Soho Scene ’57 (Jazz Goes Mod)

"Most of our people have never had it so good". When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan uttered his famous era-defining phrase in the summer of 1957 he wasn't thinking of the UK's modern jazz community. Yet his words were an equally apt summary of their fortunes that year. After the bitter defeats of 1956, when America delivered reminder upon reminder of its musical superiority, London's modernists were finally fighting back. They had a new enclave, the Flamingo Club, with membership in its thousands, and a new cause celebre in the Jazz Couriers, a quintet of genuine kick-ass quality. Add to that, exciting new bands led by Don Rendell, Tony Kinsey and Johnny Dankworth and it was clear that the first generation of the capital's 'mods' were on the way up... Sleeve Notes by Simon Spillett.

Disc One
British Jazz:
1 Ronnie Scott Sextet - Pittsburgh Opener 2 Dave Lee Trio - Salt Air 3 Johnny Keating All Stars - Headin' North 4 Tubby Hayes/Victor Feldman Sextet – Four 5 Kenny Baker's Half Dozen - Act One Scene One 6 Derek Smith - Chelsea Bridge 7 Don Rendell Jazz Six - Star Eyes 8 Vic Ash Plus Four – Cinders 9 Dizzy Reece Quintet - On The Scene 10 Tony Kinsey Quintet - Just Goofin' 11 Jimmy Deuchar Sextet - Opus De Funk 12 The Jazz Couriers - Cheek To Cheek 13 Dick HeckstallSmith Quintet – Sputnik 14 Johnny Dankworth - Firth Of Fourths 15 Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - Monkey Business 16 Melody Maker's All-Stars - Top Score

Disc Two
Jazz U.S.A.
1 Wes Montgomery - Finger Pickin' 2 Milt Jackson - The Spirit-Feel 3 Carl Perkins Trio - Too Close For Comfort 4 Miles Davis – Générique 5 Horace Silver Quintet – Safari 6 Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble - Cubano Chant 7 Mose Allison - New Ground 8 Ray Charles & Milt Jackson - Blue Funk 9 Jimmy Smith Trio - Buns A Plenty 10 Lorez Alexandria - Baltimore Oriole 11 Charles Mingus – Celia 12 Art Pepper - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 13 Barney Kessel - On Green Dolphin Street 14 Thad Jones - Mad Thad 15 Jimmy Giuffre 3 - The Train And The River 16 John Coltrane Sextet - Blue Train