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

0079 The Cool Britons [Cool Europe] FLAC 5(24.00)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
We saw this group earlier playing on a Blue Note lp, 'Cool Britons' and here is the remainder of that session featuring the same musicians and issued by MGM.
It occupies one side of a 12" lp (the other side being by Jutta Hipp and not for this blog). The original MGM lp is very elusive but this is taken from the Japanese re-issue of the lp. Sound is not as bright as it could be.
The stand-out track for me is Harry Klein's ''Two Sleepy People'. Harry, not particularly well known, will feature later on other recordings.
Ripped in FLAC from re-issue lp with cover scans.

(01 04 05)
Albert Hall - trumpet
Don Rendell - tenor
Harry Klein - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(02 03)
Albert Hall - trumpet
John Dankworth - alto
Don Rendell - tenor
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Allan Ganley - drums

01 I'll Remember April
02 Deep Purple
03 Rhumblues
04 Two Sleepy People
05 Amalgam

Label: MGM E 3157 Mike Nevard's British Jazzmen 'Cool Europe'
Recorded: May 13 (02 03) 15 (01 04 05) 1954
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0078 Dennis Wilson [Dennis Plus 3] FLAC 10(28.35)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
There were many fine British pianists working during the 1950s and 1960s but few could earn a living by playing solely jazz. Several emigrated to the USA where prospects seemed better, others were employed in the many dance bands touring the small halls around the country, on radio and in variety shows. Up and coming television provided some more opportunities for musicians as dance halls closed.
Dennis Wilson was one such pianist and whilst he earned a steady living from his playing and arranging, his jazz recordings were few and it is a treat to hear him in this setting on this obscure British label, Delyse Envoy, recorded in April 1957.
The musicians here had played together for some time and offer mainly standards with just one Wilson original.
Ripped in FLAC from original 10" lp with  cover scans.

Dennis Wilson - piano
Jack Llewellyn - guitar
Frank Clarke - bass
Bobby Kevin - drums

01 Laura
02 My Guy's Come Back
03 You Go to My Head
04 Fascinating Rhythm
05 My Blue Heaven
06 Somebody Loves Me
07 I'm Old Fashioned
08 Cherokee
09 Liza
10 Plus One

Label: Envoy VOS 3111
Recorded: April 1957
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0077 Various [Tenorama] FLAC 8(38.41)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
This is a showcase for four very different tenor saxophonists recorded in May 1956 - Don Rendell, Jimmy Skidmore, Kenny Graham and newcomer Roy Sidwell. Each plays 2 tunes with different rhythm sections. For lovers of jazz trivia, Stan Tracey plays Israeli bongos on the Kenny Graham tracks. Yes, really.

(01 02)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Jack Ellory - flute
Major Holley - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Stan Tracey - bongoes
Gilbert Webster - maraccas
(03 04)
Don Rendell - tenor
Damian Robinson - piano
Pete Elderfield - bass
Don Lawson - drums
(05 06)
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Derek Smith - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(07 08)
Roy Sidwell - tenor
Derek Smith - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

01 Poinciana
02 Teddy Boy
03 Curio
04 Don't You Know I Care
05 Just You Just Me
06 Blue Major
07 What a Difference a Day Made
08 Roy Leaps Out

Label: Nixa NJL4
Recorded: March 22 (03 04) May 22 (07 08) 23 (05 06) 25 (01 02) 1956
Lineage: LP>FLAC