others and they are listed on the back of the sleeve."

FLAC with ep cover scans and pdf file.

0184 Ken Colyer [Back to the Delta] 320 9(28.27)

2011-08-07T09:24:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Ken Colyer - trumpet, guitar, vocals
Ed O'Donnell - trombone
Bernard Bilk - clarinet
Diz Disley - banjo
Alexis Korner - mandolin, vocals
Dick Smith - bass
Mickey Ashman - bass
Bill Colyer - washboard
Stan Greig - drums

Tracks:
01 Sing On (3:05)
02 Lord Lord Lord You Sure Been Good to Me (2:46)
03 Faraway Blues (4:43)
04 Moose March (2:50)
05 Midnight Special (2:51)
06 Casey Jones (2:38)
07 K C Moan (3:02)
08 Saturday Night Function (3:59)
09 Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (2:34)

Recorded June 25 and September 10 1954

MP3 320. Front and back covers but the back is in German and not too legible. Pdf file.

Contributed by beezer.

"Ken was of major historic importance in the British post-1945 discovery of New Orleans traditional music. It may seem a long way from Ken to the likes of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but he helped paved the way for the rediscovery of the Blues and all that went with that."
LondonLouis

0183 Tony Kinsey [The 78s] FLAC 4(12.37)

2011-08-03T08:55:00.003+01:00

Personnel:
Joe Harriott - alto
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

Tracks:
01 Jump for Me (3:10)
02 Can't We Be Friends (3:19)
03 Raymond (3:17)
04 Nice Work If You Can Get It (2:51)

Recorded September 22 1954

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"Four more titles from this group recorded for Esquire
and previously issued on 78s and a long out-of-print
Esquire re-issue lp. This really was a superb little
group and I think we have now heard all their known
recordings where they play together. Joe Harriott never disappoints."

FLAC with 'cover picture' and track details. Pdf by Doc Sausage

0182 Don Rendell [Playtime] FLAC 10(43.38)

2011-07-31T17:10:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Eddie Harvey - valve trombone, piano
Ronnie Ross - alto, baritone
Don Rendell - tenor
Pete Blannin - bass
Andy White - drums

Tracks:
01 Hit the Road to Dreamland (Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer) (4:44)
02 Packet of Blues (Bert Courtley) (5:38)
03 My Friend Tom (Don Rendell) (4:12)
04 It's Playtime (Don Rendell) (3:51)
05 Tickle Toe (Lester Young) (3:11)
06 The Lady is a Tramp (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) (5:11)
07 Dolly Mixture (Ronnie Ross) (4:24)
08 This can't be Love (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) (3:40)
09 By-pass (Eddie Harvey) (4:06)
10 Johnny Come Lately (Billy Strayhorn) (3:49)

Decca LK4265

Recorded March 13, 14 1958 London

Contributed by delmonico and yewsta

The leader did most of the writing for this group but there is plenty of material by the sidemen too, both compositions and arrangements. The group cohesion is exceptional in the ensemble passages and the soloing is of a high standard throughout.

Pdf is by Doc Sausage.

BJ

"This is the best record by the best of Don Rendell's bands. Unfortunately the group is no longer in existence and its absence from the local round of club dates has been regrettable in the extreme. If it is possible to produce an identifiably British style of jazz which is at once fresh, inventive, swinging and tasteful, then the music heard here is perhaps the best answer to the problem. Never vulgar or insincere, it is nevertheless virile and ideally suited to the performers. An important factor is that the arrangements were written by members of the band, each man being familiar with the capabilities and temperaments of his fellows. Bert Courtley's Packet Of Blues is a case in point, with the group providing an ideal setting for Bert's Clark Terry-like trumpet. (A beautifully played accelerando passage by the full ensemble is a particularly noteworthy part of the arrangement.) Don is his usual consistent self, his control exemplary and his use of dynamics always intelligently interpolated. Ronnie Ross plays excellent baritone on most of the tracks, but he takes a good alto solo on This Can't Be Love. Eddie Harvey performs on valve trombone and piano with equal facility. Bass player Pete Blannin and drummer Andy White (the most suitable drummer to have played with Rendell since the departure of Don Lawson) complete the personnel. The informative sleeve notes are by the leader."

Gramophone October 1958

0181 Ronnie Scott [Ronnie Scott Orchestra Esquire EP 81] FLAC 4(11.00)

2011-07-27T08:45:00.003+01:00

Personnel:
Hank Shaw - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Benny Green - baritone
Victor Feldman - vibes, piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 S'il Vous Plait
02 Pearl
03 This Heart of Mine
04 Jordu

Recorded April 13 1955

This is posted in response to a request from a stalwart supporter of the blog who is particularly interested in the John Lewis composition "S'il Vous Plait". We hope he enjoys the rest of the session too.

Another new contributor from whom we hope to post more such gems later. Let's hear a resounding welcome for her. BJ

Contributed by bellawoods, who writes:

"This is last recording session of the Ronnie Scott nine piece Orchestra from April 1955. By this time, Ronnie was moving away from his Lester Young sound and sounds very 'modern' here. A great band with few recordings and a nice version of John Lewis' 'Sil Vous Plait' which seems to be the only other recording of this tune since Lewis wrote and played it in the Miles Davis Nonet back in 1949.

Phil Seamen, who seemed to be on everyone's recordings in the 1950s, drives the band along with his usual verve."

0180 Ottilie Patterson [With Chris Barber's Jazzband 1955-1958] FLAC 18(1.02.26)

2011-07-24T08:39:00.009+01:00

Personnel:
Pat Halcox - cornet
Chris Barber - trombone
Monty Sunshine - clarinet
Johnny Duncun - guitar
Lonnie |Donegan - banjo
Dick Bishop - banjo
Eddie Smith - banjo
Jim Bray - bass
Micky Ashman - bass
Dick Smith - bass
Graham Burbidge - drums
Ron Bowden - drums
Ottilie Patterson - vocal

Tracks:
01 Poor Man's Blues
02 Make Me a Pallet on the Floor
03 Trouble in Mind
04 Careless Love
05 I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
06 Ugly Child
07 I Can't Give You Anything But Love
08 New St Louis Blues
09 Beale St Blues
10 'Taint No Sin
11 Jailhouse Blues
12 Shipwreck Blues
13 Lowland Blues
14 I Love My Baby
15 Kay Cee Rider
16 Just a Closer Walk with Thee
17 Trombone Cholly
18 Lawdy Lawdy Blues

Recorded 1955 to 1958

Contributed by Piers. We are posting this album here as a tribute to Ottilie Patterson who sadly passed away recently. A visitor reminded us that her passing had not been marked at this blog. The item has been posted on another blog and Piers has kindly given permission for it to be duplicated here.

An excellent obituary can be read here BJ

0179 Joe Harriott [Joe Harriott With Strings] FLAC 2(9.00)

2011-07-20T11:00:00.008+01:00

Personnel:
Joe Harriott - alto
Max Harris - piano
Maria Korchinsky - harp
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Dave McCullum - violin
Sid Camine - violin
David Katz - violin
Louis Rosin - viola
Fred Alexander - cello

Tracks:
01 I'll Remember April (3:53)
02 Easy to Love (5:07)

JTE 106 (ep)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes

"A two track ep featuring Joe's Quartet with strings from 1955. This seems to have been the badge of respectability back then - if you played with strings then you were a legitimate musician.
The only person who pulled it off that I can recall was Stan Getz and Eddie Sauter with 'Focus'. Everybody else played nicely, stuck to the melody and nothing too exciting happened.
Joe is no exception here - but Joe could play anything with anybody and still sound good."

Recorded May 27 1955

FLAC with cover picture, track details and pdf file.

