WES MONTGOMERY – Groove Brothers (Milestone Records – M-47051/2LP-1979)

Label: Milestone Records – M-47051

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation / Country: US / Released: 1979

Style: Hard Bop, Contemporary Jazz

Side 1 recorded Fall 1960 in San Francisco / Side 2 recorded Spring 1961 at The Cellar, Vancouver / Sides 3,4 recorded January 1961 in NYC.

Side 1 originally included on The Montgomery Brothers (Fantasy 8052)

Side 2 originally included on The Montgomery Brothers in Canada (Fantasy 8066)

Sides 3,4 originally issued as Groove Yard (Riverside 362)

Art Direction – Phill Carroll

Photo [Cover] – Charles Stewart

Remastered By – David Turner

© 1979, Milestone Records

Distributed by Fantasty Records.

Matrix / Runout (Runout A, etched): M-47051 1A (MILESTONE)

Matrix / Runout (Runout B, etched): M-47051 1B (MILESTONE)

Matrix / Runout (Runout C, etched): M-47051 2C (MILESTONE)

Matrix / Runout (Runout D, etched): M-47051 2D (MILESTONE)

side A

A1 - D-Natural Blues (Monterey Blues) .................................................................... 6:25

A2 - Lover Man ......................................................................................................... 8:56

A3 - June In January ................................................................................................ 6:41

side B

B1 - Jeannine ........................................................................................................... 4:08

B2 - Angel Eyes ....................................................................................................... 6:23

B3 - Beaux Arts ........................................................................................................ 4:40

B4 - Snowfall ............................................................................................................ 6;49

side C

C1 - Bock To Bock (Back To Back) .......................................................................... 6:44

C2 - Groove Yard ..................................................................................................... 3:01

C3 - If I Should Lose You ......................................................................................... 5:49

C4 - Delirium ............................................................................................................ 3:37

side D

D1 - Just For Now .................................................................................................... 4:55

D2 - Doujie ............................................................................................................... 4:35

D3 - Heart Strings .................................................................................................... 4:34

D4 - Remember ....................................................................................................... 5:36

Personnel:

Wes Montgomery – guitar

Buddy Montgomery – piano, vibraphone

Monk Montgomery – acoustic bass

Lawrence Marable – drums, percussion (side A)

Paul Humphrey – drums, percussion (side B)

Bobby Thomas – drums, percussion (sides C, D)

Although this is billed to Wes Montgomery, it is in fact a combination of two early-'60s LPs by the Montgomery Brothers -- "The Montgomery Brothers" and "The Montgomery Brothers in Canada" -- on to first LP and material from their Riverside LP "Groove Yard", on the second LP. (Also note that this album it's almost entirely different from the Montgomery Brothers' CD that also bears the name Groove Brothers.) With Wes on guitar, Monk on bass, and Buddy on piano (Larance Marable fills out the quartet on drums), The Montgomery Brothers (1960) is a boppish set of five lengthy tracks, divided between both originals (penned by either Wes or Buddy) and standards. "June in January" is a particularly good vehicle for Wes' fluid single-note runs, while "D-Natural Blues" is one of his more enduring and good-natured compositions from the period. Buddy Montgomery, who often played the piano with the Montgomery Brothers, sticks exclusively to vibes on The Montgomery Brothers in Canada, which in addition to Wes and Monk has Paul Humphrey on drums. There's only one original on here (by Buddy), but it's a beaut: the buoyant "Beaux Arts" has gorgeous alternations of single-note solos and chording by Wes. In a different vein, "Angel Eyes," which begins with a long drumless passage, shows Wes' skill with a delicate slow ballad.         (Review by Richie Unterberger)

Work on the album "Groove Yard" was reunited Wes Montgomery with his brothers Monk and Buddy on this 1961 Riverside session, which also features drummer Bobby Thomas. The guitarist and his brothers are in great form throughout the session, and the highlight of the evening in the studio is a foot-tapping version of Carl Perkins' "Groove Yard," followed closely by a wild ride through Harold Land's "Delirium." The leader contributed the soulful hard bop work "Doujie." The pianist wrote the driving "Just for Now" and the easygoing blues "Back to Back." Like most of Wes Montgomery's Riverside recordings, this release is an essential part of his discography and is highly recommended.          (Review by Ken Dryden)

If you find it, buy this album!

