The Cool Britons - July 29 1950
Leonard Feather: New Sounds from the Old World Liner Notes: BLP 5019
This LP disc is unique in several respects. For the first time on any record, it presents a compact and complete picture of the best in modern jazz from the two European countries that have taken an undisputed lead, over all others outside the United States, in developing first-class talent in this field. For the first time it combines in one comprehensive LP the best in writing, in thinking and performing, that the brilliant young stars of Great Britain and Sweden have given the jazz world.
No less remarkable [than The Swinging Swedes] is the swinging spirit of the all-star British groups under the leadership of Johnny Dankworth. Born in London in 1927, Johnny extracts his mellifluous tone and modern style from a plastic saxophone, an idea that has since been copied by several top American jazzmen. On the first two tunes, Birdland Bounce, Leapin' in London, Johnny conducts the winners of a poll conducted among readers of the English weekly Melody Maker, playing two of his own arrangements. The other two numbers, Tea for Me, Cherokee, are played by Johnny with his own combo, which was elected the country's No. I small band in the poll. Since Johnny was also voted No. 1 alto man and top arranger, the four performances present him in each of the award-winning facets of his victory.
Several of the men heard here have recently formed bands of their own, among them Jack Parnell and Ronnie Scott; and several, including Charlie Short and Tony Kinsey, were specially hired to accompany such visiting American stars as Lena Horne and Benny Goodman during their visits to Great Britain.
All in all, the performances in this double-header might well be described by one of the Swedish titles; they are, in every respect, the cream of the crop.
Excepted from: http://henrybebop.co.uk/dankwort.htm
The Johnny Dankworth Seven and Orchestra...
Johnny Dankworth formed the Seven in 1950. It came about as a result of of trumpeter Leon Calvert and trombonist Eddie Harvey sitting in with the Johnny Dankworth Quartet at Club Eleven. This made Dankworth realise the possibilities of a four horn group playing music along the lines of the Miles Davis band.
The original personnel was Dankworth (alto), Jimmy Deuchar (tpt), Don Rendell (tenor), Eddie Harvey (tmb), Bill Le Sage (pno), Joe Muddel (bs), Tony Kinsey (d). Muddel was soon replaced by Eric Dawson and in 1952 Eddie Blair replaced Jimmy Deuchar and Eddie Taylor replaced Tony Kinsey. The group was successful and lasted until 1953 when it was disbanded on the formation of Johnny Dankworth's big band. The band played neat, at types complex, musical arrangements and featured solos from all the musicians.
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| The Johnny Dankworth Seven |
New Sounds from the Old World is the apt title of this LP, which puts the best British and Swedish jazz back to back. British titles are eloquent testimony to the triple talents of Johnny Dankworth, as alto man and arranger on all four sides, leader of the bigger group of Melody Maker poll winners on the first two numbers and of his own award-winning combo on the last pair. They also show off a fine trumpet man, Jimmy Deuchar, Ronnie Scott’s tenor, several other confident soloists, and rhythm section work that’s most effective on Bounce, the best item of the bunch.
Leased from Esquire Records
Session Information
Jimmy Deuchar, trumpet; Eddie Harvey, trombone; Johnny Dankworth, alto sax; Don Rendell, tenor sax; Bill LeSage, piano; Eric Dawson, bass; Tony Kinsey, drums.
London, England, July 29, 1950
M-7-116, Seven Not Out (as Tea For Me), Blue Note 1612, Blue Note 5019
M-7-117, Cherokee, Blue Note 1612, Blue Note 5019
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