0597 Various Artists [We Love You Madly] FLAC 11(38.15)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
This is just the music (no video) from a BBC TV transmission to celebrate the 70th Birthday of Duke Ellington in April 1969 and played by various groups.
The sound taken from a CDR is not brilliant and there is some residual background noise, possibly the result of earlier over-enthusiastic restoration work, but it is perfectly listenable and there are some fine solos.
Stan Tracey's Big Brass, one of the groups here, plays five selections all of which appeared on his 1968 album 'We Love You Madly' with the same featured soloists.
Sound (the format of which could be anything) from TV transmission via CDR with a 'cover' picture and track/personnel details.

(02 04 07 08 10)
Nigel Carter - trumpet
Tony Fisher - trumpet
Paul Tungay - trumpet
Harry Beckett - trumpet
Hank Shaw - trumpet
Ian Carr - flugelhorn (04)
Don Lusher - trombone
Keith Christie - trombone
Bobby Lamb - trombone
Chris Pyne - trombone
Cliff Hardie - trombone
Don Rendell - soprano, tenor (07)
Joe Harriott - alto (08)
Tony Coe - tenor
Acker Bilk - clarinet (02)
Stan Tracey - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Ronnie Stephenson - drums
(03)
Kenny Graham - director
Duncan Campbell - trumpet
Ronnie Chamberlain - soprano, alto
Bob Efford - tenor
Kathy Stobart - baritone
Dave Goldberg - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Bobby Orr - drums
Peter Ahearne - percussion
Tristan Fry - percussion
Bobby Midgley - percussion
(05 06)
John Dankworth - alto
Cleo Laine - vocals
Others unknown but possibly from Graham's group
(09)
Johnny Scott - alto, flute
Bob Burns - alto, clarinet
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Bill LeSage - piano
Spike Heatley - bass
Tony Carr - drums
Freddie Alexander - cello
Maurice Westerby - cello
Francis Gabarro - cello
William De Mont - cello

01 Introduction by Benny Green
02 Creole Love Call
03 Rockin' In Rhythm
04 I'm Beginning To See The Light
05 Sophisticated Lady
06 Sonnet To Hank Cinq
07 Passion Flower
08 In A Sentimental Mood
09 C Jam Blues
10 Lay-By
11 Coda by Benny Green

Label: BBC TV transmission
Recorded: April 1969
Lineage: BBC TV>CDR>FLAC
Scans: Cover details

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

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.

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

01 Kings Cross Climax (Graham) (6:52)
02 Caravan (Tizol) (6:52)

Label: Esquire EP 83
Recorded: May 06 1955
Lineage: EP>FLAC

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

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?

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 - marracas, timbales

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

Label: Esquire 10" lp - 20-064
Recorded: May 08 1955
Lineage: LP>FLAC

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

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
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 Lyttelton 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.

Jo Hunter - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Laddie 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

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 Time's A-Wasting
10 Bongo Chant
11 I Dreamt I Dwelt In Harlem

Label: Nixa NJL 12
Recorded: January February 1957

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

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

0050 Various [A Modern Mixture Volume 1] FLAC 8(24.56)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
Issued in 1952 this lp showcases some of Esquire's then current modern jazz recording artists  - an early 'sampler' in fact. 
As was the case at this time, some of the music is derivative and you can hear strains of Kenton, the Shearing Quintet and even Jackie and Roy. However, it gives a good indication of what was being played by the modernists in 1951/52. The stand out is the imaginative 'Pina Colada' by Kenny Graham.

(01)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Jack Honeyborne - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Cliff Ball - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
Leonardo - maracas
Bob Caxton - conga drum
Ginger Johnson - bongoes
(02)
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Tommy Pollard - piano
Lennie Bush - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(03)
Leon Calvert - trumpet
Jimmy Chester - alto
Rex Morris - tenor
Tito Burns - accordion
Ronnie Price - piano
Johnny Hawksworth - bass
Derek Price - drums
Terry Devon - vocal
(04)
Victor Feldman - vibes
Ronnie Ball - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(05)
Jimmy Deuchar - trumpet
Eddie Harvey - trombone
Johnny Dankworth - alto
Don Rendell - tenor
Bill Le Sage - piano
Eric Dawson - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(06)
Johnie Ashcombe - vibes
Basil Tait - piano
Len Williams - guitar
Bob Hill - bass
Norman Burns - drums
(07)
Ronnie Ball - piano
Pete Blannin - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
(08)
Ronnie Simmons - trumpet
Stan Reynolds - trumpet
Dave Usden - trumpet
Terry Lewis - trumpet
John Keating - trombone
Ken Goldie - trombone
Ronnie Chamberlain - alto
Peter Howe - alto
Ronnie Scott - tenor
Pete Warner - tenor
Jimmy Simmonds - baritone
Arthur Greenslade - piano
Alan MacDonald - bass
Peter Coleman - drums
Marion Williams - vocal
Vic Lewis - vocal

