Various Artists – Modern Jazz: At The Royal Festival Hall London

Presented by the UK’s National Jazz Federation, this is a live recording of three sets by some of the UK’s up & coming jazz modernists. Recorded in concert on October 30, 1954 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, the night was unprecendented in holding a festival of jazz in one of London’s Royal Festival halls. The festival comprised of an afternoon show for modernists & an evening show for traditionalists, this LP comprises specially selected extracts from the modern show. Apparently more than 3000 people came to this show which was compered by a Harold Pendleton (how english is that name!). The bands featured were the Don Rendell Sextet, the Ken Moule Seven & the Tony Crombie Orchestra. The reason I picked this up is that the lead trumpet in the Tony Crombie Orchestra is Dizzy Reece (before he moved to the US & recorded for Blue Note). Even better is that Crombie’s octet is stripped down & featured as the Dizzy Reece Quintet on two of the four selections here (both are Reece originals Ahmed & Down Under). Check out the Tony Crombie Orchestra with Dizzy Reece on Good Bait.

Tony Crombie ft.Dizzy Reece – Good Bait.mp3