Jazz In Britain 1919-1950 CD - Import

This four-disc collection from Proper is a solid overview of the music made in Great Britain in the first 30 years of jazz history. The contents of the box reveal not only British talent, per se, but also musicians from the rest of Europe -- Paris mostly -- and from the United States (of course). There are 101 tracks that make up this decently annotated set, with the greatest number of surprises being on disc one. From the rarities like Fred Elizade & His Cambridge Undergarments with "Stomp Your Feet," to Allan Selby's classic "Love Me or Leaver Me," and Ted Lewis' "Song of the Dawn" and "Sobbin' Blues," there are numerous surprises. Jimmy Dorsey even makes an appearance with Spike Hughes & His Three Blind Mice on a fine reading of "St. Louis Blues." Beginning on disc two, we begin to see the "American Invasion," as it were, with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Garland Wilson all with sides recorded in the British Isles. But it is in the peculiarly British sounds that this set finds it charm, such as in the inclusion of tracks by Buck and Bubbles, Duncan Whyte, Ambrose & His Orchestra, Danny Polo, Jack Hylton's Rhythmagicians, Ted Heath (of course), Alan Dean's Beboppers, the great Yorkshire Jazz Band, Graeme Bell & His Australian Jazz Band, Freddy Randall, Ronnie Scott's Club 11 Boptet, and many others. While the appeal of a collection like this is limited, collectors will certainly find lots to love. Sound quality varies in places but is largely fine throughout. ~ Thom Jurek

This 4CD set (in LP replica sleeves) is one of the most comprehensive surveys of the evolution of jazz music in the UK, as played by visiting luminaries from the USA as well as those who were inspired by the Americans but born and bred on home turf. Tracing the story from 1919 and the first visits to London by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, this set takes in visits to the UK by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman during the Swing era and then illustrates the influence these musicians had on the likes of homegrown talent such as Harry Parry, George Shearing and Nat Gonella. As the waves from the bebop revolution reached the UK in the '40s, musicians such as Ronnie Scott and John Dankworth took up the baton, their performances included here along with recordings of those who influenced them, such as Dizzy Gillespie. Proper. 2005