The Big Chris Barber Band

Whether called Dixieland, traditional jazz or New Orleans jazz, it is the happiest music in the world, a music that exudes joy and found its perfect symbol and world ambassador in Louis Armstrong. Originating out of the south (particularly New Orleans), the style in its various forms was a major force in the 1920s. While overshadowed by swing in the 1930s, Dixieland made a comeback in the early 1940s with Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band being one of the first revival bands. Whether played by veterans such as Bunk Johnson and Kid Ory or newcomers of the time such as Pete Fountain and the Dukes of Dixieland, the music has been a permanent part of the jazz landscape ever since.

Long before he'd evolved into a fully-fledged cult figure, Joe Meek was the UK's first fully independent record producer. This unique 2CD set traces his career from his earliest sessions, as a sound balance engineer in the mid-'50s, to his emergence as a major songwriter and hit maker in the early '60s. It includes many of Meek's biggest records, including five UK # 1s by, Anne Shelton, Lonnie Donegan, Frankie Vaughan, Emile Ford and John Leyton, plus several other major million selling hits! Indeed, more than half of the sixty sides included herein were significant UK hits. This set also includes several collectors' rarities, previously unavailable on CD, most notably Gary Miller's unfeasibly-rare 'Moby Dick'. John Fraser's 'Golden Cage' and Geoff Goddard's 'Girl Bride'. If you are looking for what is by far the most interesting Joe Meek-related compilation for years then this is it!

Sammy Rimington - At Moose Lodge Hall (1989) {Big Easy Records BIG CD-001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 276 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 118 Mb
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© 1989 Big Easy Records | BIG CD-001
Jazz / New Orleans Revival Jazz / Clarinet / Alto Saxophone

British reedman Sammy Rimington was one of the top trad musicians to emerge during the 1960s. He played with Barry Martyn in 1959, spent several years with Ken Colyer (1960-1965), and came to the U.S. in the mid-'60s, playing with Big Bill Bissonnette's Easy Rider Jazz Band. Since that time, Rimington has been heard in a countless number of settings and, other than a brief fling with a fusion band he led (Armanda in 1971), he has stuck exclusively to New Orleans revival jazz.

Various Artists - Compact Jazz: More of Best of Dixieland (1954-64) {Philips 838 347-2 rel 1989}
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© 1954-64, 1989 Philips / PolyGram Int. | 838 347-2
Jazz / Dixieland / Big Band / New Orleans Jazz / Traditional Jazz

Dixieland, sometimes referred to as hot jazz or traditional jazz, is a style of jazz based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century.

Various Artists - Compact Jazz: Best of Dixieland (1955-61) {Verve 831 375-2 rel 1987}
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© 1955-61, 1987 Verve Records / PolyGram Int. | 831 375-2
Jazz / Dixieland / Big Band / New Orleans Jazz / Traditional Jazz

The cover art of COMPACT JAZZ * BEST OF DIXIELAND is potentially misleading. Pictured are 78s and cylinders made in the pre-microphone acoustic recording era. Although some of the artists here, such as Louis Armstrong and Kid Ory, were in the studios in those pioneer days, none of their early work is to be found on this set. Rather, we have a collection of full range hi-fi or stereo tracks made for VERVE records in the years spanning 1955 to '61 (the exceptions being one side from 1964 and another made a decade later). A few of the classic New Orleans "locale" tunes appear ("Basin St. Blues," "Perdido St. Blues," "Canal St. Blues"), as well as perennial favorites ("Ballin' The Jack," "St. Louis Blues," "Hindustan"). For an opportunity to listen to the music being performed all around the Crescent City a half-century ago, VERVE's BEST OF DIXIELAND cannot be beat.

George Chisholm - Early Days 1935-1944 (1998) {Timeless Historical CBC1-044}
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© 1935-44, 1998 Timeless Historical | CBC 1-044 JAZZ | Chris Barber Collection
Jazz / Swing / Prebop / Big Band / Trombone

George Chisholm was one of Great Britain's finest trombonists of the 1935-1950 period. This definitive CD features him on sessions with clarinetist Danny Polo in 1938, two songs with pianist Gerry Moore's Chicago Brethren in 1937, a pair of titles with Lew Stone's Stonecrackers in 1941, and on his first three dates as a leader (from 1938 and 1944). The music falls between Dixieland and swing, with alternate takes helping to make each of the sessions quite complete.

We all know that Eric Clapton is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. What is not that well known, is that he has collaborated with artists such as blues legend Pinetop Perkins, Jamaican guitarist Arthur Louis or trombonist Chris Barber (an institution within British music). Moreover, few probably have heard the versions of his songs by Koko Taylor and Ann Peebles, and we’re pretty sure that almost no one has delved into the obscure blues records that have influenced Clapton early in his career. This is The Many Faces Of Eric Clapton, a deep look into the intimate world of one of the best British artists ever. A different kind of album, to collect… and that it won’t be available on streaming services!