London of the mid-1960s is often imagined as a city of older derby-wearing and umbrella-carrying gents and glove-wearing and pocketbook-toting women. Mixed in are young people in colorful paisley shirts, bold-striped pants, pink sunglasses, Chelsea boots, mini skirts and white lipstick. Forgotten in this cultural square-off between Savile Row and King's Road was a mod jazz scene crowded with talented artists blowing pure heat. While jazz's popularity was loosing ground in the U.S. during this period in the 1960s as rock and soul surged, London's mainstream jazz scene was churning with talent and power in both small groups and big bands. [Photo above of Ronnie Scott in 1965]
Out now is yet another brilliant entry in the spectacular U.K. "Jazz Goes Mod" series is Soho Scene '64 and '65 (Rhythm & Blues). The four-CD set of 78 tracks features a wide range of British jazzers on two discs with U.S. artists from the same period on the other two. I love this series. Since every track is different, dynamic and tasty, you can listen straight through without ever looking up. British jazz artists and arrangers could cook with cool hipness and polish. And it wasn't just one or two players. Dozens of bands were first rate and featured tiger soloists. Unfortunately, many jazz fans haven't been fully exposed to the vast vault of talent in London during these years.
This set will help bring you up to speed. It includes tracks by Johnny Burch, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Harold McNair, Ernest Ranglin (I had no idea he went back this far!), Dave Lee, Ken Jones, David Mack, John Dankworth, Peter Compton, John Stevens, Pete King and many, many more. The drummers in these groups are particularly furious and nutcracker sharp. [Photo above of Harold McNair]
By contrast, the U.S. sides from 1964 and '65 are funky and off the beaten path. Included are Clare Fischer's Way Down East, the Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra's Snatchin' It Back, Junior Mance's Running Upstairs, Merle Saunders' Five More, Jimmy Smith's Theme From Bewitched, Groove Holmes's Soul Message and more. One jazz-soul sleeper after the next, making for a wonderful juxtaposition between jazz evolution in London and the U.S. during the exact same two-year period.
What's also fascinating are the cultural influences. In the States, the rising popularity of funk, soul, R&B and television are rubbing off on jazz approaches. In London, there is no pop-rock or soul airing on the government-owned BBC radio nor is there the same level of youth-geared television. Jazz evolved there differently along sophisticated, brassy lines, with recordings similar in feel to the sassy style of British sports cars and fashion. Where American big-band jazz trailed off in the early 1960s as bands led by Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones and Maynard Ferguson ran out of commercial gas, Britain continued to develop the genre further and with gusto. It's all here on this new set and series. Grab your Lambrettas!
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Jazz Goes Mod—Soho Scene 1964-65 (Rhythm & Blues) here.
Soho Scene 1959-'60 and be found here, Soho Scene '61 can be found here, Soho Scene '62 can be found here, and Soho Scene '63 can be found here. The albums also come in the vinyl LP format.
JazzWax notes: To view other Rhythm & Blues titles, go here.
To view the Jazz Archive from 1960s London Clubs, go here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Directions In Jazz, featuring Johnny Scott, playing Night Talk in 1964...
Here's Ernest Ranglin's Wranglin' in 1964...
And here's Ronnie Scott playing The Night Has a 1,000 Eyes in 1965...
