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

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
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.

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

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

Label: Concept VL 5
Recorded: June 24 1959
Lineage: LP>FLAC

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

Contributed by beezer

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.

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

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

Label: Lake LACD182
Recorded: 1950-1952 Cranford Jazz Club and The Cook's Ferry Inn Club London

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

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

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

01 The Song Is You
02 It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

Label: Esquire EP 52
Recorded: December 09 1954
Lineage: EP>FLAC

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

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
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.

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

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

Label: "77" Records LP 6
Recorded: July 24 1957

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

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Another rare chance to hear Vic Ash as leader with these 1955 quartet recordings. Eddie Thompson is the pianist again.

(01 02)
Vic Ash - clarinet
Eddie Thompson - piano
Barry Hamilton - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
(03 04)
Vic Ash - clarinet
Eddie Thompson - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Benny Goodman - drums

01 Good Bait
02 Dream A Little Dream Of Me
03 I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
04 Love Me Or Leave Me

Label: Columbia SEG 734
Recorded: January 03 (01 02) October 20 (03 04) 1955
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0121 Chris Barber [Chris Barber in Concert] FLAC 11(41.27)

Contributed by gonzo

Pat Halcox - trumpet
Chris Barber - trombone
Monty Sunshine - clarinet
Eddie Smith - banjo
Dick Smith - bass
Ron Bowden - drums

01 Bourbon Street Parade
02 New Blues
03 Willy the Weeper
04 Mean Mistreater
05 Yama Yama Man
06 Old Man Mose
07 Mood Indigo
08 Bearcat Crawl
09 Lowland Blues
10 Panama
11 Finale: Bourbon Street Parade
           When the Saints Go Marching In

Label: Nixa NJL 6
Recorded: December 15 1956 at the Royal Festival Hall London
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0120 Ted Heath [Our Kind Of Jazz] FLAC 9(32.55)

Contributed by bluebird, who writers:-
Ted Heath ran a fine big band for many years and had enormous success both in the UK,  the USA and Europe - but he never claimed to have a jazz band or that he played jazz.
He played to suit the public taste of the day and if they wanted novelty numbers, attractive singers and danceable music with the odd jazz solo thrown in , then Heath played it. It was purely a commercial outfit.
He did employ many of the up and coming jazzmen in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. It was a good training ground, paid well and they travelled in style. There was plenty of regular work but they didn't stay too long.
This is one of the very few albums he made which could be classed as jazz and it was recognized as such amongst the jazz fraternity. Ronnie Scott, Don Rendell and Tommy Whittle, who had all played with the band at some time, rejoined the regular Heath band here as guests on one track together with Ronnie Ross who appears on another track. Other former players appear as guests throughout the lp and on one track there are as many as 8 in the trumpet section.
A fine swinging album from 1957/1958.

Ted Heath - leader
Bobby Pratt - trumpet
Bert Ezzard - trumpet
Duncan Campbell - trumpet
Eddie Blair - trumpet
Don Lusher - trombone
Wally Smith - trombone
Jimmy Coombes - trombone
Keith Christie - trombone  
Ronnie Chamberlain - soprano, alto
Les Gilbert - alto 
Henry MacKenzie - tenor, clarinet
Red Price - tenor
Ken Kiddier - baritone, bass clarinet
Stan Tracey - vibes, piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Ronnie Verrell - drums

01 Four Fours
02 I'll Remember April
03 Sometimes I'm Happy
04 Ringside Suite
    Weighing In
    Seconds Out
    Lady Admirer
    Below The Belt
    Fighting Finish
05 Stompin' At The Savoy
06 Waterloo Bridge
07 Just You Just Me
08 Out Of Nowhere
09 Taboo

Label: Decca LK 4262
Recorded: November 1957-February 1958
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0119 Tommy Whittle [A Touch of Latin] FLAC 4(13.55)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
A scarce ep , and the only issue, on the short lived Saga label. Tommy with his Quintet including Harry Klein.
Note that the tracks do not play in the order as the sleeve indicates. They are reversed on each side.

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

01 Dearly Beloved
02 You Stepped Out of a Dream
03 Broadway
04 Poinciana

Label: Saga ep ESAG 7008
Recorded: July 17 1958 London
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0118 The Christie Brothers [Together Again] FLAC 4(13.22)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
The re-formed Stompers five years after they disbanded at the end of 1953.
Keith joined the 'modernists' after the Stompers broke up and played with all the greats in the UK but here he is back to his roots with his brother Ian.
John Lewis' composition, 'The Golden Striker', is an interesting choice although I believe that Chris Barber also recorded it.

Dickie Hawdon - trumpet
Keith Christie - trombone
Ian Christie - clarinet
Ronnie Duff - piano
Nevil Shrimshire - guitar
Alan Duddington - bass
Pete Appleby - drums

01 The Golden Striker
02 One Hour
03 The Glory of Love
04 Five Years Later

Label: Parlophone ep GEP 8719
Recorded: August 18 1958
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0117 Tubby Hayes [The Jazz Couriers] FLAC 3(12.27)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
One of the most successful, but short lived, groups in the history of British Modern Jazz featuring two giants of the tenor sax playing in 1957. No further comment is required.
Nice sleeve picture too.

Tubby Hayes - tenor
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Terry Shannon - piano
Phil Bates - bass
Billy Eyden - drums

01 The Theme
02 Oh My! (Ganley)
03 A Foggy Day (Gershwin)

Label: Tempo ep EXA 75
Recorded: August 15 1957
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0116 Modern Jazz Quartet [With Guests Joe Harriott and Ronnie Ross] FLAC 10(1.17.07)

Contributed by delmonico

Joe Harriott and Ronnie Ross were guests on the MJQ's tour of the UK in 1959 and whilst most (if not all) of the two performances were privately recorded on 4 December in Manchester, the tracks heard here are concerned only with the featured solo spots of the two British musicians and the other tracks on which they have solos.
John Lewis makes the announcements.

Joe Harriott - alto
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Milt Jackson - vibes
John Lewis - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Connie Kay - drums

01 Django
02 Autumn In New York
03 How Long Has This Been Going On?
04 A Night In Tunisia
05 Bags' Groove
06 Django
07 Autumn In New York
08 Body And Soul
09 A Night In Tunisia
10 All The Things You Are

Label: Private Recording
Recorded: December 04 1959 Manchester
Lineage: Tape>FLAC

0115 Ronnie Scott [Ronnie Scott Jazz Club Vol 2] FLAC 10(47.05)

Contributed by delmonico and cornelius
Some tracks only have been issued on CD but this is from the LP. Some effort has been made to improve the recording but it is a little muffled generally.

Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Benny Green - baritone
Norman Stenfalt - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

01 I May Be Wrong
02 On the Alamo
03 Day Dream
04 Stringin' the Jug
05 Lullaby in Rhythm
06 Seven Eleven
07 What's New
08 S'wonderful
09 How Am I to Know
10 Just One of Those Things

Label: Esquire 32.002 A BBC World Service broadcast from the Paris Cinema Studio London
Recorded: February 02 1953
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0114 Tony Kinsey [The Decca Sessions] FLAC 11(35.01)

This item is supplied through the efforts of many people. The material was not issued as an album but various singles and 78's.
The tracks below we do not have but hope to add them later
I Never Knew DFE6285 Aug 3 1955                      
You Can't Run Away from It F10812 October 23 1956 (Rosemary Squires with Tony Kinsey) 
Our Love is Here to Stay F10812 October 23 1956  (Rosemary Squires with Tony Kinsey)

(01)
Joe Harriott - alto
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(02 07)
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(03-06)
Ronnie Ross - baritone, clarinet
Bill Le Sage - vibes
Dill Jones - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(08 09)
Don Rendell - tenor
Ronnie Ross - baritone clarinet
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(10 11)
Les Condon - trumpet
Bob Efford - tenor
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

01 Introduction (6:54)
02 Pierrot (2:54)
03 Stompin' At The Savoy (Goodman, Razaf, Sampson, Webb) (2:23)
04 China Boy (Boutelje, Winfree) (2:20)
05 Moonglow (Delange, Hudson, Mills) (3:07)
06 One O'clock Jump (Basie, Durham) (3:05)
07 In A Ditch (Le Sage) (3:09)
08 Mean To Me (Ahlert, Turk) (2:58)
09 Supper Party (2:36)
10 Blue Eyes (3:05)
11 The Midgets (2:30)

Label: Decca
Recorded: May 17 (01) August 03 (02) 1955 February 20 (03-06) April 30 (07) October 18 (08 09) 1956 October 07 1957 (10 11)
Lineage: Various

0113 Victor Feldman [The Young Vic] FLAC 15(49.10)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
The 1948 tracks, which are his first recordings,  feature Victor aged not quite 14 playing drums in pretty heavyweight company. Other tracks find him 'multitracking' in 1951 (an early experiment?) and then playing vibes, which was his instrument of choice in later years. All this by the age of 20. A wonder kid indeed. 
Victor moved to the USA in 1957, enjoying a very successful recording career and died there in 1987 aged just 53.
The sound is disappointing bearing in mind that the re-issue lp was produced by Esquire in the mid 1980s and one assumes that they had access to their own masters for dubbing. Any surface noise etc you hear is on the original music - the lp is in mint condition.
FLAC with cover scans

(01-05)
John Dankworth - clarinet
Eddie Thompson - piano
Bert Howard - bass
Victor Feldman - drums
(06 07)
Victor Feldman - vibes, piano, drums
(08-11)
Victor Feldman - vibes
Stan Watson - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Freddie Manton - drums, Indian drum
(12-15)
Victor Feldman - vibes, conga drum
Tony Crombie - piano
Lennie Bush - bass

01 Mop Mop
02 Lady Bird
03 Quarternity
04 Moonlight in Vermont
05 Gone With the Wind
06 Ego
07 Jolly Rogers
08 Evening in Paris
09 Kashmir
10 Pakistan
11 Harem Scarem
12 Monkey Business
13 Serenade in Blue
14 For You Alone
15 Body and Soul

Label: Esquire lp ESQ 327
Recorded: February 17 1948 (01-05) June 12 1951 (06 07) March 19 (08-11) July 14 (12-15) 1954
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0112 Kenny Baker [Midnight at Nixa] FLAC 10(42.22)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
Kenny Baker, a highly respected trumpeter, who could play in any style with groups as diverse as Dixelanders and Boppers, is heard here with a quartet and quintet with various musicians in a loose mainstream jam session.
It's good to hear Derek Smith get a spot just with bassman Major Holley (who recorded prolifically in the UK during this period) and the great Phil Seamen drives things along on most tracks.
Original lp front cover picture (does anyone have a better one?) , original sleeve notes and personnel details.

(01 06)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Bruce Turner - alto
Derek Smith - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(02 09 10)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Bruce Turner - alto
Derek Smith - piano
Major Holley - bass
Don Lawson - drums
(03-05)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Derek Smith - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(07)
Derek Smith - piano
Major Holley - bass
(08)
Bruce Turner - alto
Bertie King - alto
Derek Smith - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

01 Bugle Blues
02 Don't Worry 'Bout Me
03 I Can't Give You Anything But Love
04 I Can't Give You Anything But Love
05 Jive At Five
06 Truckin'
07 It Had To Be You
08 Tea For Two
09 Blues On Friday
10 It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

Label: Nixa lp NJL 3
Recorded: January 16 (01 05 06) February 20 (03 04 08) March 23 (02 07 09 10) 1956

0111 Ronnie Scott [Ronnie Scott Quintet] FLAC 2(12.43)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
A couple of longish tracks from a Ronnie Scott 1955 Quintet with Hank Shaw wearing his Sunday best name of Henry. No sleeve notes on the back but a useful Ronnie Scott Esquire discography.  Those Esquire front cover designs still feel fresh and modern. Collectors items in their own right.
Ripped in FLAC from ep with front and back cover scans.

Hank Shaw - trumpet
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Victor Feldman - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

01 Split Kick
02 It Don't Mean A Thing

Label: Esquire 95
Recorded: August 07 1955
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0110 Dave Lee and Dennis Wilson [Piano Moods] FLAC 3(14.57)

Contributed by delmonico,who writes:-
One ep side by each of these not too well known pianists although Dave Lee was a long time associate of the Dankworth bands and accompanist to Cleo Lane for a number of years.
Original ep front cover, sleeve notes and personnel details.