01 Pina Colada
02 Flamingo
03 East of Suez
04 Excavation
05 The Slider
06 Nearing Shearing
07 Thou Swell
08 Lemon Drop

Label: Esquire 20-011
Recorded: 1951 and 1952
Lineage: LP>FLAC

0009 Kenny Graham [Afro-Cubists Volume 2 Afro Kadabra Caribbean Suite] FLAC 14(49.13)

Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
These are further recordings from Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists in 1953 including the 'Caribbean' Suite an ambitious and interesting set of pieces which, surprisingly, have never been re-issued on cd. This particular lp issue dates from 1987 and is part of the Esquire Treasure Chest series of lps.
British guitarists never got much of a chance to shine in the 1950s in any band, being kept mainly to a role in the rhythm section but here Roy Plummer is featured on 'Beguine'. A rare solo spot.
The Afro Cubists recorded again in 1957 (to be seen here later) and then disbanded. It was a brave but financially disastrous experiment.

(01-03)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Derek Humble - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Oscar Birch - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Billy Olu Shelanke - conga drums
(04 to 06)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Norman Fantham - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor
Wally Moffatt - tenor
Oscar Birch - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Joe Muddell - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Billy Olu Shelanke - conga drums
Lati Pedro - African maracas
(08 09 12 13)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor, clarinet
Norman Fantham - tenor
Don Honeywill - baritone
Dill Jones - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Donaldo - bongoes
Judy Johnson - vocal and maracas
(07 10 11 14)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor, clarinet
Norman Fantham - tenor
Don Honeywill - baritone
Dill Jones - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Donaldo - bongoes
Judy Johnson - vocal and maracas

01 Jump for Joe (Roland) (2:59)
02 A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie) (3:17)
03 Take the A Train (Strayhorn) (3:46)
04 Flamingo (Anderson, Grouya) (2:48)
05 Keni B'sindika (Graham) (3:37)
06 Afro-Kadabra (Graham) (8:42)
07 Mango Walk (Graham) (1:51)
08 Bongo Chant (Graham) (2:43)
09 Saga Boy (Graham) (2:01)
10 Dance of the Zombies (Graham) (3:46)
11 Wha' Huppin' Sah? (Graham) (3:16)
12 Tempo Medio Lento (Graham) (3:30)
13 Beguine (Graham) (2:53)
14 Haitian Ritual (Graham) (4:04)

Label: Esquire S 329
Recorded: February 05 (01-03) April 29 (04 to 06) October 23 (08 09 12 13) 27 (07 10 11 14) 1953
Lineage: Reissue LP>FLAC

0008 Kenny Graham [Mango Walk] FLAC 16(49.18)

Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
These are the first sixteen Esquire titles recorded by the Afro-Cubists during a two year period.
Formed in 1950, the band was no longer viable by March 1952 although it reformed periodically to record until 1957.
They were the only small bop group in the world to play full time with a latin rhythm section.
The talented trumpeter, Jo Hunter, appears on twelve of the sixteen tracks and the last two tracks show Kenny rethinking his format to use a five piece sax section.

(01 02)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Jack Honeybourne - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Cliff Ball - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
(03-06)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Cliff Ball - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
(11-14)
Terry Brown - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Bruce Swain - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
(15 16)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Derek Humble - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Oscar Birch - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums

01 Mango Walk (Graham) (1:50)
02 Pina Colada (Ventura, Kral) (2:59)
03 Chloe (Kahn, Moret) (3:03)
04 Over The Rainbow (Harburg, Arlen) (3:34)
05 Skylon (Graham) (3:19)
06 Dome Of Discovery (Dollimore) (3:17)
07 Mike Fright (Graham) (3:18)
08 Pip Squeak (Graham) (3:11)
09 Kenny's Jig (Graham) (2:55)
10 Cuban Canon (Graham) (3:28)
11 Boom (Trenet, Goetz) (3:04)
12 Barbados (Parker) (2:43)
13 All The King's Horses (Gay) (3:30)
14 Peanut Vendor (Simons, Sunshine, Gilbert) (3:18)
15 I'll Remember April (Raye, De Paul, Johnson) (2:57)
16 Jump For Joe (Roland) (2:52)

Label: Esquire ESQ 308
Recorded:
February 10 (01 02) June 04 (03-06) 1951
February 13 (07-10) October 08 (11-14) 1952
February 05 1953 (15 16)
Lineage: vinyl>FLAC