0178 Ted Heath [Ted Heath's 100th London Palladium Sunday Concert] FLAC 11(32.34)

2011-07-17T08:16:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Ted Heath - leader
Bobby Pratt - trumpet
Duncan Campbell - trumpet
Stan Reynolds - trumpet
Ronnie Hughes - trumpet
Don Lusher - trombone
Jimmy Coombes - trombone
Ric Kennedy - trombone
Roy Willox - alto
Les Gilbert - alto
Danny Moss - tenor
Henry MacKenzie - tenor, clarinet
George Hunter - baritone
Frank Horrox - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Ronnie Verrell - drums

Tracks:
01 Lush Slide (2:15)
02 Birth of the Blues (2:27)
03 Fascinating Rhythm (2:20)
04 Our Waltz (2:53)
05 Theme from Moulin Rouge (1:25)
06 Viva Verrell ((3:32)
07 Henry IX (2:07)
08 Mood Indigo (2:53)
09 Sheik of Araby (2:09)
10 Holiday for Strings (1:42)
11 How High the Moon (8:22)

Recorded February 14 1954

Contributed by Brufan

0177 Alan Clare [The Improvisations of Alan Clare] FLAC 4(14.09)

2011-07-13T09:36:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Alan Clare - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

Tracks:
01 Duke's Joke (2:48)
02 Autumn in New York (4:17)
03 Love for Sale (3:54)
04 Things Ain't What They Used to Be (3:11)

Recorded August 23 1956

Decca ep DFE 6368

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:

"What a lovely tone Alan Clare has. Here he is in a trio setting on one of the very few recordings made under his own name.

The ep is not in the best of shape and whilst the sound has been restored to some extent there are background pops etc. remaining.

Any further restoration would distort the original sound."

FLAC with cover scans and pdf file by Doc Sausage.

We're back in action at last, although still a bit shaky! BJ

0176 Don Rendell [Paris Session 1956] 320 8(35.52)

2011-06-26T07:18:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Dick Mills - trumpet
Carl Fontana - trombone
Don Rendell - tenor
Henri Renaud - piano
Curtis Counce - bass
Wes Ilcken - drums

Tracks:
01 Daniel’s Blues (11:41)
02 Scrapple from the Apple (6:52)
03 Buhaina (7:56)
04 Ballad Medley - These Foolish Things/You Go to My Head/Darn that Dream/I

Cover the Waterfront (9:24)

Club Des Amateurs Du Disque CAD 3003 Paris

Recorded May 4 1956

Contributed by Roboud56. Thanks to him and to bluebird who produced the cover.

0175 Johnny Dankworth [The Criminal] FLAC 4(12.36)

2011-06-22T09:11:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Dickie Hawdon - trumpet
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
Gus Galbraith - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Tony Russell - trombone
Eddie Harvey - trombone
Ian McDougal - trombone
Ron Snyder - tuba
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Peter King - alto
Danny Moss - tenor
Art Ellefson - tenor
George Tyndale - baritone
Dudley Moore - piano
Spike Heatley - bass
Kenny Clare - drums

Tracks:
01 Riverside Stomp (3:34)
02 Freedom Walk (2:40)
03 After the Party (3:35)
04 Treasure Drive (2:46)

Recorded July 5 1960

Johnny Dankworth - Soundtrack Music From 'The Criminal' - Columbia SEG 8037 (ep)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

Great film and great music by the Dankworth Big Band from July 1960. Some big names in this band including Dudley Moore on piano.

Pity that Art Ellefson's name is misprinted as 'Ars' in the notes.

FLAC with front cover scan and copy of original sleeve notes with personnel, plus pdf file by Doc Sausage.

0174 Vic Ash Harry Klein [The Five of Us] FLAC 6(43.03)

2011-06-19T12:32:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Vic Ash - tenor, clarinet
Harry Klein - baritone
Brian Dee - piano
Malcolm Cecil - bass
Bill Eyden - drums
Tonny Mann - drums

Tracks:
01 There it Is (7:01)
02 The Five of Us (7:10)
03 'Pon My Soul (7:44)
04 Autumn Leaves (9:31)
05 Hootin' (6:14)
06 Still Life (5:23)

Recorded October 23 and November 12 1960

Tempo TAP 32 and Riverside (US) 361

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

If you've never heard Vic Ash on tenor during the early part of his career then this will be a treat for you. This was a working group jointly led by Vic and Harry Klein and here 5 of the 6 tunes are written by the band members. Vic is heard mainly on tenor, an instrument he had recently taken up, with just one clarinet outing but the whole groups swings in this very attractive programme recorded originally for Tempo.

The Americans must obviously have been impressed because Riverside issued this on their label in the USA, it being their first imported music. For some reason they re-titled the lp 'The Hooter' and re-named the tune ' Hootin' also as 'The Hooter'. They also referred to it as a 'Soul' album which probably amused Vic and Co.

Tempo producer Tony Hall wrote a completely different set of sleeve notes but the music remained the same except for the track 'There It Is' being nearly half a minute shorter on the Riverside issue.

But never mind the detail, just enjoy the music.

FLAC with original Tempo front cover picture and original Riverside (US) front and back cover pictures and pdf file.

0173 Tony Crombie [Jazz At The Flamingo Vol 1] FLAC 2(15.42)

2011-06-15T07:46:00.006+01:00

Personnel:
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Don Rendell - tenor
Benny Green - baritone
Bill Le Sage - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

Tracks:
01 Tres Gai (7:18)
02 Jump for Jeff (8:24)

Note: Thanks to aroonie's alertness, the order of the tunes on the cover can be seen as incorrect. They should be as here, the other way round. If you want to be accurate, you need to reverse them.

Decca ep - DFE 6253

Recorded March 1953

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

A small band led by Tony Crombie who composed both tunes heard here. The first of three eps in this Flamingo series and this one featuring the two tenors of Don Rendell and Tommy Whittle.

Benny Green, who later enjoyed a successful career as jazz writer, reviewer and broadcaster is heard on baritone sax. He played with various Ronnie Scott groups between 1952 and 1956 but took few solos.

One further title recorded at this session by this group, and also composed by Tony Crombie, has previously appeared on this blog as part of the 'Jazz At The Flamingo' lp.

FLAC with front ep cover scan, track/personnel details and original sleeve notes. Includes pdf, prepared by Doc Sausage.

0172 Dudley Moore Richard Rodney Bennett John Bassett [The First Orchestrations] FLAC 11(36.01)

2011-06-12T10:04:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
John Bassett - trumpet
Leon Calvert - trumpet
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
John Mumford -trombone
Herman Wilson - trombone
Ron Snyder - tuba
Al Newman - alto
Graham Bond - alto
Gerry Skelton - alto
Ray Warleigh - alto
Dick Heckstall-Smith - tenor
Duncan Lamont - tenor
Art Ellefson - tenor
Don Rendell - tenor
Sebastion Freudenberg - baritone
Graham Lyons - baritone
Johnny Scott - flute
Peter Shade - vibes
Dudley Moore - piano
Spike Heatley - bass
Kenny Napper - bass
Bryant Marriott - drums

Tracks:
01 Johnny is the Boy for Me (3:09)
02 You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (3:24)
03 Long Ago (and Far Away) (3:58)
04 Moore Please (4:03)
05 Yesterdays (3:23)
06 Fascinating Rhythm (2:18)
07 Nobody's Heart (3:12)
08 Pick Yourself Up (2:25)
09 I'll Take Romance (3:04)
10 You Make Me Feel So Young (2:27)
11 Keeping Myself for You (4:38)

Recorded in 1960

Contributed by azule serape, who writes:

Some early Dudley Moore and Richard Rodney Bennett arrangements for this little known band of John Bassett which recorded in 1960 with a host of big names in the ranks.

FLAC with booklet scans and pdf file.

0171 Wally Fawkes [Flook Digs Jazz] FLAC 4(13.30)

2011-06-08T08:42:00.008+01:00

Personnel:
Spike Mackintosh - trumpet
Jeremy French - trombone
Wally Fawkes- clarinet
Colin Bates - piano
Russ Allen - bass
Dave Pearson - drums

Tracks:
01 Lucky Duck (3:54)
02 Flook's Fancy (3:06)
03 Just a Closer Walk with Thee (2:32)
04 Talk of the Town (3:59)

Recorded January 1959

Decca DFE 6600 (ep)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:

Canadian born clarinettist Wally Fawkes, who is as well know for his long running cartoons of Flook in the Daily Mail and other publications as his music, is heard here in a session with his 'Troglodytes' from 1959. His pen name is Trog which explains the name of his group. An example of his work is shown on this ep cover.

Wally was a long time member of the Humphrey Lyttelton group and his brilliant satirical political cartoons were appreciated by many of those he portrayed. He never suffered fools gladly as this quote from him displays:

"I've always had a problem of trying to demolish the superior. I remember when Lady Rothermere [wife of the Mail's owner] was introduced to me, the person who drew Flook, and she said: 'Oh how marvellous! How is your furry little curly thing?' Without thinking, I said: 'Fine thanks. How's yours?' I've never been able to stop doing things like that"

Born in 1924, he is still alive, as far as is known, but no longer playing or drawing professionally.