(01 02)
Dave Lee - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
(03)
Dennis Wilson - piano
Jack Llewellwyn - guitar
Frank Clarke - bass

01 Excuse For The Blues
02 On The Alamo
03 Ellington Medley - C Jam Blues, Take The A Train, Drop Me Off In Harlem, Don't Get Around Much Anymore

Label: Pye PEP 603
Recorded: 1958
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0109 Various Artists [All the Winners] FLAC 6(24.16)

Contributed by bluebird

(01)
Tubby Hayes - tenor
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Bill Le Sage - vibes
Dave Goldberg - guitar
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
(02)
Lennie Felix - piano
(03)
Max Harris - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
The Polka Dots - vocals
(04)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Tony Coe - alto
Bruce Turner - alto
Dill Jones - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(05)
Dave Lee - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums
Cleo Laine - vocal
(06)
Ian Hamer - trumpet
Johnny Scott - flute
Vic Ash - clarinet
Alan Branscombe - piano
Spike Heatley - bass
Dave Pearson - drums

01 Hark Dog (Ken Moule) (5:09)
02 Scene '59 Act 2 (Lennie Felix) (5:09)
03 Monday Date (Earl Hines) (2:06)
04 Poll Winners (John Dankworth) (5:41)
05 Sugar (Edna Alexander/Sidney Mitchell/Maceo Pinkard) (3:11)
06 Just for the Boys (Johnny Scott) (3:00)

Label: Pye Nixa NJT518
Recorded: November 1958
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0108 Harry Klein [Brash Baritone] FLAC 3(12.03)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Another helping of Harry Klein and probably the last we have available of him as leader. A much under rated player and sadly, not often recorded.
Original sleeve cover picture and sleeve notes.

Harry Klein - baritone
Max Harris - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums

01 I'll Remember April
02 I Can't Get Started With You
03 I'm Coming Virginia

Label: Polygon ep JTE 105
Recorded: May 25 1955 London
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0107 Sandy Brown [McJazz] FLAC 10(36.48)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
This is the Brown/Fairweather group from 1957 playing an attractive selection of original music fitting somewhere between Traditional and Mainstream styles.  The lp was originally recorded for Nixa (NJL 9) and called 'Go Ghana'.
Around this period the music known as  West African 'High Life' became popular in the UK with many bands, including this one,  incorporating the basic rhythmic style into their playing and 'Go Ghana', one of the tunes  heard here, enjoyed some popularity in the musical world beyond jazz in 1957.  It might be familiar to some.
Front and back cover scans

Al Fairweather - trumpet
Jeremy French - trombone
Sandy Brown - clarinet
Ian Armitt - piano
W Disley - guitar, banjo
Tim Mahn - bass
Graham Burbridge - drums

01 Go Ghana
02 Scales
03 The Card
04 Monochrome
05 Those Blues
06 Wild Life
07 Blues from Black Rock
08 Doctor Blues I Presume
09 Ognoliya
10 Saved by the Blues

Label: Dormouse DM 6
Recorded: March 05 1957
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0106 Kenny Baker [After Hours A Session for Kicks] FLAC 7(25.06)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
Three  dates from 1955 recorded after hours and featuring trumpeter Kenny Baker with a Trio, Quartet and Quintet. Dill Jones is the featured pianist and Bruce Turner makes an appearance.
Original cover picture, original sleeve notes and track/personnel details.

(01 05)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Dill Jones - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
Derek Price - drums
(02 03)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Dill Jones - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
(04 07)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Bruce Turner - alto, clarinet (04)
Dill Jones - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(06)
Dill Jones - piano
Frank Clarke - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums

01 Minute To Midnight (Baker) (3:37)
02 Blues In Thirds (Hines) (3:25)
03 I'm A Ding Dong Daddy (Baxter) (2:55)
04 Apex Blues (Noone, Williams) (3:35)
05 Studio B Boogie (Baker) (2:50)
06 West Wind (Jones) (4:06)
07 Oh Baby (De Sylva, Donaldson) (4:36)

Label: Nixa lp JTL 4
Recorded: May 03 (01 05) 11 (04 07) 17 (02 03 06) 1956

0105 Alan Dean [My Baby Likes to Bebop] FLAC 17(58.30)

Contributed by Azule Serape.
Alan Dean sings a wordless vocal unison line very much in the style of Buddy Stewart in that same 1948 period but the results are not as bad as you might fear.
It's interesting to hear this early British bop with the front line of  dance band swing musicians mixed in with the new emerging stars like Tommy Pollard and Ralph Sharon. Tommy plays vibes throughout the Sextet titles rather than his usual piano.
The second group heard here on the last five tracks, The Alan Dean Be-Boppers, was the forerunner of the Club X1 group which was later to take bebop several steps forward in Britain and which will feature here in due course.
Front and back cover scans.

Reg Arnold - trumpet
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Hank Shaw - trumpet
John Dankworth - alto
Aubrey Frank - tenor
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Tommy Pollard - vibes
Ralph Sharon - piano
Pete Chilver - guitar
Jack Fallon - bass
Joe Muddell - bass
Norman Burns - drums
Laurie morgan - drums
Alan Dean - vocals

01 Galaxy
02 I Can't Get Started With You
03 First Gear
04 Confirmation
05 My Baby Likes to Bebop
06 Disc Jockey Jump
07 Fallonology
08 Jack Fiddles While Norman Burns
09 Oop-Pop-a-Da
10 Disc Jockey Jump
11 Gaberdine and Serge
12 First Gear
13 Gone with the Windmill
14 Barbados
15 Elevenses
16 Ool Ya Koo
17 Galaxy

Label: Esquire S337 12"
Recorded: 1948 1949
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0104 Malcolm Lockyer [That Old Feeling] FLAC 10(22.08)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
This was another pianist who hovered on the fringe of jazz and who made his living mainly as arranger and orchestra leader until his early death in 1976 aged 52.
Here he is with his trio from the 1954 period playing a set of standards but not veering too far from the melody. Nicely played though but not too exciting.
I have the original 10" lp which contained 12 tunes but the condition of the lp did not lend itself to effective restoration. The 10 tunes you hear are from a re-issue cd so missing from the original lp are 'Stars Fell On Alabama' and 'It's Easy To Remember'.
And how about that beautiful 1950s cover picture?
Original front and back cover.

Malcolm Lockyer - piano
Ralph Collier - bass
Jock Cummings - drums

01 That Old Feeling
02 Taking a Chance on Love
03 They Can't Take That Away from Me
04 There Was a Time
05 I Only Have Eyes for You
06 I'll Never Smile Again
07 You Turned the Tables on Me
08 Embraceable You
09 I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
10 Two Sleepy People

Label: Decca 10" lp - LF 1167
Recorded: 1954
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0103 Tony Crombie [Jazz at the Flamingo] FLAC 6(50.47)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
A superb swinging session from 1956 with an all- star group nominally led by Tony Crombie. All the participants are in good form and get some lengthy solo space with the bonus being the appearance of Tubby Hayes on two long tracks.
Not recorded at the Flamingo Club but a studio recorded session 'with atmosphere' and an audience. 
For the benefit of our American cousins and others whose first language is not English and who might be mystified by the unison shout at the end of 'Laker's Day' and it's association with the tune, don't worry about it.  It's far too complex to explain here. It's a tribal thing only understood by long time British residents and perhaps Australians.
Original cover picture and original sleeve notes. Complete with membership card attached.

