Johnny Dankworth – African Waltz – The Singles Collection 1950-62 – 3CD

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.

Track Listing:

CD1:
The Johnny Dankworth Seven: 1. Lightly Politely -   Johnny Dankworth Seven: 2. Marmaduke -   3. Strike Up The Band -   4. Haunted Ballroom Theme -   5. Seven Not Out (Tea For Me) -   6. Cherokee -   7. Perhaps -   8. Lament And Wild Dance (Excerpts from "The Conway Suite" -   The Johnny Dankworth Seven: 9. Marching Through Georgia -   10. Star Dust -   11. I Hear Music -   12. Webb City -   13. Mr. & Mississippi -   14. Lush Life -   15. Strictly Confidential -   16. Allen’s Alley -   17. (It's No) Sin-   18. Wedding Of The Painted Doll -   19. Stompin' At The Savoy -   20. M.Y.O.B. -   21. The Very Thought Of You -   22. Bopscotch -   Johnny Dankworth With Strings: 23. Belle Of The Ball -

CD2:
Johnny Dankworth With Strings: 1. Someone To Watch Over Me -   Johnny Dankworth Seven with Cleo Laine: 2. Honeysuckle Rose -   Johnny Dankworth Seven: 3. Swingin' -   4. Moon Flowers -   Johnny Dankworth Seven with Frank Holder: 5. I Get A Kick Out Of You -   Johnny Dankworth Seven with Cleo Laine: 6. Easy Living -   Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra: 7. ’S Wonderful -   8. It's The Talk Of The Town -   9. The Slider -   10. My Buddy -   Johnny Dankworth Orchestra: 11. Runnin' Wild -   Johnny Dankworth Seven: 12. Oo-Be-Doop -   Cleo Laine with the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra: 13. I Got Rhythm -   14. I Know You're Mine -   Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra: 15. Perdido -   16. Four Of A Kind -   Frank Holder and The Johnny Dankworth Orchestra: 17. Mambo In The Moonlight -   Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra: 18. Bugle Call Rag -   19. You Go To My Head - Cleo Laine with the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra: 20. Ain't Misbehavin' -   21. I Got It Bad, And That Ain’t Good -   Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra: 22. Cole Storage -   23. Get Happy -   24. Singin' In The Rain -   25. Non-Stop London -   26. Indiana -

CD3:
Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra: 1. Feather Merchant -   2. Memories Of You -   3. Moby Dick -   4. Experiments With Mice -   5. Applecake -   6. Blues In The Night -   7. Adios -   8. All Clare -   9. Melbourne Marathon -   10. Duke’s Joke -   11. Coquette -   12. Big Jazz Story -   13. Firth Of Fourths -   14. The Colonel’s Tune -   15. Jim And Andy's -   16. African Waltz -   17. Moanin' -   18. Avengers Theme -   19. Chano -   20. String Of Camels -   21. Winter Wail -   Johnny Dankworth: 22. Cannonball -   23. S O Blues -   Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra: 24. O Pato -   25. Hoe Down -   26. Sing, Sing, Sing -