WES MONTGOMERY – The Alternative Wes Montgomery (M ‎– 68138 / 2LP-1982)

Label: Milestone Records ‎– 68138 / M-47065

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: France / Released: 1982

Style: Hard Bop

14 Previously Unissued Takes

All songs recorded between 1960 and 1963.

Art Direction – Phil Carroll

Photography – Jim Marshall

Reprocessing and rerecording by Danny Kopelson

Mastering by George Hora, 1982 (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Producer – Orrin Keepnews

Distributed By – Carrere – CA 271

Matrix / Runout (Runout A): M-47065 / 68138 MA 1

Matrix / Runout (Runout B): M-47065 / 68138 MB 1

Matrix / Runout (Runout C): M-47066 / 68138 MC 2

Matrix / Runout (Runout D): M-47066 / 68138 MD 2

Guitar – Wes Montgomery

A1 - Born To Be Blue .............................................................................................. 7:23

A2 - S.O.S. (Take 2) ................................................................................................ 4:45

A3 - Come Rain Or Come Shine (Take 1) .............................................................. 7:16

         Bass – Paul Chambers

            Drums – Jimmy Cobb

            Piano – Wynton Kelly

            Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

B1 - Fried Pies (Take 1) .......................................................................................... 6:34

B2 - Besame Mucho (Take 2) ................................................................................. 6:24

         Drums – Jimmy Cobb

            Organ – Mel Rhyne

B3 - The Way You Look Tonight (Take 2) ............................................................... 5:48

         Drums – George Brown

            Organ – Mel Rhyne

B4 - Stairway To The Stars (Take 2) ...................................................................... 3:43

C1 - Jingles (Take 8) .............................................................................................. 6:49

         Bass – Sam Jones

            Drums – Philly Joe Jones

            Piano – Wynton Kelly

            Vibraphone [Vibes] – Milt Jackson

C2 - Bock To Bock (Take 1) .................................................................................... 5:35

C3 - Doujie (Take 7) ............................................................................................... 4:24

         Bass – Monk Montgomery

            Drums – Bobby Thomas

            Piano – Buddy Montgomery

C4 - Movin’ Along (Take 1) ..................................................................................... 6:37

         Bass – Sam Jones

            Drums – Louis Hayes

            Flute – James Clay

            Piano – Victor Feldman

D1 - Body And Soul (Take 2) ................................................................................ 11:17

D2 - Tune Up (Take 9) ............................................................................................ 4:39

         Bass – Sam Jones

            Drums – Louis Hayes

            Flute – James Clay

            Piano – Victor Feldman

D3 - Tune Up (With Strings) (Take 2) ..................................................................... 5:06

         Arranged By [String Orchestra] – Jimmy Jones

            Bass – Milt Hinton

            Concertmaster – Gene Orloff

            Drums – Osie Johnson

            Harp – Margaret Rose

            Piano – Dick Hyman

            Rhythm Guitar – Kenny Burrell

            Woodwind [Woodwinds] – Phil Bodner

Thumbing through the New Arrivals section in a record store, one of the many pleasures of record collecting is the occasional unexpected surprise among the usual stack of common reissues and second division artists.

I recently stumbled on this intriguing ’80s issue of Wes Montgomery. The cover looked like those  “specially priced” Fantasy two-record compilations of previously issued material, which I have found generally disappointing. However, on closer inspection, I discovered it included one whole side of the classic Wes Montgomery Riverside recording Full House, Live at Tsubo’s, in which Wes meets the Miles Davis Rhythm Section, recorded live in Berkley. Not just one track, but a whole side, and a bonus, alternative takes from the original recording session.

Previously un-issued alternative takes from sessions for Riverside in the golden years 1959-63, before Wes’ migration to “instrumental pop”. Montgomery died in 1968, so there’s no more music where that came from, and vinyl more or less died in the mid ’80s, so… but wait!  French press? Carrere Distribution?  Read in, cheapskate, everything about this reissue says don’t, but the material looked compelling, two records, priced in single figures, what is there to lose?