Ronnie Scott - tenor
Tubby Hayes - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Terry Shannon - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Crombie - drums

01 A Night In Tunisia
02 Stars Fell On Alabama - Once In A While
03 Soho Blues
04 Annie-Mation
05 Autumn Leaves
06 Laker's Day

Label: Tempo TAP 5
Recorded: July 31 1956

0102 Various [Bop-In' Britain Volume 2] FLAC 23(1.09.34)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
The second volume of early British bop from the 1952-1954 period with groups led by Victor Feldman, Arnold Ross, Vic Ash, Joe Harriott and the All-Stars. There might be some duplication here with other posts made earlier, eg. Arnold Ross, but this is inevitable in a work of this nature.
The tracks are drawn mainly from the small Esquire and Melodisc labels. The big labels were not particularly interested at this early stage but this is a wonderful compilation of early Britjazz featuring the big names of the day. The Vic Ash tracks are his first as leader.

Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Derek Humble - alto
Joe Harriott - alto
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Vic Ash - clarinet
Victor Feldman - vibes
Gerry McLoughlin - vibes
Stan Tracey - piano
Arnold Ross - piano
Derek Smith - piano
Dill Jones - piano
Kenny Napper - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Joe Benjamin - bass
Sammy Stokes - bass
Jack Fallon - bass
Sammy Stokes - bass
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Martin Aston - drums
Tony Kinsey - drums
Jack Parnell - drums
Allan Ganley - drums
Phil Seamen - drums

01 Lullaby in Rhythm
02 Serenity
03 Just Friends
04 Euphony
05 Janie
06 Darn That Dream
07 Speechless
08 Twelve to Four
09 The Champ
10 All the Things You Are
11 Once in a While
12 These Foolish Things
13 Nice Work If You Can Get It
14 Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
15 Ain't Misbehavin'
16 Blue Room
17 Lullaby of the Leaves
18 Summertime
19 April in Paris
20 Cherokee
21 Out of Nowhere
22 Hi-Ya Mr Jackson
23 Spaceship

Lineage: CD>FLAC

0101 Humphrey Lyttelton [I Play As I Please] FLAC 9(40.33)

Contributed by Gonzo

Review of CD by Dave Thompson
Topped and tailed by four bonus tracks, this is an otherwise straightforward (and certainly long-awaited) reissue of Humphrey Lyttelton's best-known and most all-pervasively influential album, the 1957 set that he titled, fittingly, after the first volume of his own autobiography Widely regarded among the most adventurous of all the players bound up in the British trad boom of the mid- to late '50s, Lyttelton had already broken any number of seemingly inviolate rules by the time he teamed with producer Denis Preston to cut this set -- including the addition of a saxophone and the omission of the banjo Now it was time to push even further In terms of numerical strength, three bands appear on this album -- the seven-piece Humphrey Lyttelton Band, an expanded 12-man big band, and the so-called Humphrey Lyttelton Paseo Band, a nine-piece that eschewed horns for flutes, then added a riot of percussion to the mix It's a heady blend that had traditionalists wringing their hands in despair when the album first appeared, but time (and, of course, the eventual acceptance of many of the ideas Lyttelton first posited) readily vindicates the album's audacity For collectors, meanwhile, the set is bolstered by both sides of two singles recorded by the regular Lyttelton Band around the same time as I Play As I Please came together, the self-explanatory "Dixie Theme" and the sultry "Blues in the Afternoon."

(01 05 08)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Maurice Pratt - trombone
Rick Kennedy - trombone
Alex McGuiness - trombone
Ronnie Ross - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Don Rendell - tenor
Alex Leslie - baritone
Ron Davey - vibes
Ian Armitt - piano
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(02 06 09)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
John Picard - trombone
Tony Coe - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Ian Armitt - piano
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(03 07)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
Larry Saunders - flute
S. Farnsworth - flute
Phil Goody - bass flute
Denny Wright - guitar
Jack Fallon - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
John Blanchard - marimba
Jack McHardie - bongos
Sidney Rich - timbales
(04)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
John Picard - trombone
Tony Coe - alto
Kathy Stobart - tenor
Ian Armitt - piano
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums

01 Skid Row (Skidmore) (6:44)
02 Manhattan (Rodgers) (2:15)
03 La Paloma (Yradier) (3:09)
04 Goin' Out The Back Way (Hodges) (7:08)
05 Mezzrow (Lyttelton) (4:15)
06 Singin' The Blues (Conrad, Robinson, Young, Lewis) (:3)09
07 Bodega (Lyttelton) (2:44)
08 Looking For Turner (Lyttelton) (6:51)
09 Sweethearts On Parade (Lombardo, Newman) (3:18)

Label: ECM/S 2009
Recorded: September 05 (02 06 09) 12 (01 05 08) November 21 (03 07) 25 (04) 1957
Lineage: LP/FLAC

0100 Buddy Featherstonhaugh [New Quintet Volume Two] FLAC 4(13.30)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
The second volume of Buddy as leader on this Nixa ep which turned out to be his last recording date in December 1956.
Buddy certainly encouraged the up and coming youngsters and here is Canadian Kenny Wheeler (who contributed 'Goldfish Blues') at an early stage of his career in the UK and Bobby Wellins making his first appearance on record.
A fine session which should be better known. Spread the word.

Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
Bobby Wellins - tenor
Buddy Featherstonehaugh - baritone, clarinet
Bill Stark - bass
Paul Brodie - drums

01 Goldfish Blues
02 Doin' the Uptown Lowdown
03 Knock Yourself Out
04 Henrietta

Label: Nixa EP - NJE 1031
Recorded: December 03 1956
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0099 Kenny Graham [Moondog and Suncat Suites] FLAC 16(34.30)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
This is a strange sort of record and it doesn't fit readily into any particular jazz category. Some people might argue that it is not even jazz.  Who cares?  The music is intriguing and full of surprise and many of the top modernists of the day are present.  With Kenny Graham involved there is never a dull moment.
The first suite is based on the music of a New York Street musician known as Moondog whilst the second suite is a Kenny Graham creation inspired by the techniques of Moondog.
This has always been an elusive record to find in decent shape but Johnny Trunk re-issued the music for the very first time on his own Trunk label earlier this year in both lp and cd format.  Unfortunately because of licensing restrictions he was unable to use the original sleeve picture which was a reproduction of a Joan Miro painting.
Here then is the music and the original lp sleeve.  Go to Johnny Trunk's website to see the cover he commissioned for the re-issue.
Ripped in FLAC from re-issue lp with scans of front and back of original lp sleeve plus recording dates/personnel details (these were never identified on the original or re-issue).

