various artists - Soho Scene '57: Jazz Goes Mod / 2CD set

“Most of our people have never had it so good”. When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan uttered his famous era-defining phrase in the summer of 1957 he wasn’t thinking of the UK’s modern jazz community. Yet his words were an equally apt summary of their fortunes that year. After the bitter defeats of 1956, when America delivered reminder upon reminder of its musical superiority, London’s modernists were finally fighting back. They had a new enclave, the Flamingo Club, with membership in its thousands, and a new cause celebre in the Jazz Couriers, a quintet of genuine kick-ass quality. Add to that, exciting new bands led by Don Rendell, Tony Kinsey and Johnny Dankworth and it was clear that the first generation of the capital’s ‘mods’ were on the way up…Sleeve Notes by Simon Spillett

Disc One British Jazz

    Ronnie Scott Sextet    Pittsburgh Opener
    Dave Lee Trio   Salt Air
    Johnny Keating All Stars        Headin’ North
    Tubby Hayes/Victor Feldman Sextet      Four
    Kenny Baker’s Half Dozen     Act One Scene One
    Derek Smith    Chelsea Bridge
    Don Rendell Jazz Six  Star Eyes
    Vic Ash Plus Four            Cinders
    Dizzy Reece Quintet   On The Scene
    Tony Kinsey Quintet   Just Goofin’
    Jimmy Deuchar Sextet            Opus De Funk
    The Jazz Couriers        Cheek To Cheek
    Dick Heckstall-Smith Quintet     Sputnik
    Johnny Dankworth     Firth Of Fourths
    Kenny Graham’s Afro Cubists            Monkey Business
    Melody Maker’s All-Stars       Top Score

Disc Two Jazz U.S.A

    Wes Montgomery        Finger Pickin’
    Milt Jackson       The Spirit-Feel
    Carl Perkins Trio         Too Close For Comfort
    Miles Davis     Générique
    Horace Silver Quintet Safari
    Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble        Cubano Chant
    Mose Allison   New Ground
    Ray Charles & Milt Jackson   Blue Funk
    Jimmy Smith Trio        Buns A Plenty
    Lorez Alexandria        Baltimore Oriole
    Charles Mingus           Celia
    Art Pepper       You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
    Barney Kessel On Green Dolphin Street
    Thad Jones      Mad Thad
    Jimmy Giuffre 3          The Train And The River
    John Coltrane Sextet   Blue Train