FLAC with ep cover scans and pdf file.

0170 Ronnie Scott [Battle Royal] FLAC 13(52.20)

2011-06-05T08:02:00.009+01:00

Personnel:
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Kenny Graham - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Victor Feldman - piano
Dill Jones - piano
Norman Stenfalt - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums
Tony Kinsey - drums, timbales
Judy Johnson maraccas
Ginger Johnson - bongoes
Bob Caxton - conga

Tracks:
01 Not So Fast (3:16)
02 Battle Royal (3:03)
03 Fast (2:57)
04 Twin Beds (2:47)
05 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (3:04)
06 Scott's Expedition (3:24)
07 Avalon (3:13)
08 Love Me or Leave Me (2:55)
09 Nemo (3:33)
10 Troubled Air (3:02)
11 Eureka (3:10)
12 Seven Eleven (2:55)
13 All the Things You Are (15:02)

Recorded December 3 1951 September 16 1952 December 13 1952

Esquire 311

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:

"Various Ronnie Scott groups from the 1951/52 period
including an interesting session with Kenny Graham and his
Afro-Cubist rhythm section.

The long track, 'All The Things You Are', was cut direct to
disc at the end of a normal Esquire session and was one of
the earliest so recorded. Coupled with another long track
similarly recorded (not here but will be presented in the
future) they formed the whole of one 10" lp when originally
issued.

Sound, as usual from these Esquire re-issue lp recordings,
is not the best but perhaps adds a certain period charm.

FLAC with lp cover scans with pdf file."

Dill Jones makes an appearance here so this is a good time to bring to notice an interesting article on him located by Doc Sausage.

http://undermilkwood.webs.com/

0169 Tony Crombie [In Tel Aviv] FLAC 6(18.26)

2011-06-01T07:58:00.005+01:00

Personnel (probable):
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Les Condon - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Don Rendell - tenor
Al Cornish - tenor
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Damian Robinson - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums
Annie Ross - vocals
Johnny Grant - vocals

Tracks:
01 Short Stop (3:09)
02 You Go to My Head (3:45)
03 C'est Si Bon (2:59)
04 I Can't Believe that You're in Love with Me (1:30)
05 Compos Mentis (3:13)
06 Don't Worry 'Bout Me (3:49)

Radio Broadcast 1955

Contributed by azule serape, who writes:

Crombie took his band to Israel in late October 1955 for a series of concerts in that country and these tracks are taken from a Tel Aviv concert broadcast by Israeli State Radio.

Vocalists Annie Ross and Johnny Grant are featured on 4 of the 6 tracks.

Sound quality is not of the best but listenable.

FLAC with 'cover picture', pdf and possible personnel details.

0168 Eddie Thompson [Piano Moods] FLAC 10(41.20)

2011-05-29T07:01:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Eddie Thompson - piano
Arthur Watts - bass
Ken Sprang - bass
Andy White - drums
Jackie Dougan - drums

01 Eddification (2:42)
02 Three for 3/4 (3:49)
03 Three Cuban Heels (2:11)
04 Blue Whistle (3:42)
05 Theme for Nica (5:18)
06 Watch for the Light (2:28)
07 Eddie Blows the Blues (3:44)
08 After the Ball is Over (5:58)
09 Thompson Bell (5:20)
10 Contemplation (6:09)

Recorded May and June 1958

Contributed by Doc Sausage who writes

I came across this record in a charity shop in Birmingham in 1991. I hadn't heard of Eddie Thompson at that time, but, as ever, was on the lookout for unusual/obscure gems, and this LP seemed to fit the bill very well. I fell in love with it immediately, and it has become one of my most-played jazz albums. It was only a couple of years ago, when I started to have a proper look on the web at what else of ET's was available, that I discovered that I was in possession of quite a rarity, and that most people have never heard it. I think that is a great shame.

Four of the (many) things I love about this album: the tightly-focussed, urgent fluency of Thompson's fingering on such numbers as Eddification, Watch for the Light, and Eddie Blows the Blues; the expressive, genuinely tender passages featured in Three for 3-4 & Theme for Nica; the rhapsodic, darker tones of Contemplation, which I can't help feeling is a not-so-distant jazz relation of the Ballades of Chopin; and, lastly, the clanking of beer bottles at 0:41 on Three Cuban Heels — it just hits the spot every time!

You can read more about Eddie, including an excellent assessment by Simon Spillett, here.
http://www.jazzeddie.f2s.com/pianoUKpioneers.htm

Scans and pdf file included.

Please welcome our newest contributor Doc Sausage. A rare album, first class preparation. BJ

0167 Don Savage [Session With Savage] FLAC 4(12.06)

2011-05-25T08:51:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Don Savage - alto
Art Ellefson - tenor
Bernie George - baritone
Bobby Heath - piano
Bill Stark - bass
Art Morgan - drums

Tracks:
01 Midnight Sun (3:37)
02 All the Things You Are (3:16)
03 There Will Never Be Another You (2:38)
04 First Edition (2:35)

Nixa NJE 1048 (ep)

Recorded September 3 1957

Contributed by bluebird who writes

A little known alto player with a beautiful tone on his first and only recording as leader in 1957. Don played with the Frank Weir Orchestra, Tito Burns, Ted Heath and Ambrose and, like many other musicians at that time, was mainly buried away in the section of commercial dance bands to earn a living.

He leads a fine group here and it would be good to hear some more from this musician. Does anyone recall him and are there solos, say, with Ted Heath during the few months he spent in that band?

FLAC with cover scans and pdf file.

0166 Ray Ellington [The Ray Ellington Quartet 1948-1949] FLAC 8(26.07)

2011-05-22T10:09:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Dick Katz - piano
Lauderic Caton - guitar
Laurie Deniz - guitar
Coleridge Goode - bass
Ray Ellington - drums, vocal

Tracks:
01 Five Guys Named Moe (2:53)
02 The Best Man (2:53)
03 Dream for Percussion (2:57)
04 Ooh Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty? (2:35)
05 Dick's Boogie (3:02)
06 Dream for Bass (3:00)
07 Strip the Camshaft (2:43)
08 Boppy Soxer (2:53)
09 Swedish Pastry (3:12)

Recorded January 23 1948, February 1 and 15, May 9, June 29 and November 3 1948

Contributed by bluebird who writes

More from the Ellington Quartet including some vocals by the leader and typical of what he performed on the long running 'Goon Show' on radio.

The tunes 'Strip The Camshaft' and 'Boppy Soxer' are the same with different titles.

FLAC with track details, 'cover picture' and pdf file

0165 Vic Lewis [And His Orchestra] FLAC 4(11.15)

2011-05-17T09:05:00.008+01:00

Personnel:
Vic Lewis - leader
Dave Loban - trumpet
Ronnie Baker - trumpet
Johnny Brown - trumpet
Trevor Lanigan - trumpet
Johnny Watson - trombone
Alec Gould - trombone
Rusty Hurren - trombone
Johnny Keating - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - alto
Bernard Allen - alto
Brian Gray - tenor
Howard Morgan - tenor
Brian Rogerson - baritone
Red Mitchell - piano
Stan Wasser - bass
Andy White - drums

Tracks:
01 The Opener
02 Arual
03 Begin the Beguine
04 Short Stop

Recorded November 18 1954

Esquire ep 33

Contributed by bluebird (with cornelius), who writes

This is Vic's band from late 1954. The West Coast influence is heavy here with echoes of Shorty Rogers and Stan Kenton. The Bill Holman tune 'The Opener' had just been recorded a year earlier by Kenton so it is surprising to hear it here so soon.

Some nice alto solos from, we think, Ronnie Chamberlain.

Listeners should be warned that despite the best efforts of the BritJazz technical team the recordings on side 1 are far from perfect with residual noise in places. As these recordings have only ever appeared on 78s prior to this scarce 1954 ep release it was felt that the posting was justified.

FLAC with cover scans and pdf file.

0164 Jimmy Deuchar [Pal Jimmy] FLAC 8(40.10)

2011-05-15T07:33:00.011+01:00

Personnel:
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Ken Wray - valve trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Tubby Hayes - tenor, baritone
Harry South - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Heather Mist
02 Jak-Jak
03 Pal Jimmy
04 Split Second
05 My Funny Valentine
06 I Didn't Know What Time it Was
07 Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered
08 I Could Write a Book

Contributed by delmonico, who writes

Two sessions from March 1958 with two different Deuchar led groups. Deuchar, Humble and Wray were working with the Kurt Edelhagen Big Band in Germany at the time and were on a flying visit home when these sessions were made.

The March 4 date gives the opportunity to hear Derek Humble at some length - what a shame that he never got to record an album under his own name and that he had to spend most of his later career playing outside the UK. He was seriously injured when mugged in Cologne in 1968 and whilst he played with the Clarke-Boland Band for the following two years his health was badly affected. He returned to the UK in the summer of 1970 and died whilst visiting his mother in February 1971. He was 41 years old at the time.

The 7 March date has tunes from the musical 'Pal Joey' from which the album title is based and has Tubby Hayes playing some baritone sax.

FLAC with cover scans and pdf file by DaveB.

Recorded 4 and 7 March 1958

Tempo TAP 20

0163 Ronnie Scott [Ronnie Scott Orchestra] FLAC 2(11.39)

2011-05-11T11:17:00.006+01:00

Personnel:
Hank Shaw - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto, clarinet
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Benny Green - baritone
Victor Feldman - piano, drums
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Lester Leaps In
02 Seamen's Mission

Esquire ep 31

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes

This one's for the drummers amongst us.
A 'battle' between Victor Feldman, who usually played piano
and vibes with this group, and Phil Seamen with the band
providing backing only.

FLAC with cover pictures.

Recorded November 2 1954

Pdf by DaveB

0162 [Dave Lee Trio Lennie Felix Trio] FLAC 7(24.55)

2011-05-08T06:13:00.014+01:00

Personnel:
Dave Lee - piano
Lennie Felix - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 I Must Have That Man
02 Salt Air
03 Excuse for the Blues
04 On the Alamo
05 Sweet Lorraine
06 Jada
07 Two Views of the Blues

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes

One side each on this 10" lp for these two very different pianists. Dave Lee is perhaps the better known of the two and we may have heard some of these tracks earlier.

Lennie's recorded output is quite small but well worth searching out. He died in 1980 aged 60 as a result of a road accident.

'Two Views of the Blues' is the standout track here for me.

Recorded May 29 and July 8 1957

Nixa NLP 1027 (10" lp)

FLAC with lp cover scans.

DaveB prepared the pdf file - thanks to him.

0161 Johnny Weed [The UK Recordings] FLAC 9(34.42)

2011-05-04T09:28:00.001+01:00

Personnel:
Amy Tweed - trumpet
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Ken Wray - bass trumpet
Joe Harriott - alto
Don Savage - alto
Norman Gondall - tenor
Johnny Weed - piano
Tito Burns - accordion
Dave Goldberg - guitar
Major Holley - bass
Stan Wasser - bass
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Dougie Cooper - drums

Tracks:
01 Blues Original
02 My Heart Belongs to Daddy
03 Riff Concoction
04 Midnight Sun
05 Pinky
06 Budo
07 Chorous
08 Basie Line
09 Manteca Suite

Contributed by delmonico, who writes

Pianist, arranger and composer Johnny Weed was born in London on 15 May, 1931. He worked, briefly, with Basil Kirchin in 1952, also with Vic Lewis before joining Tito Burns in 1954/5. He replaced Ken Moule in the successful Ken Moule Seven when Ken became disenchanted with band leading and the group was led by bass player Arthur Watts. In the period 1955 to 1956 he worked with groups led by a number of top jazz men including Vic Ash, Tubby Hayes, Dizzy Reece, Joe Harriott and Phil Seamen. Some tracks with some of these musicians are included here.

He emigrated to the USA in 1957 and worked with a number of big bands including Buddy Morrow, Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman and Tex Beneke as well as running a successful arranging business with Ronnie Roullier until 1971. He played at President Kennedy's 1961 inaugural ball and in the '70s was Musical Director on a TV show called "Someone New". He moved to Florida in 1993 and continued to play regular gigs and until his death from cancer in November, 2002.

These are all the known UK commercial recordings made by Johnny - there is a private recording of him with Joe Harriott, Major Holley and Phil Seamen made in 1956 and which has just been issued on vinyl by Gearbox Records but it is not included here or listed. There may be other privately recorded sessions which have not yet surfaced. Nothing is known about any recordings he made (if any) in the USA after he emigrated there in 1957.

FLAC with cover pictures of the various lps and a short discography.

0160 Tommy Whittle [New Horizons] 320 9(40.55)

2011-05-01T10:40:00.001+01:00

Personnel:
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Eddie Thompson - piano
Ken Sprang - bass
Jackie Dougan - drums

Tracks:
01 Lady Bee
02 Howl
03 Lullabye
04 Mine Still
05 12 by 5
06 New Horizons
07 Blues in the Dark
08 Loving Man
09 Heard and Seen

Recorded May 1959

Contributed by Azule Serape

May 3 2011 - Our thanks to Gonzo who has kindly (although he tells me he enjoyed the exercise!) carried out some remedial work on this post. There is a link in the comments if anyone would like to try the result. BJ

September 20 2011 - Brought to the fore today because a new rip acquired by Azule Serape. It is FLAC and may be an improvement even on Gonzo's. Subjective though so link here for you to try if you wish.

0159 Don Rendell [The Jazz Committee] FLAC 3(14.35)

2011-04-27T10:09:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Don Rendell - tenor
Eddie Harvey - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Jackie Dougan - drums

Tracks:
01 The Minutes
02 Founder Member
03 Board Meeting

Decca ep DFE 6587

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-

The Don Rendell Quintet meets as the Jazz Committee complete

with spoof 'minutes' written by Kitty Grime who should have

known better.

Just ignore those and enjoy the music.

FLAC with cover picture and track details.

Recorded March 24 1959

0158 The Jazz Couriers [The Jazz Couriers] FLAC 8(45.01)

2011-04-24T10:43:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Tubby Hayes - tenor
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Terry Shannon - piano
Phil Bates - bass
Bill Eyden - drums

Tracks:
01 Oh My!
02 Plebus
03 Reunion
04 A Foggy Day
05 Through the Night Roared the Overland Express (a Broken Bridge Ahead, a Madman at the Throttle)
06 Royal Ascot
07 On a Misty Night
08 Cheek to Cheek

Recorded August 8 1957
Tempo TAP 15

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:
A fine Couriers session from August 1957.
An alternate take of 'On A Misty Night' not on the original lp was issued on a Tempo compilation album - 'Speak Low' - and previously posted on this blog.
FLAC with cover scans.

BJ says:
The download also includes a pdf file to make for easier reading, prepared by DaveB. We hope you find it useful.
We are just trying it out and this stage but thanks to Dave for his suggestion and work on this.
Please comment if you feel the urge - some views already received.

0157 The Saints Jazz Band [Session with the Saints] FLAC 4(11.26)

2011-04-20T09:44:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Mike McNama – trumpet
Fred Fydler – trombone
Alan Radcliffe – clarinet
John Fish – piano
Nigel Sinclair (Nevil Scrimshire) – guitar
Reg Kenworthy – bass
John Mills – drums

Tracks:
01 Mahogany Hall Blues Stomp
02 Blue Turning Grey Over You
03 How Come You Do Me Like You Do
04 Willie the Weeper

Recorded September 15 1956

Parlophone GEP 8624

FLAC and scans

Contributed by Roboud56. This one is also on his blog Think Too Much Jazz which most are probably familiar with. Thanks to Rob for offering it here too. BJ

0156 John Dankworth [Journey Into Jazz] FLAC 5(32.24)

2011-04-17T10:54:00.011+01:00

Personnel:
John Dankworth - leader, alto, clarinet, tympani. narration
Derrick Abbott - trumpet
Bill Metcalf - trumpet
Stan Palmer - trumpet
Colin Wright - trumpet
Dougie Roberts - trumpet
Charlie Evans - trumpet
Frank Donlan - trumpet
Garry Brown - trombone
Harry Buckles - trombone
Danny Elwood - trombone
Bill Geldard - trombone
Laurie Monk - trombone
Ronnie Fenwick - alto
Peter Warner - tenor
John Xerri - tenor
Alex Leslie - baritone
Dave Lee - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Kenny Clare - drums

Tracks:
01 Adios
02 Jersey Bounce
03 Take the A Train
04 Explanation of Itinerary
05 Itinerary of an Orchestra

Recorded January 20 and August 9 1956

Contrbuted by Azule Serape

0155 Geoff Taylor [Sweet Suite] FLAC 2(10.39)

2011-04-13T08:46:00.004+01:00

Personnel:
Geoff Taylor - alto
Martin Slavin - vibes
Dave Lee = piano
Jimmy Currie - guitar
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Kenny Clare - drums

Tracks:
01 Sweet Sue
02 Sweet Lorraine

Esquire ep 105

A little known alto saxophonist who led his own Earl Bostic styled group in the 1950s and 1960s. He freelanced in the 1970s then left music only to resume regular playing and freelancing in the London area in the 1990s.
Here he is heard on what was one half of a 10" lp with a
'Sweet' theme which is perhaps generously described as 'pleasant'.