(01)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Stan Tracey - vibes
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Don Lawson - percussion
(02)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Jack Ellory - flute
Stan Tracey (or Martin Slavin) - vibes
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Don Lawson - percussion
(03 05 07 09)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Don Lawson - percussion
(04 06 11 15)
Jack Ellory - flute
Ivor Slaney - oboe
Vic Ash - clarinet
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Stan Tracey - vibes, celeste
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - percussion
Don Lawson - percussion
Yolanda - marimba, vocals
(08)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Jack Ellory - flute
Stan Tracey - celeste
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(10)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Jack Ellory - flute
Sammy Stokes - bass
Don Lawson - percussion
Eddie Taylor - percussion
(12)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Jack Ellory - flute
Stan Tracey - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Don Lawson - percussion
Eddie Taylor - percussion
(13)
Stan Tracey - vibes
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Don Lawson - percussion
Yolanda - vocals
(14)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Jack Ellory - flute
Stan Tracey - vibes, piano
Martin Slavin - xylophone
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - percussion
Don Lawson - percussion
Eddie Taylor - percussion
(16)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Danny Moss - bass clarinet
Stan Tracey - accordion
Martin Slavin - vibes
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Don Lawson - percussion

01 One Four
02 2 West 46th Street
03 Two Four
04 Chant
05 Three Four
06 Utsu
07 Four Four
08 Lullaby
09 Five Four
10 Fog on the Hudson
11 Sunrise
12 Sunbeam
13 Tropical Sun
14 Sunstroke
15 Sunset
16 Sunday

Label: MGM (US)  E3544
Recorded: July 02 (08 13 16) 03 (01-03 05 07 09) 04 (10 12 14) 11 (04 06 11 15) 1956
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0098 Humphrey Lyttelton [Humphrey Lyttelton And His Band] FLAC 4(11.50)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
Most people associate the Tempo label with those fabulously expensive early British Modern Jazz records - elusive and now mostly destined for collectors in Japan.
A copy of Tubby Hayes 'After Hours' fetched £1352 on ebay recently.
But Tempo had an earlier history of issuing Traditional Jazz and in fact it comprised a good half of their catalogue. Here is the very first ep on the Tempo label - EXA 1 featuring Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band recorded in March 1955. Sleeve notes are non-existent but there is a useful summary of the eps issued on the label. Not many 'modern' ones there are there?
Whilst the music has a certain period charm it is hard to believe that I once was an avid follower of this particular genre, spending many hours in sweaty, dark caverns, drinking warm beer wearing scratchy woolly jumpers and trying to identify the good looking girls in the gloom. The rhythm sections are pretty rough here or is it just the recording balance?
Dave Carey, who plays drums on 2 tracks, also ran a record shop in Streatham, London back in the 1970s and I seem to remember that it opened on only a few days per week, maybe even half days. The shop was the size of the average bathroom and it held a maximum of three people at any one time. Any other customers had to queue outside until someone left the shop.
It was the original Aladdin's Cave - there were no shelves or boxes to browse through. You had to know what you wanted then tell Dave who disappeared into some back room to then emerge clutching the treasure. His success rate was very high.  If you were a regular then he brought out a stack of lps for you to look at.
One for nostalgia lovers.
Ripped in FLAC from ep with front and back cover scans.

Humphrey Lyttelton - cornet
Harry Brown - trombone
Wally Fawkes - clarinet
George Webb - piano (02-04)
Pat Howes - piano (01)
Nevil Scrimshire - guitar
Lew Rawlings - bass
Jim Robinson - drums (01 02)
Dave Carey - drums (03 04)

01 When The Saints Go Marching In
02 Careless Love
03 Get Out Of Here
04 Sunday Morning

Label: Tempo ep EXA 1
Recorded: May 11 (01 02) December 02 (03 04) 1948
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0097 Wally Stott [Wally Stott And His Orchestra] FLAC 4(10.26)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
Another associate of the Goon Show, Wally Stott, a former Geraldo musician, was very active in 1950s radio as composer and arranger and then later as a film score composer (Looking Glass War, When Eight Bells Toll, Peeping Tom etc).
He ensured that the musical interludes in the Goon Show had a jazz flavour and he is found providing orchestral backgrounds to many popular singers of the day during the 1960s, often employing uncredited top jazz musicians.
Here, he leads a fine big band recorded in the late 1950s but the musicians are not identified. I think I hear a phrase or two from Tubby Hayes in the tenor solo in 'Nightride' but unless others have sharp ears the other solos cannot be credited.
So what happened to Wally Stott?
He re-married in 1970 after the death of his first wife and then two years later underwent what was then known as 'sex-rectifying operation' to become Angela Morley.
She continued to work for BBC radio as arranger, as conductor of the BBC Radio Orchestra and to work on film scores in the UK. In 1984 she re-located to the USA to work in films and TV as composer/arranger ( Star Wars, Superman, Dallas, Dynasty etc).
She died in 2009 aged 84. 
Ripped in FLAC from re-issue cd with scans of front and back of ep.

Wally Stott - leader
other personnel unknown

01 The Night Ride
02 The Cat from Coos Bay
03 Cat Slick
04 Lucky Strike

Label: Philips ep BBE 12000
Recorded: Late 1950's
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0096 Tony Kinsey Quintet [Time Gentlemen Please] FLAC 8(37.27)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
Bob Efford appears on this Quintet recording from 1958 led by one of the busiest musicians around at the time, Tony Kinsey.

