CD1
1. John's Idea
2. Someone To Watch Over Me
3. It's Only A Paper Moon
4. Down In Our Alley Blues
5. Would You Like To Take A Walk?
6. You're Lucky To Me
7. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
8. Kansas City Kitty
9. Cherry Point
10. Love For Sale
11. Alice Blue Gown
12. Ill Wind
13. Swinging On C (incomplete)
CD2
1. Autobhan Blues
2. Mood For Trumpet
3. You're In Kentucky
4. Charlie The Chulo
5. East Of The Sun
6. My Sweetie Went Away
7. Black And Blue
8. Sensation Rag
9. I Love You Samantha
10. Cottontail
11. Progressive Gavotte
12. Darn That Dream
13. Moten Swing (incomplete)
Collective personnel
Kenny Baker – Trumpet, flugelhorn, leader
Tommy McQuater – Trumpet
Derek Collins – Clarinet
Harry Hayes – Alto sax
Keith Bird – Clarinet, tenor sax
Harry Klein – Baritone sax
George Chisholm - Trombone
Keith Christie – Trombone, valve trombone
Ken Wray – Valve trombone, bass trumpet
Bill Le Sage - Vibes, accordion
Derek Smith – Piano
Lennie Bush – Bass
Phil Seamen – Drums
E. O. “Professor Poggy” Pogson – Bass sax, ocarina
When I was a jazz-starved teenager, I looked forward keenly every week to a series of broadcasts on the BBC entitled Let’s Settle for Music. It
was on the air between 1952 and 1958, and it featured Kenny Baker’s Dozen - twelve of Britain’s top jazzmen. Their leader, Kenny Baker, had made his name
in the Ted Heath Orchestra and he was not only a fine trumpeter but a skilful arranger. The sleeve-note of this double CD is wrong to suggest that the
programme “was probably the first regular jazz programme to air on British radio”, as Radio Rhythm Club and Jazz Club were being
broadcast in the 1940s. But it was heaven-sent for those of us who had access to very little jazz on BBC radio – a situation which has hardly changed in
later years.
This album contains two broadcasts – both from February 1957. As the musicians were hand-picked, the quality of the playing is generally first-rate,
although occasional lapses suggest that the musicians had little time for rehearsing. The climax of Cottontail, for instance, is sloppy
and fails to make a clean ending. However, the musicians supply plenty of excellent solos. Kenny Baker is an assured trumpeter, although I prefer the more
lyrical style of Tommy McQuater. Tommy composed Mood For Trumpet, in which he duets with Baker: one in the foreground, one in the background.
Pianist Derek Smith plays many stylish solos, especially in his features Love For Sale and Darn That Dream. No wonder he was a success
when he emigrated to the USA. The unusual sound of the bass trumpet is heard in Autobahn Blues, played by Ken Wray. And altoist Harry Hayes is a
consistently dependable soloist on such tunes as Alice Blue Gown. His exceptional solo on Moten Swing is sadly cut off in midstream.
Tracks 6 to 8 on each CD are by a slimmed-down version of the band called Kenny’s Half Dozen. They tended to play in Dixieland style. George Chisholm is
outstanding on these tracks, particularly in My Sweetie Went Away and Black And Blue.
It’s Only A Paper Moon
is announced as a feature for “Poggy” Pogson on ocarina but he only gets to play the opening and closing passages. Pogson, who was well-known as a
multi-instrumentalist, also plays bass saxophone in Would You Like To Take A Walk? Incidentally, his name is omitted from the personnel listing on
the rear sleeve, which differs from the list on the inside sleeve. The listings sometimes disagree with the instrumentalists mentioned by Wilfred Thomas in
his introductions, which is why I have listed all the personnel together.
The CDs come from transcription discs, so the sound quality is respectable, although the trumpets and accordion can sometimes hit the ear rather hard. This
album will be warmly welcomed by those of a nostalgic disposition, or by people who simply enjoy well-arranged and well-played jazz.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Acrobat ADDCD 3111