FLAC with ep cover scans.

Recorded October 24 1955

Contributed by delmonico

0154 Various [Modern Jazz Scene 1956] FLAC 15(1.01.52)

2011-04-10T09:34:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
01-07
Ian Hamer - trumpet
Dickie Hawdon - trumpet
Mike Senn - alto
Tubby Hayes - tenor
Jackie Sharpe - baritone
Harry South - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Bill Eyden - drums
Bobby Breen - conga, vocal

08-11
Vic Ash - clarinet
Terry Shannon - piano
Pete Elderfield - bass
Benny Goodman - drums

12-15
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Derek Smith - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Allan Ganley - drums

Tracks:
01 Orient Line
02 Plymouth Rock
03 Room 608
04 Sophisticated Lady
05 Mambo Tittoro
06 I'll Remember April
07 Doggin' Around
08 Early Morning
09 Doxy
10 Blue Lou
11 Just One of Those Things
12 Any Questions
13 These Foolish Things
14 UMF
15 Diz the Wiz

Contributed by bluebird

0153 Ronnie Scott [Ronnie Scott Quintet] FLAC 2(28.01)

2011-04-06T07:05:00.006+01:00

Personnel:
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Norman Stenfalt - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

Tracks:
01 Great Scott
02 All the Things You Are

Contributed by bluebird

0152 Tony Crombie [Jazz Inc] FLAC 8(40.22)

2011-04-03T09:29:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Leon Clavert- trumpet
Les Condon - trumpet
Al Newman - alto, clarinet
Bobby Wellins - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Stan Tracey - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

Tracks:
01 Caravan
02 Boo-Bah
03 Lullaby
04 Reelin'
05 Li'l Ol' Pottsville
06 Jamba
07 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
08 Summertime

Contributed by bluebird

0151 Johnny Grant [Introducing Johnny Grant] FLAC 4(10.35)

2011-03-30T09:37:00.007+01:00

Personnel:
Jimmy Watson - trumpet (?)
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Tubby Hayes - tenor, vibes
Unknown - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

Tracks:
01 You'd Better Know It
02 Darn That Dream
03 Zing Went the Strings of My Heart
04 Then I'll Be Tired of You

Vocalist Johnny Grant sang with the Ronnie Scott Band in 1953, later with Tony Crombie's Big Band and The Kirchin Band (previously featured on this blog). And then he seemed to disappear. I can find no trace of him in later years.

The arrangements here are by pianist Norman Stenfalt but the sleeve notes are coy about who else played on the date. The Tubby Hayes discography suggests that the musicians are Tubby Hayes, Derek Humble, Jimmy Deuchar, Ken Wray, Stan Tracey, Lennie Bush and Tony Crombie but this has not been confirmed.

I suppose that Grant sang in the style of the day with a wide vibrato but this sound now seems dated. It's pleasant enough but I guess that this not often seen ep from the late 1950s (1957/1958?) is a bit of a collector's item rather than being music of any significance. There are no band solos.

Does anyone know what happened to Johnny Grant?

FLAC with cover scans.

Saga ESAG 7004

Contributed by bluebird

0150 Ted Heath [Ted Heath's 89th London Palladium Concert] FLAC 12(37.34)

2011-03-27T12:48:00.005+01:00

Personnel:
Ted Heath - leader
Bobby Pratt - trumpet
Duncan Campbell - trumpet
Stan Reynolds - trumpet
Ronnie Hughes - trumpet
Don Lusher - trombone
Jack Bentley - trombone
Wally Smith - trombone
Jackie Armstrong - trombone
Roy Willox - alto
Les Gilbert - alto
Danny Moss - tenor
Tommy Whittle - tenor
George Hunter - baritone
Frank Horrox - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Ronnie Verrell - drums

Tracks:
01 The Champ
02 Eloquence
03 Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
04 Pick Yourself Up
05 Blues for Moderns
06 Fourth Dimension
07 Etrospect
08 Dark Eyes
09 Solitude
10 The Hawk Talks
11 I Got It Bad
12 Rhapsody for Drums

Recorded April 12 1953

It was around the time of this recording that, as schoolboys, my best friend & I attended several of the Sunday night sessions. We cycled the 13 miles or so from our homes, parking our bikes in a nearby underground car park. Those were the days! Brufan.

Contributed by Brufan

0149 Al Fairweather [Fairweather Friends Part One] FLAC 2(11.10)

2011-03-23T08:49:00.006Z

Personnel:
Al Fairweather - trumpet
Tony Milliner - bass trumpet, trombone
Tony Coe - alto
Red Price - tenor
Stan Greig - piano
Al McPake - guitar
Tim Mahn - bass
Graham Burbidge - drums

Tracks:
01 I Can't Give You Anything but Love
02 September in the Rain

Recorded November 14 1957

Contributed by Brufan

0147 Allan Ganley [The High Priest] FLAC 4(14.46)

2011-03-16T08:30:00.006Z

Personnel:
Art Ellefson - tenor
Stan Jones - piano
Stan Wasser - bass
Allan Ganley - drums

Tracks:
01 Open Country
02 Beaulieu
03 The High Priest
04 Blue Skies

Tracks 01 and 02 have inadvertently been reversed

Recorded August 1958

Contributed by Azule Serape

0146 Eric Delaney [Mainly Delaney] 320 12(40.56)

2011-03-12T12:38:00.013Z

Personnel:
Albert Hall - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Alan Nesbitt
Eric Delaney - drums, tympanis
others unknown

Tracks:
01 Oranges And Lemons
02 Cockles and Mussels
03 Roamin' In The Gloamin'
04 Say Si Si
05 Mainly Delaney
06 Rock An' Roll King Cole
07 Ain't She Sweet
08 Hornpipe Boogie
09 Truckin'
10 Rockin' The Tymps
11 One O'Clock Jump
12 Ripe Cherry Rock

Recorded 1954 1955 1956

Mercury MG 20258

Eric Delaney (born 22 May 1924, Acton, west London) is an English drummer and bandleader, popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.Aged 16 he won the Best Swing Drummer award and later joined the Bert Ambrose Octet which featured George Shearing on piano. During 1947-54 he appeared with the Geraldo Orchestra and filled his time with regular session work in recording studios and on film, TV and radio. In 1954 he formed his own band and later signed with the new Pye Records label. He made three Royal Variety Show appearances, the first in 1956.

Delaney specialised in up-tempo dance hall music, often carrying a rock n' roll label but closer in spirit to that of Geraldo and Joe Loss. As with many similar artists, the music Delaney performed moved out of vogue after The Beatles. Nonetheless, Delaney remained active touring in the UK, notably in holiday resorts.

Fuller details of Delaney's life – he's still touring – along with photographs and comments from Kenny Ball, Elkie Brooks, Terry Lightfoot, Humphrey Lyttelton and others - are in Eddie Sammons' biography.[2]

Eric's grandson, Jake Delaney, is also a talented drummer. He will probably inherit Eric's drum kit.

Although best known as a jazz drummer, Eric is a talented multi-percussionist. As well as the drums he plays xylophone, glockenspiel, timpani, military side drum, tubular bells, a variety of Chinese gongs and tam tams and has incorporated many everyday items such as brushes and whistles into his shows over the years.

This American 12" LP "Mainly Delaney" sold very well and was an extended version of his 10" Nixa LP in UK.Freshly ripped vinyl , enjoy!!

Contributed by tyronetieclip

Another new contributor so please leave thanks for him in comments.