Les Condon - trumpet
Bob Efford - tenor
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Dave Willis - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums

01 Three Modes
02 Satin Doll
03 Autumn in Cuba
04 Twinkle Toes
05 I Didn't Know What Time it Was
06 Cool Me Madam
07 Hallelujah
08 Time Gentlemen Please

Label: Decca LK 4274
Recorded: March 1958

0095 Tony Kinsey [My Fair Lady] FLAC 6(14.04)

Contributed by delmonico

Les Condon - trumpet
Art Ellefson - tenor
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Pete Blannin - bass (02 04 06)
Lennie Bush - bass (01 03 05)
Tony Kinsey - drums

01 On the Street Where You Live
02 I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
03 Get Me to the Church on Time
04 Wouldn't It Be Loverly
05 Show Me
06 I Could Have Danced All Night

Label: Decca DFE 6461
Recorded: December 06 (02 04 06) 30 (01 03 05) 1957
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0094 Ray Nance [Ray Nance And The Ellingtonians] FLAC 4(14.27)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
If the Trades Description Act had been on the books in 1948 then these recordings would surely have been a prime candidate for prosecution.
The 'Ellingtonians'  were actually the Ray Ellington Quartet, a group of British (well, two West Indians, a German and one Briton of American and Jewish parentage) musicians who mainly played on the nightclub circuit.
Ray Nance was touring the UK with Duke Ellington as a 'variety act' to get round the strict UK Musicians Union rules at the time about foreign musicians not being able to play in the UK without Union approval.
The British musicians all assumed other names for this recording session for Esquire in 1948. Nance plays violin, trumpet and sings and full details of the session and the circumstances in which it was recorded are given in the sleeve notes to the Keith Christie posting earlier on this blog.

Ray Nance - trumpet, violin, vocals
Dick Katz - piano
Lauderic Caton - guitar
Coleridge Goode - bass
Ray Ellington - drums

01 Moon Mist
02 Sometimes I'm Happy
03 I Can't Give You Anything but Love
04 Blues for Duke

Label: Esquire 10-041/2
Recorded: July 01 1948
Lineage: 2 X 78>FLAC

0093 Harry Klein [Baritone Sax] FLAC 4(10.17)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Two sessions from two different Harry Klein Quintets from 1954 and 1955 on a 1956 ep.
Harry (who died recently) recorded little as leader so it is good to hear him in this context.

(01 02)
Harry Klein - baritone
Vic Ash - clarinet
Dill Jones - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
Leslie Weeks - bongos
(03 04)
Harry Klein - baritone
Vic Ash - clarinet
Stan Tracey - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums

01 Pentagon
02 Poinciana
03 Monument
04 Euphony

Label: Columbia ep SEG 7647
Recorded: October 26 1954 (01 02) January 19 1955 (03 04)
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0092 Cleo Laine [The April Age] FLAC 4(11.17)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Cleo and the Dave Lee Quintet (a contingent from the Dankworth Orchestra) with an April themed ep.
Alex Wilder wrote the song 'April Age' and sent it to Cleo for this first recording in 1956.

Johnny Dankworth - alto, clarinet
Martin Slavin - vibes
Dave Lee - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums
Cleo Laine - vocals

01 I'll Remember April
02 April Age
03 April in Paris
04 I Dedicate April

Label: Nixa EP NJE 1026
Recorded: September 05 1956
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0091 Annie Ross [Nocturne For Vocalist] FLAC 4(10.05)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
This is Annie recorded with a Tony Crombie group during her 3 year stay in London in the mid 1950s. The previous day she had recorded her classic 'Annie By Candlelight' with the same group with which this in combined.
Picture of original ep front sleeve and track/personnel details.

Bob Burns - clarinet
Tony Crombie - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Annie Ross - vocals

01 I've Told Every Little Star
02 Manhattan
03 Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
04 Skylark

Label: Nixa ep NJE 1035
Recorded: August 28 1956
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0090 Annie Ross [Annie by Candlelight] FLAC 8(23.05)

Contributed by cornelius

Bob Burns - clarinet
Tony Crombie - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Annie Ross - vocals

01 The Gipsy in My Soul
02 I Love Paris
03 I Didn't Know About You
04 The Lady's In Love With you
05 Tain't What You Do
06 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
07 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
08 Don't Worry 'Bout Me

Label: Nixa NJT504
Recorded: August 27 1956

0089 Mary Lou Williams [The London Sessions] FLAC 22(1.10.55)

Contributed by Azule Serape, who writes:-
Here's Mary Lou again with British bass and drums from sessions recorded in London in 1953 and 1954 during her two year stay in Europe.
Much better recorded than the earlier sessions posted and with a number of alternate takes. These sessions with all known takes are brought together for the first time by French Vogue and re-issued on this 1997 cd.
FLAC from re-issue cd with cd cover scans and scan of front cover of one original French Vogue lp.

(01-11)
Mary Lou Williams - piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
Tony Scott - bongos
(12-22)
Mary Lou Williams - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
Tony Scott - bongos

01 Perdido
02 Lady Bird
03 Don't Blame Me
04 Titoros
05 Titoros
06 For You
07 They Can't Take That Away from Me
08 They Can't Take That Away from Me
09 Kool Bongo
10 Round About Midnight
11 Round About Midnight
12 Azure-Te
13 Flying Home
14 Nickels
15 The Man I Love
16 The Man I Love
17 Twilight
18 Just One of Those Things
19 Just One of Those Things
20 Why
21 Yesterdays
22 Yesterdays

Label: French Vogue CD 74321409312
Recorded: January 23 1953 (01-11) 1954 (12-22)
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0088 Tito Burns [Tito Burns and His Sextet] FLAC 6(17.29)

TITO BURNS 1921-2010
Jazz accordionist, bandleader and promoter Tito Burns died on 23 August 2010 aged 89.
Whilst Tito was never a leading light or major influence in the jazz world, he supported the new 'modern' music and gave a start to many of the young modernists such as Pete Chilver, Tommy Pollard and Tony Crombie in his Sextet.  Ronnie Scott and Johnny Dankworth were with his band for a time in the late 1940s too.
Tito's Sextet featured in the BBC's long running Accordion Club programme from 1947 onwards and it was said to be the first group to play bebop on radio.
Tito struggled to make a living from playing music as the new sounds of Rock and Roll emerged in the mid 1950s and eventually he gave up playing and moved successfully into the field of management and promotion with his music agency.
He married his band vocalist, Terry Devon, in 1948  and this small musical tribute features the Tito Burns Sextet of 1951 where Terry (who survives him) can also be heard.

