Record Reviews

JOHN DANKWORTH ~ 5 STEPS TO DANKWORTH / JOURNEY INTO JAZZ VOCALION 5303 (Barcode: 765387530327) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1956 - 1957 Released: 2008 Saxophonist / composer / bandleader John DankworthFind albums by this artist is one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz. His activities on the local and international scenes since the early 1950s were instrumental in establishing a whole new generation of Jazz players, which eventually led to the flourishing and revolutionary British Jazz of the 1960s. After his first group - the John Dankworth SevenFind albums by this artist – disbanded, Dankworth established the John Dankworth OrchestraFind albums by this artist, the first British modern Big Band, which consisted of the best Jazz players in Britain at the time. Dankworth´s superb compositions and magnificent arrangements, aided by the virtuosity of his band members, were among the finest in the world and easily compared to the American Big Bands of Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, Count BasieFind albums by this artist and others, often surpassing their output with the sophistication and finesse of its works. This great reissue presents Dankworth´s first two recordings with his Orchestra, the debut "Journey Into JazzFind albums with this title", which includes the suite "Itinerary of an Orchestra" – Dankworth´s presentation of a Jazz Orchestra similar in concept to Benjamin BrittenFind albums by this artist´s "Young Person´s Guide to the Orchestra". As most of Dankworth´s compositions the arrangements were made by the excellent "in house" arranger David LindupFind albums by this artist. "5 Steps Into DankworthFind albums with this title", subtitled "Presenting the Music of Johnny Dankworth", concentrates on his talents as a composer and emphasized the magnificent full power of the Big Band. Together these two albums are a true treasure of great music, which lost nothing of its power and ingenuity over the years and sound completely relevant today. Brilliant stuff!

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JOHN DANKWORTH ~ DUET FOR 16 VOCALION 6230 (Barcode: 765387623029) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 Released: 2015 This is an archival recording by the British Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader John DankworthFind albums by this artist and his orchestra. Taken from the BBC vaults, the music collected here was originally recorded during three sessions as part of the BBC´s transcription recordings, which were then broadcasted around the world by the BBC World Service. This particular recording includes spoken commentary in French and must have been intended for the French speaking territories; France, Belgium and perhaps Canada. Apart from the theme which is used as the opening and closing track, the album includes nineteen compositions, which include five Dankworth originals. Rest of the material is either standards or material composed by David LindupFind albums by this artist, who was the staff composer / arranger often collaborating with Dankworth. The orchestra´s lineup includes some of the top British Jazz players at the time, including the new arrival in UK, trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist. The excellent rhythm section comprised of pianist Derek SmithFind albums by this artist, bassist Eric DawsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Kenny ClareFind albums by this artist. Stylistically the music mimics the American Big Band tradition, which was very popular in Britain during the post-WWII period. Therefore the orchestra plays easy swinging music, which is very well executed, but hardly innovative or challenging in any way. Dankworth represents the transitional British Jazz generation, which was deeply rooted in the American tradition and never really moved into the modern Jazz idiom completely, although he was certainly open minded in comparison to many of his contemporaries, and did include a certain element of experimentation in his later work. These recordings are a snapshot of a period when Jazz was extremely popular and even served as dance music to a large part of the population. The popularity, however, demanded that the music would be kept strictly within closely defined melodic and rhythmic boundaries. One the modern British Jazz emerged by the mid 1960s Jazz naturally lost its popularity. Having said all that, this album is still a great fun to listen to and a wonderful piece of British Jazz history, which deserves to be remembered. Dankworth and his orchestra prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jazz can be played by Europeans without any inferiority complexes attached.

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