We have had some discussion about the appropriateness of this album to the blog. There are tracks which almost no-one would say are jazz but others which indubitably do qualify. Anyway, as was mentioned, it is "fun" so here it is. BJ

0145 Johnny Keating [Spotlight on European Jazz Vol 1 British] FLAC 4(12.03)

2011-03-09T08:47:00.007Z

Personnel:
Johnny Keating - leader
Eddie Blair - trumpet
Bobby Pratt - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Maurice Pratt - trombone
Don Lusher - trombone
Keith Christie - trombone
Jimmy Wilson - trombone
Ian Powell - tuba
Ronnie Chamberlain - alto
Don Rendell - tenor
Bob Efford - tenor
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Damian Robinson - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Ronnie Verrill - drums
Dizzy Reece - bongoes

Tracks:
01 Lazy
02 Ultraviolet
03 Piccadilly Jumps
04 Good Life

Recorded March 19 and 20 1956

Contributed by Brufan

And here are some alternative images not included in the download, with thanks to an anonymous contributor:-

0144 Chris Barber [In Concert Volume Three] FLAC 9(47.44)

2011-03-06T07:28:00.008Z

Personnel:
Pat Halcox - trumpet
Chris Barber - trombone
Monty Sunshine - clarinet
Eddie Smith - banjo
Dick smith - bass
Graham Burbidge - drums
Ottilie Patterson - vocal

Tracks:
01 Bugle Boy March
02 Pretty Baby
03 Majorca
04 Georgie Grind
05 Rockin' in Rhythm
06 My Old Kentucky Home
07 Careless Love
08 Strange Things Happen Every Day
09 Mama Don't Allow

Recorded March 1 1958

Contributed by Gonzo

0143 Elaine Delmar [A Swingin' Chick] FLAC 4(12.12)

2011-03-02T06:54:00.006Z

Personnel:
Victor Feldman - vibes
Dill Jones - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Benny Goodman - drums
Elaine Delmar - vocals

Tracks:
01 Am I Blue?
02 Why Can't I?
03 Wonderful Guy
04 Blue Turning Grey Over You

Elaine's first recordings with a jazz group dating from August 1960 with

Victor Feldman and the Dill Jones Trio.

No, it's not THE Benny Goodman on drums, only one of the local London lads

who was very active around this period.

FLAC with ep cover scans.

Metronome MEP 1786

Recorded August 23 1960

Contributed by delmonico

0142 Jimmy Skidmore and Bertie King [Mainstream at Nixa Volume Two] FLAC 6(26.03)

2011-02-27T10:11:00.008Z

Personnel:
Leslie Jiver Hutchinson - trumpet
Kenny Baker - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Bertie King - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Kenny Graham - tenor
Cliff Townsend - baritone
Max Harris - piano
Derek Smith - piano
Cedric West - guitar
Major Holley - bass
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

Tracks:
01 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
02 You Took Advantage of Me
03 Coquette
04 Blue Interlude
05 Skip It
06 Lazy Afternoon

Recorded September 20 and October 12 1956

Contributed by Brufan

0141 Joe Harriott [A Guy Called Joe] FLAC 2(11.09)

2011-02-23T08:58:00.004Z

Personnel:
Shake Keane - trumpet, flugelhorn
Joe Harriott - alto
Harry South - piano
Coleridge Goode - bass
Bobby Orr - drums
Frank Holder - bongoes

Tracks:
01 Liggin'
02 Caravan

Recorded April 8 and 21 1960

Contributed by Brufan

0139 Sir George Shearing O.B.E. [Tribute Selection] FLAC MP3 9(27.41)

2011-02-15T09:38:00.006Z

13 August 1919 - 14 February 2011

Personnel:
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Harry Hayes - alto
Aubrey Franks - tenor
Harry Parry - clarinet
Roy Marsh - vibes
Joe Roland - vibes
George Shearing - piano, accordion
Leonard Feather - piano
Frank Deniz - guitar
Alan Mindel - guitar
Dennis Wright - guitar
Chuck Wayne - guitar
Sam Molyneaux - bass
Tommy Bromley - bass
Arthur O'Neill - bass
Al McKibbon - bass
Carlo Krahmer - drums
Ben Edwards - drums
Dave Fullerton - drums
Denzil Best - drums
Stephane Grappelli - violin
Beryl Davis - vocal

Tracks:
01 How Come You Do Me Like You Do
02 Stomp in F
03 Squeezin' the Blues
04 Dim Blues
05 Champagne
06 Riff Up Them Stairs
07 Five Flat Flurry
08 Don't You Know That I Care
09 Lullaby of Birdland

British born pianist Sir George Shearing died at his home in New York on 14 February from heart failure.

There will be many obituaries written by others so BritJazz has decided to be brief and, instead, offer a selection of George's pre USA music for you to enjoy.

Born blind, George never seemed to have a problem finding work in the UK and at one time, aged just 17, was a member of Claude Bampton's Band of blind musicians. Their signature tune was aptly 'I'll See You In My Dreams' which was actually suggested by one of the band members.

Imagine the organisation required to transport a group of 20 blind musicians around the country to their various engagements.

The band parts were first copied out in Braille and each musician had to 'read' and memorize his own part and then play it.

George emigrated to the USA in 1947 where he enjoyed a long and illustrious career firstly in jazz and then branching out into the wider entertainment world.

He retained his affection for his country of birth, visiting and playing here often, receiving the OBE in 1996 and being knighted by the Queen in 2007 for services to music.

George will be remembered for the vast library of music of all styles he left behind for others to enjoy in the future. The 'Shearing Sound' started a whole new trend in small group jazz music and his composition 'Lullaby of Birdland' has become a jazz classic.

In keeping with BritJazz policy the music, with one special exception, was all recorded before 1947 in the UK and full recording details are provided.

The special exception is, of course, 'Lullaby of Birdland' recorded by the classic Shearing Quintet in 1952 in New York.

How could we omit that?

0138 Pat Dodd [Piano Magic] FLAC 12(29.49)

2011-02-13T09:47:00.005Z

Personnel:
Pat Dodd - piano
Joe Muddel - bass
George Fierstone - drums

01 Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
02 The Very Thought of You
03 My Melancholy Baby
04 I Surrender Dear
05 As Time Goes By
06 Once in a While
07 Stars Fell on Alabama
08 Body and Soul
09 A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
10 You Go to My Head
11 You are Too Beautiful
12 Someone to Watch Over Me

Recorded c.1955

Pat Dodd (1909-1991), is another virtually unknown pianist.

He played piano from the age of 6, accompanied silent movies at the age of 14 and then spent the next part of his musical career in many of the Dance Bands of the 1930s in the London area where there was unlimited work for excellent sight readers such as Pat. His first recordings were in 1930 with Percival Mackey and he later recorded with Freddy Gardner, Joe Daniels, Stephane Grappelli and Benny Carter in 1936.

He was the pianist with the Skyrockets (who recorded extensively) during the War and continued with them afterwards in their long residency at the London Palladium starting in 1947 right through until 1955 when they disbanded. He continued to work at the Palladium (he was the only Skyrockets band member to be retained) but was increasingly active in television and became a musical associate for ATV at Elstree Studios until retiring in 1975.

These trio recordings from the late 1950s, with Joe Muddel on bass and George Fierstone on drums, are all good tunes, nicely played but lacking that certain 'sparkle' to make them stand out. The original source is unknown.

Jazz or just easy listening?

FLAC with personnel/track details.

Contributed by delmonico.

0137 Humphrey Lyttelton [Lightly and Politely] FLAC 4(14.10)

2011-02-09T08:55:00.005Z

Personnel:
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
Bruce Turner - alto
Johnny Parker - piano
Jim Bray - bass
Stan Greig - drums

Tracks:
01 Squeeze Me
02 Handful of Keys
03 Lightly and Politely
04 It's a Thing

Recorded September 29 1955

Contributed by Brufan

0136 Chris Barber [In Concert Volume Two] FLAC (44.26)

2011-02-06T09:22:00.004Z

Personnel:
Pat Halcox - trumpet
Chris Barber - trombone
Mony Sunshine - clarinet
Eddie Smith - banjo
Dick smith - bass
Graham Burbidge - drums
Ottilie Patterson - vocal

Tracks:
01 Bourbon Street Parade
02 Savoy Blues
03 Lonesome Road
04 Sheik of Araby
05 Bill Bailey
06 You Took Advantage of Me
07 Sweet Sue
08 Moonshine Man
09 You Rascal You

Contributed by Gonzo

0135 Beryl Davis [Quintette du Hot Club de France] [Stephane Grappelly Quartet] Var MP3 4(12.00)

2011-02-02T13:07:00.009Z

Personnel:
George Shearing - piano
Django Reinhardt - guitar
Joseph Reinhardt - guitar
Eugene Vees - guitar
Joe Nussbaum - bass
Emmanuel Soudieus - bass
Dave Fullerton - drums
Stephane Grappelli - violin
Beryl Davis - vocals

01 Undecided
02 Don't Worry 'Bout Me
03 Star Eyes
04 Heavenly Music

A small selection from recordings made in London to illustrate the early work of Beryl Davis.
The last track was also searched out separately and comes from a 78 so is quite scratchy.

