For an eight piece band this live recording from the late 1950's is very full and powerful, Tony Crombie's drums and Kenny Napper's bass push the fast numbers along, but show sensitivity in the quieter tunes. Stan Tracey, Britain's best-ever jazz pianist and easily up there with the world's finest, really shows his unique style. Acclaimed by musicians, fans and several leading critics, the orchestra on this disc publicly performed for just seventeen weeks during 1959. Commercially, the band could be said to have failed, but commercialism has never been a good barometer for measuring true jazz content. Musically, it was a triumph! If you were fortunate enough to have caught the band at one of its thirty-four appearances at London's largest jazz club you will surely remember the enthusiastic freshness the band generated. This was no accident, but the result of careful planning, detailed rehearsals, and thoughtful arranging, and mainly due to the backing, both rhythmically and financially, of its leader, Tony Crombie.

Quantity:  

1. CARAVAN
2. BOO-BAH
3. LULLABY
4. REELIN'
5. LI'L OL' POTTSVILLE 
6. JAMBA
7. I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART
8. SUMMERTIME