(01-04)
Leon Calvert - trumpet
Jimmy Chester - alto, baritone (01 03 04)
Tito Burns - accordion, vocals (04)
Ronnie Price - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Derek Price - drums
Terry Devon - vocals (02-04)
(05 06)
Albert Hall - trumpet
Jimmy Chester - alto, clarinet
Rex Morris - tenor
Tito Burns - accordion, vocal
Ronnie Price - piano
Coleridge Goode - bass
Derek Price - drums
Terry Devon - vocals (05)

01 Johnny Come Lately
02 East Of Suez
03 Somebody Loves Me
04 Everlovin' Blues
05 A Lesson In Bop
06 Festival Hall

Label: Esquire 10-126/133/183
Recorded: March 06 (01-04) July 12 (05 06) 1951
Lineage: EPs>FLAC

0087 Melody Maker All Stars [Waxing the Winners 1951-52-53] FLAC 12(53.47)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
In keeping with other music magazines of the time, Melody Maker also ran readers polls to determine their favourite jazz musicians and then recorded them.
They were usually blowing sessions with everyone getting his 16 or more bars and the outcomes were often not particularly memorable (but remember the famous Metronome session with Miles Davis, Fats Navarro and Dizzy Gillespie comprising the trumpet section?).
Here then are the cream of the British musicians (according to MM readers) in sessions from 1951, 1952 and 1953. There are some alternate takes.
The 1951 session was originally issued on one Esquire 78 rpm record and the other sessions on two 10" Esquire lps (20-001 and 20-008), one of which was Esquire's very first jazz lp venture. These recordings are from the Esquire re-issue lp which put together the results of these sessions.
Ripped in FLAC from CDR with original cover picture from the mid 1980s Esquire re-issue lp together with track and personnel details. The sound source is variable in quality.

(01 02)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Gordon Langhorn - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - soprano
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Dave Shand - baritone
Henry McKenzie - clarinet
Victor Feldman - vibes
Ralph Sharon - piano
Ivor Mairants - guitar
Charlie Short - bass
Jack Parnell - drums
(03-07)
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Keith Christie - trombone
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Vic Ash - clarinet
Victor Feldman - vibes
Ralph Sharon - piano
Ivor Mairants - guitar
Joe Muddel - bass
Jack Parnell - drums
(08-12)
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Jackie Armstrong - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - soprano
Les Gilbert - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Vic Ash - clarinet
Martin Slavin - vibes
Bill McGuffie - piano
Ivor Mairants - guitar
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Jack Parnell - drums

01 Brand's Essence
02 Marshall's Plan
03 Up the Poll (take 1)
04 Leap Year (take 1)
05 Up the Poll (take 2)
06 Leap Year (take 2)
07 M. M. Special
08 Ballot Box (take 1)
09 Coronation Jump (take 1)
10 Ballot Box (take 2)
11 Coronation Jump (take 2)
12 Anidina

Label: Esquire 321
Recorded February 03 1951 (01 02) March 24 1952 (03-07) March 24 1953 (08-12)
Lineage: CDR>FLAC

0086 Ray Ellington [Ellington Plays Ellington] FLAC 5(14.01)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
Drummer and vocalist Ray Ellington (1916-1985) was probably best known as the provider of the musical interludes on the long running 'Goon Show' on BBC radio. Whilst he earned his living mainly playing in nightclubs and cabarets, he had a strong jazz streak running through his work but recorded little in this vein.
Ray's recording career started back in 1937 with the Harry Roy Band where he stayed until the outbreak of WW2 in which he served as a PT Instructor.
He formed his own Quartet in 1947 again working mainly around the nightclub circuit - novelty songs like 'Little Bo(p) Peep' and 'The Rich Maharajah of Magador' (remember that one?) were his specialty.
The jazz sessions were few - a 1948 date with Ray Nance and the Ellingtonians in London will feature later but here is a purely jazz instrumental session from 1959.
I suppose it was inevitable that a record would be created called 'Ellington Plays Ellington' but the Quartet treats the Duke's songs with respect.  The original EP had just four titles but I have added another obscure Ellington song called 'Merry-Go-Round' recorded by Ray in this same period.
The front line players are Judd Proctor on guitar (a fine player and long time studio session man) and pianist Dick Katz with Peter McGurk on bass. Ray of course is on drums (usually just a snare and bongos).
Ripped in FLAC from re-issue cd with original ep front and back sleeve pictures.

Dick Katz - piano
Judd Proctor - guitar
Peter McGurk - bass
Ray Ellington - drums

01 Things Ain't What They Used to Be
02 Prelude to a Kiss
03 Lady Mac
04 Satin Doll
05 Merry-Go-Round

Label: Pye EP - NEP 24101
Recorded: 1959
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0085 Buddy Featherstonhaugh [New Quintet] FLAC 4(13.05)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Who? You might well ask.
Buddy (born 1909) started his recording career back in 1927 and played alto, clarinet and mainly tenor sax in a variety of mainly dance bands through the 1930s/1940s including those of Spike Hughes and later, Benny Carter (which included Ted Heath on trombone) when he was resident in London in the 1936/37 period.  He also accompanied Louis Armstrong on his UK visit in 1932.
He first led his own band in 1935 and recorded prolifically during the period up to 1945. As a motor racing driver he won the European Grand Prix in a Maserati in 1934.
In the mid 1950s he changed over to baritone sax and embraced the 'modernists' and here he is with his new Quintet in 1956. Again we hear a young Roy Sidwell on tenor and the much under-rated Leon Calvert on trumpet.  Buddy adapts quite well to the 'new sounds'.
Buddy retired from music sometime in the 1960s and then worked for a time in an Earl's Court, London motor showroom.  He died in 1976.
A second EP from 1957 with a different Quintet will follow later.
Ripped in FLAC from re-issue cd with original cover picture and sleeve notes plus track/personnel details.

(01-04)
Leon Calvert - trumpet
Roy Sidwell - tenor
Buddy Featherstonhaugh - baritone, clarinet
Bill Stark - bass
Paul Brodie - drums
(05-08)
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
Bobby Wellins - tenor
Buddy Featherstonhaugh - baritone, clarinet
Bill Stark - bass
Paul Brodie - drums
Jackie Dougan - drums

01 Buddy's Bounce
02 Yesterdays
03 Constellation
04 Have You Met Miss Jones?
05 Knock Yourself Out
06 Henrietta
07 Goldfish Blues
08 Doin' The Uptown Lowdown

Label: Nixa EPs - NJE 1016 and 1031
Recorded: January 05 (01-04) December 03 (05-08) 1956
Lineage: CD>FLAC

0084 Vic Ash [Session For Four] FLAC 4(13.45)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
A British Jazz veteran, still playing, and here with his 1955 Quartet including Eddie Thompson on piano.
Vic first recorded with the Kenny Baker group which included Tubby Hayes of which a 78rpm disc was posted earlier on this blog. He recorded little as a leader - less than a dozen sessions stretching back over a 60 career in music so it is quite a rare treat to hear him in this role.