No images.

Recorded August 25 1939 and October 6 1943

DECCA 180.024 and F8375

Contributed by Chauncy - always good to welcome a new contributor!

PS A couple of nice songs sent in later by Chauncy - see lower down in the comments - MP3s. Thanks again, Chauncy.

0134 Melody Maker Stars [Waxing the Winners] FLAC 11(54.14)

2011-01-30T11:07:00.011Z

Personnel:
John Dankworth - leader, alto
Eric Delaney - leader, drums, tympani
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Don Lusher - trombone
Keith Christie - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - soprano, alto, tenor
Harry Klein - alto, baritone
Vic Ash - alto, clarinet
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Victor Feldman - vibes
Bill McGuffie - piano
Tito Burns - accordion
Ivor Mairants - guitar
Bert Weedon - guitar
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Joe Muddel - bass

Tracks:
01 For Voters Only (#1)
02 For Voters Only (#2)
03 Gallop Poll (#2)
04 Gallop Poll (#3)
05 Swingdido
06 The Gershwin Ballad Medley-Summertime;Someone to Watch Over Me;Love Walked In;Embraceable You
07 Waxing the Winners
08 Searchlight
09 The Fifth Man
10 Mike's Choice
11 St Maurice

Recorded May 8 1952, March 7 1954 and March 7 1955

Esquire 325

Another fine compilation of the MM Poll Winners for 1954-55 as chosen by the readers and, in contrast, 4 tracks by musicians chosen by the critics/music columnists in 1952 and originally released on 2 x 78 rpm records. Again, there are alternate takes in some cases.

All were recorded by Esquire, the champion for British jazz in this period, and this compilation is from the re-issue lp.

Quality is variable as is the case with many of these Esquire Treasure Chest re-issue lps.

FLAC with lp cover scans.

Contributed by bluebird

Yet another premier album from one of our star contributors. We hope to receive lots of comments about this one - don't let us down.

0133 Al Fairweather [Al Fairweather's Jazz Band] FLAC 4(10.03)

2011-01-26T09:03:00.006Z

Personnel:
Al Fairweather - trumpet
Sandy Brown - clarinet
Frederick West - guitar
Frank Clarke - bass
Stan Greig - drums

Tracks:
01 You're Driving Me Crazy
02 'Bye 'Bye Blackbird
03 Johnny is the Boy for Me
04 Blues Slide

Recorded July 21 1955

Contributed by Brufan

0132 Cleo Laine [Cleo Sings Elizabethan] FLAC 4(10.49)

2011-01-23T09:19:00.005Z

Personnel:
Cleo Laine - vocals
Ray Premru - leader
Jim Brown - french horn
Johnny Scott - alto, flute, bass flute
Bob Burns - alto, bass clarinet
Ivor Slaney - oboe, cor anglais
Vic Ash - clarinet
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Jack Fallon - bass
Jackie Dougan - drums

Columbia ep SEG7938

The title says it all. William Shakespeare finally has a musical

hit in 1959. Was Cleo the only modern jazz singer in the 1950s?

She later went on to record a whole album of Bill's.

Interesting selection of tunes with some fine backing from the

likes of Vic Ash, Bob Burns and Bill Le Sage.

FLAC with cover scans.

Contributed by bluebird.

0131 Kenny Graham [Presenting Kenny Graham] FLAC 11(37.49)

2011-01-16T10:36:00.010Z

Personnel:
Jo Hunter - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Laddy Busby - trombone
Jackie Armstrong - trombone
Kenny Graham - tenor
Cliff Townsend - baritone
Stan Tracey - vibes, piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Jack McHardie - conga drum

Tracks:
01 Tuxedo Junction
02 Cuban Fantasy
03 Swallowin' the Blues
04 Olwen's Dream
05 Don't Get Around Much Anymore
06 Rockin' in Rhythm
07 I'll Get By (as Long as I Have You)
08 Monkey Business
09 Tim's A-Wasting
10 Bongo Chant
11 I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem

Nixa NJL 12

These are the last recordings of Kenny Graham as leader and of his group, the Afro-Cubists. It was also the last time he was recorded commercially as a musician.

Thereafter he concentrated on his writing and arranging for others including Humphrey Lyttleton and Ted Heath.

The music here is heavily influenced by the music of Duke Ellington and there are some fine solos by trumpeter Jo Hunter, which is short for Jolyon, (not Joe as listed) . Jo is believed to be still playing somewhere in the South Coast area of the UK at the age of 84. He was 30 when these recordings were made.

Phil Seamen, who shows up all over the place during this period of the late 1950s, drives the whole proceedings along in his customary style.

FLAC with track/personnel details and front cover picture.

Contributed by delmonico.

0130 Sandy Brown [Sandy Brown's Jazz Band] FLAC 4(12.11)

2011-01-10T09:59:00.006Z

Personnel:
Al Fairweather - trumpet
John R T Davies - trombone
Sandy Brown - clarinet, vocal
Alan Thomas - piano
Mo Umansky - banjo
Brian Parker - bass
Graham Burbidge - drums

Tracks:
01 African Queen
02 Special Delivery
03 Nothing Blues
04 Africa Blues

Tempo ep EXA 33

Sandy Brown had one of the better 'traditional' bands and at times he sounded very modern in outlook and approach.

The music, most of which was written by him, was fresh, original and full of interest. Here he is at his very best in 1955 and the African influence to his writing during this period is evident on this Tempo recording.

FLAC with cover scans.

Contributed by azule serape

0129 Various [Modern Jazz at the Royal Festival Hall] FLAC 11(43.49)

2011-01-07T09:00:00.006Z

Personnel:
Dickie Hawdon - trumpet
Dave Usden - trumpet
Dizzy Reece - trumpet
Les Condon - trumpet
Don Rendell - tenor
Keith Barr - tenor
Roy Sidwell - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Sammy Walker - tenor
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Don Cooper - baritone
Lennie Dawes - baritone
Damian Robinson - piano
Ken Moule - piano
Harry South - piano
Pete Elderfield - bass
Arthur Watts - bass
Ashley Kovak - bass
Benny Goodman - drums
Lennie Breslow - drums
Tony Crombie - drums

Tracks:
01 My Honey's Lovin' Arms
02 Give Me the Simple Life
03 Chelsea Bridge
04 Roomin' with Moomin
05 Hallelujah
06 I'm Beginning to See the Light
07 Waterloo Bridge
08 Good Bait
09 Ahmed
10 Compos Mentis
11 Down Under

Decca LP LK 4087

Recorded October 30 1954

This is part of a Modern Jazz Concert recorded on 30 October 1954 at the Royal Festival Hall, London with three different groups being featured. This was the afternoon session of the concert, the evening being devoted to traditional jazz.

Don Rendell's Sextet (track 3 previous appeared on a Tempo ep and was not on the original Decca lp) is first up followed by the Ken Moule Seven and finally the newly formed Tony Crombie Orchestra for their first recording session.

The Swedish baritone sax player, Lars Gullin, made a guest appearance at this concert but due to MU rules was not allowed to be recorded.

FLAC with lp cover picture and track/personnel details.

Contributed by delmonico

0128 Ken Colyer [This is Jazz Volume One Part One] FLAC 4(13.20)

2011-01-04T11:46:00.005Z

Personnel:
Ken Colyer - trumpet
Mac Duncan - trombone
Ian Wheeler - clarinet
Ray Foxley - piano
Johnny Bastable - banjo
Ron Ward - bass
Colin Bowden - drums

Tracks:
01 Sweet Fields
02 Salutation March
03 Riverside Blues
04 Dusty Rag

Recorded September 1959

Contributed by Brufan

0127 Bill Le Sage [Bill's Recipes] FLAC 12(42.35)

2011-01-01T09:45:00.017Z

Personnel:
Eddie Blair - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Laddie Busby - trombone
Ken Goldie - trombone
Jack Armstrong - trombone
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Henry Mackenzie - clarinet
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano, accordion
Derek Smith - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Pete Blannin - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

Tracks:
01 First Night
02 Blues
03 Finders Keepers
04 Pict's Lament
05 Snow Face
06 Little Bop Poose
07 Shade of Spring
08 Lazy
09 Cloud Frolic
10 Cambridge Blue
11 Rain on the Seine
12 Chirra Cahaua

Saga STM 6019

This is not often seen and this lp is the only issue.

