Smith & Co

Bernard Stanley Bilk, better known as Acker, was born in Pensford, Somerset on January 28th., 1929 and his early love of Jazz, especially that of early New Orleans, led him in the direction of learning to play the clarinet and to offer up some lusty vocals, possibly slightly influenced by Louis Armstrong. Of the four British Trad Jazz giants featured in this series, Acker Bilk was possibly the most commercially successful. With hits like “Stranger on the Shore” and “Aria” he graced the charts around the world on several occasions and in his latter day would almost be termed ‘middle of the road’, but this 2 CD collection gives you Acker at his Jazz best. These early recordings give us some of the best and purest work that he recorded, although there would still be a few years after the recordings on these CD’s before he went ‘commercial’!

Ken Colyer, bandleader, trumpeter, guitarist and vocalist was born in Great Yarmouth in April 1928 and is today regarded as the 'Father' of New Orleans Jazz in Britain, being known affectionately as 'The Guv'nor'. One of the great adventurers, Ken disappeared to New Orleans as you can read in the sleeve notes and joined Chris Barber briefly on his return to the UK, before going on to form his own band. At this period he not only played New Orleans traditional jazz, but was also heavily involved in the skiffle movement. However, the lure of jazz was eventually to prove too strong for Ken and he went on to become one of the four legendary British Jazz bands of the fifties.

This double CD, in contrast to other material on the market, is the definitive collection of Ken Colyer’s best jazz work from the immediate  post war period up to 1958. Undoubtedly the greatest
Trad - Jazz period in the UK, this double set, beautifully mastered, will appeal not only to the jazz aficionados, but also to the broader public who still remember the post war years with a nostalgic gleam in their eyes.

Chris Barber was born in Welwyn Garden City in 1930. His early years saw him learning to play forceful, but subtle and highly disciplined trombone, as well as very solid double bass. With a natural ability for composing and arranging, as well as a flair for leadership, Barber formed his first band in 1948, recording early on in 1951 for Carlo Krahmer's Esquire label as Chris Barber's Washboard Wonders. In March 1953 Ken Colyer returned from his legendary visit to New Orleans and was offered the leadership of the Barber band, which he accepted. However, this was only due to last a matter of months as Barber and Colyer had a different agenda as to how Jazz should be played and presented. Colyer left and reformed, whilst the band became Chris Barber’s Jazz Band once again, bringing in Pat Halcox on trumpet in 1954. With Monty Sunshine on clarinet, Lonnie Donegan on banjo, guitar and vocals, Jim Bray on bass and Ron Bowden on Drums, this would come to be regarded as the classic Barber Band.

This double CD, in contrast to other material on the market, is the definitive collection of Chris Barber’s best work from the immediate post war period up to 1958. Undoubtedly the greatest
Trad - Jazz period in the UK, this double set, beautifully mastered, will appeal not only to the jazz aficionados, but also to the broader public who still remember the post war years with a nostalgic gleam in their eyes.

With a background more than somewhat different to the majority of Jazz musicians, Humphrey Lyttelton has nevertheless succeeded on a grand scale in carving out a huge legacy for himself worldwide as a fine trumpeter, band leader, arranger, author, broadcaster and raconteur. Born at Eton College in 1921, the son of an Eton mater, Lyttelton would later attend the College himself, where he formed a band and purchased his first trumpet in 1936. After Eton he went to Sandhurst, forming a band there and then served in World War 2. After the War, 'Humph' began to explore the London Jazz Club scene finally joining George Webb's Dixielanders in 1947. Lyttelton had been deeply influenced by Louis Armstrong and had learned well, so that, when he began 'sitting in' with various bands and musicians after WW2, all who heard were astonished at the 'Tour de Force' that 'Rocked the House', wherever he played. 'Humph' accepted George Webb's invitation, but by 1948 he was running his own band and had made his 1st recordings for the London Jazz Label. In the following 6 years, Humphrey Lyttelton would lead the 'Hottest' British band on the Jazz revival scene achieving massive popularity both in Britain and across Europe.

In the almost obsessively materialistic world of the 21st Century, it must be hard to imagine how grey life must have been in Britain immediately after World War 2. For those that were around in 1945/6/7, the arrival of George Webb's Dixielanders and those that followed must have been incredibly exciting. George Webb 'held Court' at the Red Barn in Bexleyheath, Kent and it was to this fondly remembered venue that young Jazz Musicians gravitated to hear the Webb band and meet like minded players. It was here that a young Humphrey Lyttelton used to visit to sit in on trumpet, which culminated in him joining the Band. Late in 1947, 'Humph' left George Webb to start his own Band, which continues to this day. Much admired as one of the finest trumpeters Britain has ever produced, Lyttelton, a keen follower of Louis Armstrong, followed a traditional Jazz path well into the '50's, before causing something of an outrage, by breaking ranks and moving into a more mainstream style of Jazz. 'Humph's career continued to expand and his Jazz band activities were punctuated by his work as a broadcaster, raconteur, author, composer and arranger.

Chris Barber formed his first band in 1948 and, by 1951, was making his first records for Esquire. The Barber band built up a good reputation and, in 1953, invited Ken Colyer to front the band, a partnership destined to be short lived, ending in 1954 with Colyer leaving and Pat Holcox replacing him. Along with these 3 giants of the fifties jazz scene this compilation also features work from the fourth Jazz great of the late fifties, Acker Bilk, and many other great names from this era including TERRY LIGHTFOOT, GEORGE MELLY, CY LAURIE, Bobby Mickleburgh's Bobcats, THE MERSEYSIPPI JAZZ BAND and many others.

This double CD, in contrast to other material on the market, is the definitive collection of Great British Jazz work from the immediate  post war period up to 1958. Undoubtedly the greatest Trad - Jazz period in the UK, this double set, beautifully mastered, will appeal not only to the jazz aficionados, but also to the broader public who still remember the post war years with a nostalgic gleam in their eyes.