Johnny Dankworth - African Waltz: The Singles Collection 1950-62 - It's a fine showcase for a noted pioneer of British jazz and a hugely innovative jazz personality. - Sir John Dankworth CBE, as he was formally known, was a jazz saxophonist, clarinettist, bandleader and composer who probably did more than any other musician to introduce and promote modern jazz in the UK, becoming an internationally respected figure in the process, as well as introducing his future wife and renowned singer Cleo Laine to the jazz scene. Born in 1927, he trained at the Royal Academy of Music, before being further exposed to jazz while serving in the RAF and in post-war years playing on transatlantic liners enabling him to see and play jazz in New York. After playing with Charlie Parker at the 1949 Paris Jazz Festival he formed the Johnny Dankworth Seven in 1950, eventually developing to a big band in 1953. His early recordings came out on singles and EPs, and even as he turned increasingly towards albums, he continued to release singles on a regular basis. This 75-track 3-CD collection comprises most of the A & B sides of his UK releases on the Jazz Parade, Esquire, Parlophone, Capitol, Columbia and Fontana labels from these years, and features his Top 10 UK hits "Experiments With Mice" and "African Waltz", which also made the US charts. It features vocal performances by Dame Cleo Laine and Frank Holder, as well as performances by noted British jazz musicians, including Jimmy Deuchar, Eddie Harvey, Don Rendell, Bill LeSage, Tony Kinsey, Steve Race, Tommy Whittle, Kenny Clare, Ronnie Ross, Alan Branscombe, Pete King and Dudley Moore. It's a fine showcase for a noted pioneer of British jazz and a hugely innovative jazz personality.

Tracklist:

Lightly Politely
Marmaduke
Strike Up the Band
Haunted Ballroom Theme
Seven Not Out (Tea for Me)
Cherokee
Perhaps
Lament and Wild Dance (Excerpts from "The Conway Suite"
Marching Through Georgia
Star Dust
I Hear Music
Webb City
Mr. ; Mississippi
Lush Life
Strictly Confidential
Allen's Alley
(It's No) Sin
Wedding of the Painted Doll
Stompin' at the Savoy
M.Y.O.B
The Very Thought of You
Bopscotch
Belle of the Ball
Someone to Watch Over Me
Honeysuckle Rose
Swingin'
Moon Flowers
I Get a Kick Out of You
Easy Living
's Wonderful
It's the Talk of the Town
The Slider
My Buddy
Runnin' Wild
Oo-Be-Doop
I Got Rhythm
I Know You're Mine
Perdido
Four of a Kind
Mambo in the Moonlight
Bugle Call Rag
You Go to My Head
Ain't Misbehavin'
I Got It Bad, and That Ain't Good
Cole Storage
Get Happy
Singin' in the Rain
Non-Stop London
Indiana
Feather Merchant
Memories of You
Moby Dick
Experiments with Mice
Applecake
Blues in the Night
Adios
All Clare
Melbourne Marathon
Duke's Joke
Coquette
Big Jazz Story
Firth of Fourths
The Colonel's Tune
Jim and Andy's
African Waltz
Moanin'
Avengers Theme
Chano
String of Camels
Winter Wail
Cannonball
S O Blues
O Pato
Hoe Down
Sing, Sing, Sing

UPC: 824046914721
Label: Acrobat
Release Date: 5.24.24
Format: CD

Johnny Dankworth - African Waltz: The Singles Collection 1950-62 (CD)