Record Reviews

TONY CROMBIE ~ SEVEN CLASSIC ALBUMS PLUS BONUS EP REAL GONE JAZZ 430 (Barcode: 5036408156525) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1954 - 1961 Released: 2013 This is a reissue of early recordings by the legendary drummer / composer / bandleader Tony CrombieFind albums by this artist, undoubtedly one of the greatest British Jazz drummers of the first post-WWII generation. Crombie played with the best Swing and Bebop players, including Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist and John DankworthFind albums by this artist, served as member of the resident house band at Ronnie Scott´s Jazz Club in London and moved on when the British Jazz changed its character, playing with such modernists as Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist. He also had ties with Rock And Roll and Pop, playing among others with the great vocalist Georgie FameFind albums by this artist. He accompanied many American Jazz vocalists upon their visits in the UK. Crombie´s compositions were very popular among Jazz musicians and even Miles DavisFind albums by this artist recorded one of his tunes on his "Seven Steps To HeavenFind albums with this title" album. The seven albums included here are: "At The Royal Festival HallFind albums with this title" (with Ronnie Scott) from 1956, "Annie By The CandlelightFind albums with this title" (with vocalist Annie RossFind albums by this artist) from 1956, "Man From The InterpolFind albums with this title" (a TV Series Soundtrack) from 1959, "Sweet Wide And BlueFind albums by this artist" from 1960, "Drums! Drums! Drums!Find albums with this title" from 1960, "Whole Lotta TonyFind albums with this title" from 1961 and finally "Twelve Favorite Film ThemesFind albums with this title" from 1961. In addition an EP from 1954 featuring his orchestra is also included. Overall this is a fascinating collection of great mainstream Jazz music played by the best British musicians at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true British Jazz fan missing this set! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted: 01/06/2016

CD 4 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STAN TRACEY ~ THE 1959 SESSIONS RESTEAMED 116 (Barcode: 5060138617162) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 Released: 2022 This is a sensational archival album by one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz, pianist / composer / bandleader Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist. It presents eight previously unreleased tracks recorded in June 1959 at the Decca studios and intended to be released as a follow-up album to Tracey’s second album as a leader “Little KlunkFind albums with this title”, released in early 1959, but strangely forgotten. The tracks were recorded by two trios, both with Kenny NapperFind albums by this artist on bass, and with drummer Tony CrombieFind albums by this artist on the first four tracks, which are standards, and drummer Phil SeamenFind albums by this artist on the next four tracks, which are original compositions by Tracey. The recording quality of all the tracks is absolutely perfect, which of course adds to the joy. The music is as brilliant as one might expect, with Tracey and the lads having obviously great fun and playing their hearts out. Clearly the tracks with Seamen are much more exciting and modernist, with his brilliant drumming technique, way ahead of its time, dominating the proceedings, as appropriate for his legendary status. Tracey demonstrates the early exposure of his idiosyncratic approach to Jazz piano playing, with the typical attack on the keyboard and a barrage of single notes, rather than playing chords, perhaps influenced by the fact that he also played the vibraphone, which can be heard here on one track. Overall, this is another superb addition to the Stan Tracey discography, thanks to his son Clark TraceyFind albums by this artist and the ReSteamedFind albums on this label Records label, which is doing a great job keeping the memory and music alive. This is an absolute must to all Tracey followers and thanks for bringing this music to our lives!

Updated: 06/01/2023Posted: 06/01/2023

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STAN TRACEY ~ THREE CLASSIC ALBUMS PLUS AVID 1044 (Barcode: 5022810304425) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1955 - 2003 Released: 2011 This is a marvelous collection of early recordings by the Godfather of modern British Jazz, pianist / vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist. It includes the first two albums Tracey recorded as a leader: "ShowcaseFind albums with this title" (from 1958) and "Little KlunkFind albums with this title" (from 1959) and the only album by the short-lived octet Jazz Inc.Find albums by this artist led by drummer / composer / bandleader Tony CrombieFind albums by this artist, which features Tracey on piano. The "Plus" comprises of four tracks by the Stan Tracey quartet featuring Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist (from 1959), a couple of tracks by the Harry KleinFind albums by this artist Quintet featuring Stan Tracey on piano (from 1955) and a trio recording by guitarist Jon WheatleyFind albums by this artist, bassist Andy CleyndertFind albums by this artist and Tracey from 2003 (not really belonging to this set but what the heck). This collection is not only highly entertaining, but also very educational, as it traces the development of Modern British Jazz, which started as a formidable adaptation of the American Jazz tradition and gradually developed into a completely new and even separate Jazz idiom. The comparison between "Showcase" and "Little Klunk" is particularly fascinating, as these two albums are light years apart from each other, although in fact they were recorded only one year between each other. The former, recorded in a trio / quartet setting features Tracey on piano and vibraphone, with guitarists Ike IsaacsFind albums by this artist or Ray DempseyFind albums by this artist, bassists Kenny NapperFind albums by this artist or Johnny HawksworthFind albums by this artist and drummers Phil SeamenFind albums by this artist or Ronnie VerrellFind albums by this artist (the piano pieces are trios and the vibraphone pieces are quartets). All the music on this album consists of standards and stylistically the music moves between Swing and Bebop, with Tracey obviously already listening closely to the American pioneers stepping beyond, especially Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist. The latter album, however, recorded in a trio format with Napper and Seamen features all original compositions by Tracey and clearly defines his original voice, which moves away quite radically from both Swing and Bebop, but not yet as advanced as it will become in not too distant future. The work of the magnificent Phil Seamen heard here is of course priceless, considering his tragically short life. The Jazz Inc. live recording is also a typical example of the British scene at the time, with the octet playing mostly original material by its members, with just a couple of standards thrown in for good measure. Excellent soloing by all the musicians and the accomplished Big Band sound are a superb nostalgic memento. The Tracey / Hayes tracks recorded by the BBC World Service for "export to former colonies", is a rare opportunity to hear these two Giants together, which happened only very rarely. The guitar trio tracks added here seemingly simply to "fill the time" prove to be the least interesting per se, although of course perfectly well played. Overall this collection, digitally remastered and very reasonably priced, is a true gem and an essential part of every modern British Jazz record collection. A must!

Updated: 26/01/2016Posted: 26/01/2016

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend