British Tempo probably did more than any other recording imprint to document the rapid progress of local modern jazz

Between 1954 and 1960, the British Tempo label probably did more than any other recording imprint to document the rapid progress of local modern jazz. Poorly funded, and run almost exclusively on the irrepressible energy of Tony Hall, otherwise part of Decca's exploitation team, its catalogue of EP's, 10' and 12' LPs captured the early steps of such soon-to-be legends as saxophonists Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott and Don Rendell, multi-instrumentalist Victor Feldman, trumpeters Dizzy Reece and Jimmy Deuchar and drummer Phil Seamen, all of whom effectively entered a rotating stock company, operating in much the same way as Art Blakey, Horace Silver and Hank Mobley were then doing on the fabled Blue Note label. Keen to introduce his roster of artists to as wider audience as possible, Hall however did something Blue Note's bosses never tried: during 1957 and '58 he released three multi-artist anthologies, each with the aim of drawing in new listeners via specific thematic angles, sometimes spicing the mix with material not available elsewhere in Tempo's output. Cool Music For A Hot Night promised a programme of ballad performances: Speak Low delivered a sequence of largely grooving medium-tempo material and Swingin' The Blues found Tempo's stars tackling funky, blues-related themes by the likes of Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt and Horace Silver. Each album also had the considerable bonus of striking cover art featuring the then young-starlet-cum-model Jackie Collins, later to become a celebrated author. Since their initial release, all three albums have gone on to become rare collectors' items, prized as much for their sleeve imagery as their musical contents. This new Acrobat 4-CD contains all three LPs in their original running order, restoring material that was sometimes edited out in order to fit the original playing time. Featuring the collectable cover art, rare photographs of many of the participating musicians, reminiscences by Tony Hall and a detailed booklet note by award-winning saxophonist and author Simon Spillett, this release makes an ideal introduction to a record label once dubbed 'the Blue Note of British jazz.' A further bonus CD assembles a similar mood music programme from Tempo's later 1957-60 catalogue, including performances by Tommy Whittle, Eddie Thompson and Tony Crombie

Track Listing

• Dizzy Reece Quartet - How Deep Is The Ocean'
• Don Rendell Quartet - Yesterdays
• Victor Feldman Septet - Sunshine On A Dull Day
• Tubby Hayes Quintet - Foolin' Myself
• Harry Klein/Ronnie Scott - Stars Fell On Alabama/Once In A While
• Dizzy Reece Quartet - The Gypsy
• Don Rendell Quartet - Body and Soul
• The New Jazz Group featuring Dizzy Reece - These Foolish Things
• The Damian Robinson Trio - Chelsea Bridge
• Victor Feldman Quartet - Deep In A Dream
• Tubby Hayes Quartet - Imagination
• Dizzy Reece Quartet - This Is Always

• Ronnie Scott Quintet - Speak Low
• Jimmy Deuchar Quartet - How Long Has This Been Going On'
• Victor Feldman Quartet - Duffle Coat
• Jimmy Deuchar Ensemble - Bass House
• Victor Feldman Quartet - Easy To Love
• Ronnie Scott Quintet - I'll Take Romance
• The Jazz Couriers - On A Misty Night
• Dizzy Reece Quintet - When'
• Don Rendell Quartet - New Orleans
• Victor Feldman Quartet - Time Will Tell
• Jimmy Deuchar Ensemble - Treble Gold

• Dizzy Reece Quintet - Bang
• Tubby Hayes Quintet - Message To The Messengers
• Tubby Hayes Sextet - Strollin'
• Jimmy Deuchar Sextet - Opus De Funk
• Victor Feldman Septet - Brawl for All
• Don Rendell Quartet - Blow Mr. Dexter
• Vic Ash Quartet - Doxy
• Jimmy Deuchar Sextet - Swingin' In Studio Two

• Tubby Hayes Quartet - Like Someone In Love
• Jimmy Deuchar Quintet - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
• Dizzy Reece Quintet - Sweet and Lovely
• The Jazz Five - Autumn Leaves
• London Jazz Quartet - Wait and See
• Tony Crombie's Jazz Inc. - Summertime
• Tommy Whittle Quintet - Lullabye
• Eddie Thompson Trio - Theme For Nica
• Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynair Quartet - Blues For Tony

Additional Details

Label: Acrobat

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 276 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 08/12/16

UPC: 824046710125