The Tom Lord discography is a bit vague about the recording date but opinion has it that it was late 1956 or early 1957. The pianist Derek Smith who appears here emigrated to the USA and actually recorded there in June 1957 so it must have been before then.

Bill Le Sage (pianist, vibes player, composer, arranger) was one of Britain's Bebop pioneers and has played with almost everyone worth mentioning in the UK. He formed his own band at the age of 18 and played with many now long forgotten groups before becoming a founder member of the Dankworth Seven in March 1950.

He had a long association with Tony Kinsey (who appears here) and later, Ronnie Ross.

I saw Bill sometime around 1985 when he was playing one nighters around the country with local rhythm sections. He was the perfect gentleman and a great entertainer, very professional, introducing his musicians and announcing the tune titles with a touch of humour. He was immaculately dressed with sharply creased trousers, sports jacket, tie and highly polished shoes - a far cry from some of today's younger musicians.

And the music was great too. After the gig I got him to sign this album and for the next twenty minutes he told me about the tunes (eight of which are his on this lp), when and where they were written, about the musicians on the record and about life in general. He was still so enthusiastic about his music and said he would continue to play as long as he could draw breath.

Well, Bill drew breath for a long time after that one night in a small Nottinghamshire town and died in 2001. He made two fine albums with just guitar and bass a few months before his death but never got to hear the last one in it's published form. They are worth seeking out (The Right Vibes 1 and 2).

The cover picture is the icing on this very tasty BritJazz 1st Birthday Cake.

FLAC with front and back lp cover scans.

Contributed by bluebird

0126 Vic Lewis [Jazz From Two Sides] FLAC 6(16.34)

2010-12-27T09:54:00.007Z

Personnel:
Eddie Blair - trumpet
Les Condon - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Roy East - alto
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Alan Branscombe - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Dave Pearson - drums

Tracks:
01 I Never Knew a Love Like This
02 Salt Peanuts
03 Mound Bayou
04 Little Girl
05 Pennsylvania Turnpike
06 Stanhope Place

Concept VL 5

Recorded June 24 1959

In 1959, Leonard Feather and Vic Lewis decided to record some jazz sides which reflected the then current trends both in the USA and the UK but it was not until 1987 that this album was released for the first time. By then, some of the musicians involved had died and these sides are dedicated by Feather to their memory

For BritJazz, only the Vic Lewis tracks (one side of the lp) are presented but you can see the details of the US group and read the track notes on the lp sleeve.

FLAC with front and back lp cover scans.

Contributed by bluebird.

0125 Ken Colyer [Crane River Jazz Band 1950-52] 320 22(1.12.43)

2010-12-24T13:40:00.003Z

This LP filled me with nostalgia for the days before British 'traditional' jazz was murdered by the Top Twenty. Most of the tracks are pretty badly recorded, but then so are the classic King Olivers, Bixes, N.O.R.K.'s and Jelly Roll Mortons of forty years or so ago. Some of the tunes are the old war-horses which have been ridden to death during the past few years, yet in amongst the dross there are some specks of sheer gold. I'm thinking particularly of After Dark, a rich, melancholy blues of great melodic beauty, featuring its composer, John R. T. Davies, on trombone. (He was also the recording engineer.) Mr. Davies now plays trombone, trumpet, alto sax and the part of Sheik Haroun of Wadi el Yadounir with the Temperance Seven; on this disc, recorded for the most part in 1950, he plays guitar on Muddy Old River and American organ on Ja Da, as well as trombone on the remainder of the first side and the opening track of the second. From personal experience I also know that he can play all the reeds, plus banjo, drums and ophicleide. Also involved in this gloriously experimental group, lacking polish but with plenty of feeling, are such latter-day luminaries as Ken Colyer, cornet and vocals (he sounds like the late Jimmie Rodgers on Muddy Old River), and Monty Sunshine. The weird tonecontrast of Colyer's cornet and the American organ on Ja Da recalls Bubber Miley and Arthur Ray in the Texas Blues Destroyers recordings of 1924. Uptown Bump (helped by better recording quality) is just another title for I'm Busy And You Can't Come In. I'd also like to comment on the splendid climax of Do Wha Ory Say, where Colyer and Sonny Morris, both playing comets, produce breaks worthy of the Oliver-Armstrong team. Had the Revivalist Movement continued along the Creative lines promised by such lovely items as After Dark, who knows what might have been achieved?
B.R.

Personnel:
Ken Colyer - trumpet, cornet, guitar, vocals
Sonny Morris - cornet
John R T Davies - trombone, organ, guitar
Monty Sunshine - clarinet
Pat Hawes - piano
Ben Marshall - banjo
Julian Davies - bass
Ron Bowden - drums

Tracks:
01 Muddy Old River
02 Ja-da
03 Lowdown Blues
04 After Dark
05 Just A Little While To Stay Here
06 My Old Kentucky Home
07 Moose March
08 If I Ever Cease To Love
09 Gypsy Lament
10 Winin' Boy Blues
11 Down By The Riverside
12 Eh La Bas!
13 Dauphin Street Blues
14 Just A Closer Walk With Thee
15 Blance Touquatoux
16 Just A Little While To Stay Here (alt)
17 A Miner's Dream Of Home
18 Do What Ory Says
19 Dusty Rag
20 Uptown Bumps
21 Maryland My Maryland
22 Creole Song

Recorded at Cranford Jazz Club and The Cook's Ferry Inn Club London

MP3 - 320

Contributed by beezer

Beezer's first item here - we hope to see more in a like vein. BJ

0124 Tony Kinsey [Tony Kinsey with Joe Harriott] FLAC 2(12.37)

2010-12-20T09:38:00.003Z

Personnel:
Joe Harriott - alto
Bill Le Sage - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

Tracks:
01 The Song is You
02 It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing

Recorded December 9 1954

Contributed by Brufan

A warm welcome from everyone here to our newest contributor Brufan,
and appreciation for this fine addition to our library.

0123 Pat Hawes [Doug Dobell Presents Pat Hawes And His Band] FLAC 7(27.08)

2010-12-17T09:11:00.003Z

Personnel:
Ken Reece - trumpet
Pete Webb - trombone
Harry Salisbury - tenor, clarinet
Pat Hawes - piano
Brian Parker - bass
Tony Ward - drums

Tracks:
01 Wabash Blues
02 Bluesbeck
03 Happy and Satisfied
04 Taps Miller
05 A Smooth One
06 Lullaby of the Leaves
07 Blues for Midgets

"77" Records LP 6

Recorded July 24 1957

This is the Pat Hawes Band from 1957 and I must confess that I'd never heard of any of the musicians here except Pat. He recorded little as a leader but recorded prolifically with the likes of Humphrey Lyttleton, The Crane River Jazz band, the Christie Brothers and Cy Laurie.

He was, for many years a contributor to, and reviewer for, 'Jazz Journal' during the 1990s whilst continuing to play piano with a number of Dixieland style groups. He was a great champion for the American pianist Jessica Williams and was responsible, through his support and record reviews, for her recognition in the UK.

On these sides however Pat plays in a more mainstream style.

This one's for grumpy.

FLAC with cover scan and track/personnel details. A better cover picture would be appreciated.

Contributed by bluebird

0122 Vic Ash [Clarinet Virtuoso] FLAC 4(12.45)

2010-12-13T10:16:00.004Z

Personnel:
Vic Ash - clarinet
Eddie Thompson - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Barry Hamilton - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
Benny Goodman - drums

Tracks:
01 Good Bait
02 Dream a Little Dream of Me
03 I've Got it Bad
04 Love Me or Leave Me

Columbia SEG 734

Another rare chance to hear Vic Ash as leader with these 1955 quartet recordings. Eddie Thompson is the pianist again.

FLAC with track/personnel details and front cover picture.

Contributed by delmonico