Artists – “Full House” session:

Wes Montgomery (guitar) Johnny Griffin (tenor) Wynton Kelly (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Jimmy Cobb (drums) June 25, 1962, recorded live at Tsubo, Berkeley, California, engineer Wally Heider, issued on Riverside 434, 1962, later reissued on a Fantasy two-fer as “Groove Brothers“.

Difficult to find an original Riverside in top condition, friends have resorted to Japan. However we now have another alternative.

Other Montgomery sessions – artists:

Kenny Burrell, James Clay, Victor Feldman, Johnny Griffin, Louis Hayes, Milt Jackson, Philly Joe Jones, Sam Jones, and Mel Rhyne.

Selections curated by Wes’s original producer, Orin Keepnews, from original Riverside session tapes, released on Fantasy Records “Milestone” label in 1982 (35 year old vinyl, from before the CD watershed!). This edition licensed for European distribution through Carrere, with just a hint of garlic.

Wes Montgomery is backed by the dream rhythm team of  Kelly, Chambers and Cobb. Johnny Griffin, fastest tenor in the west, is a welcome addition to the line up, which combined with Wynton Kelly’s rhythmic attack, lifts it from being just a guitar session to a quintet of greater depth and contrast.

Wes elevated the guitar from rhythm accompaniment to a front line instrument, and was one of the first jazz guitarist to fully incorporate the legato approach of the horn players, using the right-hand thumb instead of a plectrum. The fat, warm sound he was able to produce with the thumb created a very vocal, soulful ‘voice’. Guitarist Jim Mullen noted that Wes “had a double-jointed thumb, which meant he could play both up- and downstrokes like a pick player.
After a passage of fluid, bluesy, always relaxed single-string licks, Wes would move onto octaves for the next stage, and play them so effortlessly that you would hardly notice the transition. Yet, the line is now doubled and intensity is added to the solo. The last phase of the solo would see Wes move from octaves to full chords – known as ‘block’ chords – which would further increase the drama and excitement.
Few recordings capture a live set as well as the Full House session, perhaps Miles & Mobley at The Blackhawk, Bill Evans Village Vanguard sessions come to mind. The ambience is luscious, tactile, you have to dim the lights, join the audience, you are there. I guess stereo helps complete the sense of physical presence.

Though reissues can be a slippery slope in terms of audio fidelity, there seems to be a principle, that if the original recording is top quality, and the  re-issue is re-mastered  from a high quality copy tape, and someone  didn’t f*** it up, the quality of parentage can come shining through in the reissue. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, they say. That certainly seems to be the case here.

Carrere Records was formed in the ’70s by a french producer Claude Carrere, who created Disques Carrere, a label specialising in Euro rock and pop, but with a significant number of jazz reissues in its book. Carrere was a little like Interdisc in the previous decade, acting as a licensing operation that organised manufacture and distribution in Europe of overseas recordings, mainly from the US. Based on the small number I own, Carrere editions are usually sonically indifferent, possibly a reflection of the rock and pop engineers tasked with re-mastering in the 80’s, and the type of equipment in use . As always, there are exceptions, both good and bad, this was a good one.  Carrere Records was bought finally by the giant Warner Group in the ’90s.

The less said about the budget cover the better, plain fare, but the liner notes are a good use of gatefold space, reproduced here to be readable at full screen.

(Review by londonjazzcollector.)

If you find it, buy this album!

GILLES PETERSON – Impressed With Gilles Peterson (– 064 749-1 / 2LP-2002)

Label: Universal – 064 749-1

Series: Impressed Re-pressed –

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation / Country: UK / Released: 2002

Style: Modern Jazz, Modal, Big Band, Free Improvisation

Compilation / rare, classic & unique modern jazz from Britain 1963-1974.

Compiled By – Gilles Peterson

Executive Producer – Tony Higgins

Mastered By – Peter Dennett

Sleeve Notes – Tony Higgins

Track C2 is a bonus track on this vinyl release.

