This Acrobat collection tells the story of this brave A&R initiative to promote British modern Jazz in the 50s & 60s

As the UK found itself suddenly gripped by the Trad Boom during the early 1960s, a few of Britain's top modern jazzmen fought a short rival campaign aiming to take their type of music to the top of the charts. Very few of these jazz 'singles' found success - John Dankworth's African Waltz the most notable exception - but the majority slunk down the charts into obscurity. This new Acrobat collection tells the fascinating story of this brave A&R initiative and rescues twenty tracks originally released on 45rpm and EP formats between 1960 and 1962 featuring such celebrated jazz names as Joe Harriott, Stan Tracey, Shake Keane, Dudley Moore and Tony Kinsey. Six of these tracks are collectors' items which have never been released on CD before. Not only is the range of styles on offer remarkably broad, covering everything from Latin and soul jazz through to scat-vocals and film and TV soundtrack themes, the list of star musicians participating in these records makes for a veritable who's who of British jazz including Tubby Hayes, Jimmy Deuchar, Harold McNair, Gordon Beck, Allan Ganley, Bobby Wellins, Ronnie Ross, Tommy Whittle and many more. Complete with a fact-packed booklet note by award-winning saxophonist Simon Spillett and rare press clippings, this release reveals the remarkable story of a forgotten chapter in British Jazz.

Track Listing

• The Joe Harriott Quintet - Liggin'
• The M.J.6 featuring Stan Tracey - Private Eye
• Cleo Laine with Johnny Gregory and His Orchestra - Let's Slip Away
• Dudley Moore - Strictly For The Birds
• Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra - African Waltz
• Max Harris - Gurney Slade Theme
• Tony Coe Quartet - Love For Sale
• Wilton ‘Bogey’ Gaynair - Gone With The Wind
• Tony Crombie Quintet - Gut Bucket
• Tony Kinsey Quintet - Girl In Blue
• Soundtrack of the Rank Film 'All Night Long' - Muy Rapido
• Valerie Masters with Johnny Gregory and His Orchestra - All Night Long
• The Steve Race Group featuring Tubby Hayes - Crosstrap
• The Emcee Five - Preludes
• Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra - Cannon Ball
• The British Jazz Trio - Charlie Is My Darling
• The Shake Keane Fivetet - The Nursery Blues
• The Steve Race Group featuring Tubby Hayes - Stop-Look-Listen
• Tony Crombie Quintet - Just Like Old Times
• Vic Feldman Quartet - A Taste of Honey
• The Jazz Stars - The Jazz Scene
• The Emcee Five - John O'Groats
• Tony Kinsey Quintet - Weber The Great

Additional Details

Label: Acrobat

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 75 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 01/13/15

UPC: 824046438128