(01 02)
Vic Ash - clarinet
Eddie Thompson - piano
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
(03 04)
Vic Ash - clarinet
Eddie Thompson - piano
Barry Hamilton - bass
Benny Goodman - drums

01 Jeepers Creepers
02 Blue Jeans
03 Cocktails For Two
04 I Hear Music

Label: Nixa ep JTE 100
Recorded: January 03 (01 02) February 03 (03 04) 1955
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0083 Johnny Dankworth [5 Steps to Dankworth] FLAC 10(37.47)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
A 1957 recording mainly with the Dankworth Big Band plus two 'Bands within the Band' in the form of the Laurie Monk Quartet and the Dickie Hawdon Quintet each playing two numbers.

(01 03 05 06 08 10)
Dickie Hawdon - trumpet
Derrick Abbott - trumpet
Bill Metcalf - trumpet (05 10)
Stan Palmer - trumpet
Colin Wright - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet (01 02 06 08)
Jack Botterill - trombone
Garry Brown - trombone
Danny Elwood - trombone
Laurie Monk - trombone
Tony Russell - trombone
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Alex Leslie - baritone, clarinet
Dave Lee - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums
(04 09)
Dickie Hawdon - trumpet
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Dave Lee - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums
(02 07)
Laurie Monk - trombone
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Eric Dawson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums

01 Export Blues
02 Somerset Morn
03 Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'
04 One for Janet
05 Somebody Loves Me
06 Hullabaloo
07 Horoscope
08 Stompin' at the Savoy
09 Magenta Midget
10 Limehouse Blues

Label: Parlophone PMC 1043
Recorded: March 21 (05 10) 25 (04 09) August 29 (01 06) September 04 (02 07) 07 (03 08) 1957
Lineage: CD>FLAC

Note: The image of track/personnel details included in the download says that Cleo Laine sings on Somebody Loves Me (as the Tom Lord Discography) but it is an instrumental only, as above.

0082 Tony Kinsey [Red Bird] FLAC 7(12.31)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Here's some poetry with jazz. All the words are by 1950s cult poet Christopher Logue and all the music is by the Tony Kinsey Quintet.
I've never really seen the point of poetry with jazz but at one period is was all the vogue - not so much in the UK - but to my ears it all comes across as somewhat pretentious.  I'd just rather hear the music.
Judge for yourselves.
Ripped in FLAC from a rather battered ep (somewhat restored but still with some pops here and there) with front and back cover scans.

Les Condon - trumpet
Ken Wray - trombone
Bill Le Sage - vibes, piano
Kenny Napper - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
Christopher Logue - narration

01 Blues Shoes
02 Moon Clouds
03 Bass Time
04 Pandora
05 Stew Pot
06 J's Blues
07 Blue Lament

Label: Parlophone Ep GEP 8765
Recorded: May 29 1959
Lineage: EP>FLAC

0081 Keith Christie [Homage to the Duke] FLAC 8(25.34)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
Trombonist Keith Christie started his jazz career as a traditional jazz musician and formed the Christie Brothers Stompers with his brother, clarinettist, Ian.
He played for many years with the Humphrey Lyttleton Band and even longer with the Ted Heath Band and later with the Dankworth Band.  He played with the modernists from the early sixties but seemed happy playing in either camp.
There were only two recording dates in which he appeared as leader and playing in the 'modern' idiom. This is one of them from 1955 and which first appeared on an Esquire 10" lp.
All the tunes were Ellington compositions and were enhanced by the presence of John Dankworth on alto.
Christie died in 1980 after a long battle with alcoholism and aged just 49.
Ripped in FLAC from re-issue 12" Esquire lp from 1987 with original 10" lp cover picture and scans of front and back sleeve from re-issue 12" lp.

Keith Christie - trombone
John Dankworth - alto, piano (04)
Bill Sutcliffe - bass
Allan Ganley - drums

01 Sultry Serenade (Ellington, Glenn) (3:20)
02 Baby Please Stop (Ellington, Gordon) (3:07)
03 Cottontail (Ellington) (4:02)
04 Never No Lament (Don't Get Around Much Anymore) (Ellington) (2:27)
05 Main Stem (Ellington) (2:57)
06 I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Ellington, Webster) (2:38)
07 Drop Me Off in Harlem (Ellington, Kenny) (3:55)
08 It Don't Mean a Thing (Ellington, Mills) (3:07)

Label: Esquire 20-047
Recorded: London July 26 1955
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0080 A Tribute to Jack Parnell

Contributed by bluebird

JACK PARNELL 1923-2010
Jack Parnell, jazz drummer, pianist, vocalist and musical impresario died of cancer yesterday (8 August 2010) at his home in Southwold two days after his 87th birthday.
Jack began his musical career back in 1943 as drummer with Vic Lewis and Buddy Featherstonehaugh whilst a serving member of the RAF. After the war he began a long association with Ted Heath (1945-1951) as drummer/vocalist and led a small 'band within a band'.  He played on the final Heath concert in 2000.
His first recordings as leader are presented here - two tracks from 1946 where, surprisingly, he plays vibes in a  Quartet without drums.  He later went on to form a superb big band in the early 1950s with many of the modernists of the day in the ranks.  An earlier compilation of tracks with  bands from the 1951-1954 period has already appeared on this blog.
Jack became Musical Director at ATV in 1956 and remained there until 1976. From then on he mainly freelanced with local groups and visiting US stars often acting as Contractor for recording sessions and Stage Shows.
He 'semi-retired' from the music business in 1983 moving to East Anglia to enjoy the rural life but continued to play with a local trio for the next few years. He had a regular weekly gig at the 'Green Man' near Norwich and in 1993 his Trio plus a local tenor player were invited to play at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Club.  A recording exists and is worth seeking out.
Jack never gave up his interest in jazz in spite of his many other musical commitments and in the sleeve notes for the Scott's cd he says, 
"This album marks my seventieth birthday, and fifty four years in the music business. I'm doing what I love best, playing straight ahead LIVE jazz.....WARTS 'N' ALL."
What a fine epitaph for a fine man.

Ronnie Scott - tenor
Jack Parnell - vibes
Norman Stenfalt - piano
Dave Goldberg - guitar
Charlie Short - bass

01 On the Sunny Side of the Street
02 Scrubber Time

Label: Properbox 131
Recorded: December 29 1946
Lineage: CD>FLAC