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 1): 064 749-1 A1

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 2): 064 749-1 B

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 1): 064 750-1 C2

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 2): 064 750-1 D

A1 - Michael Garrick Trio – First Born ....................................................................... 4:12

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Trevor Tomkins

          Piano – Michael Garrick

A2 - Joe Harriott & Amancio D'Silva Quartet – Jaipur ............................................... 8:07

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Bryan Spring

          Guitar – Amancio D'Silva

          Tenor Saxophone – Joe Harriott

          Trumpet – Ian Carr

          Vocals – Norma Winstone

A3 - Ronnie Ross – Cleopatra's Needle ................................................................... 5:45

          Baritone Saxophone – Ronnie Ross

          Bass – Spike Heatly

          Drums – Ronnie Stephenson

          Piano – Bill Le Sage

          Tenor Saxophone – Art Elefson

          Trumpet – Les Condon

B1 - The Tubby Hayes Quintet – Down In The Village .......................................... 10:06

          Bass – Freddy Logan

          Drums – Allan Ganley

          Piano – Gordon Beck

          Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Tubby Hayes

          Trumpet – Jimmy Deuchar

B2 - Harry Beckett – Rolli's Tune .............................................................................. 6:19

          Bass – Chris Laurence

          Drums – John Webb

          Piano – John Taylor

          Soprano Saxophone – John Surman

          Tenor Saxophone – Alan Skidmore

          Trumpet – Harry Beckett
          Vibraphone – Frank Ricotti

C1 - The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet – Black Marigolds ................................... 13:32

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Trevor Tomkins

          Piano – Michael Garrick

          Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone,

          Flute – Don Rendell

          Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Ian Carr

C2 - The Mike Westbrook Concert Band – Original Peter ........................................ 8:00

           Alto Saxophone – Mike Osborne

           Bass – Harry Miller

           Drums – Alan Jackson

           Guitar – Chris Spedding

           Piano – Mike Westbrook

           Tenor Saxophone – George Khan

           Trumpet – Paul Rutherford

           Vocals – Norma Winstone

D1 - Graham Collier Sextet – Lullaby For A Lonely Child ....................................... 5:40

           Alto Saxophone – Stan Sulzamn

           Bass – Graham Collier

           Drums – John Marshall

           Piano, Oboe – Karl Jenkins

           Trombone – Nick Evans

D2 - The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet – Dusk Fire ............................................. 12:22

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Trevor Tomkins

          Piano – Michael Garrick

          Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Don Rendell

          Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Ian Carr

“Information” as to which tracks are on which of the four sides of vinyl is conspicuously absent. Apparently, information is old fashioned, nowadays you are lucky to know who’s album it is. You have to ask, then why tell us which record number and side number it is? There’s the tell. Information does matter, that white space is a modern conceit. Well, that’s how I read it.

Or can’t.

On first site, this is a strange album; the cover design has a large thumbprint on a white background, with a piece of brown tape stuck on it giving the title and the name Gilles Peterson. I have to confess it meant nothing to me and I wondered whether my editor had sent it to the wrong reviewer! What a pleasant surprise I had, the LP contains the music I grew up with. As an avid visitor to The Marquee, The Flamingo Club and Ronnie’s Old Place in London, what a delight to hear again the bands which were also presented in the Midlands, where I live, by the Late Harry Flick.

I find today’s jazz scene nothing like as stimulating as those times, there were weekly sessions in Coventry and most other cities, where the musicians and bands heard on this record performed to packed enthusiastic audiences.

On the LP we realise just what a golden era the sixties and early seventies was for jazz in the UK. The talents of the musicians on display are astonishing for that time, or should I say, someone who did not know of them, should prepare to be astonished. Michael Garrick has always had a good band and he is a very fine pianist, the likes of Joe Harriott would surely have been an international jazz figure if he had chosen the USA instead of the UK to move to from his native Jamaica.

Ronnie Ross must surely be the finest baritone player the UK has produced and Tubby Hayes, I am amazed at the number of local musicians who are digging around in record shops trying to find anything Tubby recorded. The example on this record, with the superb Jimmy Deuchar on trumpet is one of the best and is worth the price of the record on it’s own!

Don Rendell I count as a friend, even though I have not seen him for a while, his contribution to the UK jazz scene has been immense. He was a founder member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven and has worked tirelessly in the cause of British jazz. In more recent times, as well as performing up and down the country, he has also been teaching in a London University, helping along a new generation of jazz musicians. As Gilles Peterson says, Black marigold as another superb track featuring Don, with trumpet player Ian Carr.

If you are from the era, you will love this record, if you came in later, listen to it and be prepared to be surprised at what you hear, A volume two is mentioned, lets hope it comes out soon.

(Review by Don Mather)

If you find it, buy this album!

GILLES PETERSON – Impressed 2 With Gilles Peterson (– 982 107 0 / 2LP-2004)

Label: Universal – 982 107 0

Series: Impressed Re-pressed –

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation / Country: UK / Released: 2004

Style: Modern Jazz, Modal, Big Band, Free Improvisation

Compilation / rare, classic & unique modern jazz from Britain 1963-1974.

Compiled By – Gilles Peterson

Executive Producer – Tony Higgins

Mastered By – Peter Dennett

Sleeve Notes – Tony Higgins

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 1): 982 107 1 – A-1

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 2): 982 107 1 – B

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 1): 982 107 2 – C-2

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 2): 982 107 2 – D

A1 - Amancio D'Silva – A Street In Bombay ................................................................. 10:56

      Bass – Tony Campo

          Drums – Dick Wright

          Guitar – Amancio D'Silva

          Piano – Stan Tracey

          Saxophone [Sax], Flute – Don Rendell

          Tabla – Mick Ripshar

          Vibraphone, Clarinet – Alan Branscombe

A2 - Paul Gonsalves Quartet – Boom Jackie Boom Chick ............................................. 3:54

        Bass – Kenny Napper

           Drums – Ronnie Stephenson

           Piano – Pat Smythe

           Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves

B1 - Harold McNair – The Hipster .................................................................................. 4:36

        Bass – Spike Heatley

           Drums – Tony Carr

           Flute – Harold McNair

           Piano – Bill Le Sage

B2 - Michael Garrick Septet – Ursula ............................................................................. 5:44

        Alto Saxophone – Joe Harriott

           Bass – Dave Green

           Drums – Trevor Tomkins

           Flugelhorn – Ian Carr

           Piano – Michael Garrick

           Soprano Saxophone – Don Rendell

           Tenor Saxophone – Tony Coe

B3 - Mike Taylor Remembered – Timewind  .................................................................. 1:56

        Bass – Ron Mathewson

           Clarinet, Arranged By – Dave Gelly

           Drums – Jon Hiseman

           Piano – Peter Lemer

           Vocals – Norma Winstone

C1 - Tubby Hayes & The Paul Gonsalves All Stars – Don't Fall Off The Bridg ............. 9:20       

        Alto Saxophone – Tony Coe

           Baritone Saxophone – Jackie Sharp

           Bass – John Lamb

           Drums – Ronnie Stephenson

           Piano – Terry Shannon

           Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes

           Trumpet – Ray Nance

C2 - The New Jazz Orchestra – Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe ............................................. 7:42

        Bass – Jack Bruce

           Conductor – Neil Ardley

           Drums – Jon Hiseman

           Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Barbara Thompson

           Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Dave Gelly

           Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Jim Philip

           Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Dick Heckstall-Smith

           Trombone – Derek Wadsworth, John Mumford, Michael Gibbs

           Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Derek Watkins, Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther, Ian Carr

           Tuba – George Smith

           Vibraphone – Frank Ricotti

D1 - Mike Westbrook Orchestra – Metropolis (Part IX) ................................................. 8:01

        Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Mike Osborne

           Alto Saxophone, Flute – Ray Warleigh

           Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Alan Skidmore

           Baritone Saxophone – John Warren

           Bass Trombone – Geoff Perkins

           Bass, Cello – Harry Miller

           Double Bass [Acoustic Bass], Double Bass [Electric Bass] – Chris Laurence

           Drums – Alan Jackson, John Marshall

           Electric Piano – John Taylor

           Guitar – Gary Boyle

           Piano, Producer – Mike Westbrook

           Tenor Saxophone – George Khan

           Trombone – Derek Wadsworth, Malcolm Griffiths, Paul Nieman, Paul Rutherford

           Trumpet – Nigel Carter

           Flugelhorn – Dave Holdsworth, Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther, Kenny Wheeler

           Vocals – Norma Winstone

D2 - The Stan Tracey Quartet – Starless & Bible Black ................................................. 3:47

        Bass – Jeff Clyne

           Drums – Jack Dougan

           Piano – Stan Tracey

           Tenor Saxophone – Bobby Wellins

D3 - Neil Ardley – Will You Walk A Little Faster ............................................................ 3:45

        Bass – Chris Laurence

           Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Dave Gelly

           Bass Trombone – Ray Premru

           Bassoon – Bunny Gould

           Conductor – Neil Ardley

           Drums – Jon Hiseman

           Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Derek Watkins, Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther, Nige Carter

           Flute [Alto], Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Don Rendell

           Flute, Piccolo Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Barbara Thompson

           Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Dick Heckstall-Smith

           Trombone – Derek Wadsworth

           Tuba – Dick Hart

           Vibraphone, Percussion – Frank Ricotti

           Vocals – Norma Winstone

Notes:

Sub-titled "Rare, classic & unique modern jazz from Britain 1963-1974".

Two LPs, all four labels are identical aside from the number of  record, 1 or 2,  and which side – 1 or 2. The absence of track listing  led to another breaking of vinyl rules – writing on the label.

Impressed with Gilles Peterson Vol 2 is a second volume of unique, rare and beautiful British jazz . This album sees him uncover more exceptional UK jazz from the 60s and 70s. Featuring landmark recordings, elusive rarities and previously unreleased exclusives, Impressed Vol 2 builds on the success of the first volume, with many of the tracks reissued for the first time since their original release.

Peaceful mellow numbers with lush orchestration is taken care of by the likes of Michael Garrick and the Stan Tracey Quartet, dancefloor bombs belong Tubby Hayes and Paul Gonsalves and Amancio D'Silva  is in charge of the exotic moments. Essential music from a forgotten corner of the jazz spectrum.

Tony Higgins (Executive Producer), London, on September 6, 2018, said:
(LondonJazzCollector)

Hi, I wrote the sleeve notes for both volumes of Impressed, and sourced the tapes we used for the mastering – the Lansdowne tapes were held in the old Polygram archive in Germany (incl Hum Dono which was always assumed lost). The Fontana/Argo/Decca material was from tapes held in the Decca archive in Hampstead. The image of Giles at the DJ controls was taken in the club in Old St called Cargo... I also worked on the BBC TV series Jazz Britannia, researching and writing the script. After Impressed 1 & 2, I suggested to Universal that they do a comprehensive reissue series of selected albums – Garrick, Westbrook, Tubby, Ardley, Rendell Carr, Harriott etc.

They initially agreed and so we set up the Impressed Re-pressed sub-label. The first batch was Amancio D’Silva ‘Integration’, Garrick ‘Troppo’ etc, five in total. Sadly, Universal didn’t want to do LPs just CDs – and even then they skimped on the packaging and artwork. I had flagged about 30 titles to reissue. Come the second batch, they decided just to do five Tubby Hayes CDs and basically use the Japanese reissue CDs and sources, not go to the tapes – which existed. Again, cutting costs. There were no more in the series after that – there were personnel changes in Universal and the meagre support for the project that existed was gone – Universal had no interested in it any more and was keener to sign army wives choirs and singing monks (seriously).

I did manage to compile a volume 3 but it was never released but did slip out on a blog. Roll on to about 2009, I contacted Universal (why??) with some other ideas: a comp of Japanese jazz and European jazz drawn from their own catalogue. They agreed, so I duly comped and wrote sleeve notes: 20,000 for ‘Jazz Japan’ & nearly 40,000 for ‘Jazz Europa’. I delivered the comps and notes. I then suggested why not have a trilogy? So, I convinced them to agree to a third, another British comp, ‘Jazz Britannia’. I selected the tracks and wrote 40,000 words of notes. I even got Don Rendell to write an intro piece. Where are they? Still sitting on someone’s desk at Universal, in limbo. I’ll never work with Universal again. Awful people...

Finally, the fingerprints on the Impressed sleeves are mine.

Tony Higgins



If you find it, buy this album!