Oh Baby!

My favourite British jazz band - wonderful music

This session was recorded towards the end of Alex's great musical career as one of the best jazzmen ever to have graced the British jazz scene.The band of the 70's personel was changing by the time this session was made. Clarinetist, Al Gay had come in place of John Barnes. On trombone, Roy Crimmins had returned in place of Roy Brown. Ron Rubin was playing bass and Roger Nobes was at the drums and vibes. For the early 80's recordings, Denny Wirght was playing guitar, Peter Skivington in on bass and Laurie Chescoe, soon to form another good British jazz band, was the band' drummerEver present was the greatly swinging rhythm team of pianist Fred Hunt and guitarist, Jim Douglas, which contributed so much to the band's sound for so many years. Alex Welsh' health was beginning to deteriate in the late 70's and early 80's when this music was made, but still he played with the unassuming Chicago style that endeered him to so many fans who locked to hear the Welsh band play.The music on this Upbeat album are taken from BBC archives and is made available once more for all Alex Welsh fans and many new ones too.Since the much mourned passing of Alex Welsh, and indeed, Fred Hunt, the legend of the Welsh band has grown in stature and demand for the unreleased recordings by the Welsh bands has grown. This album will help fill that demand. The music contained herein is that typicial of the band's diveristy, which they played with all the consummate professiolism associated with that of one of Britain's greatest jazz bands.Thoroughly recommended to all fans of the era and those since. I doubt that we shall ever see the like of an Alex Welsh again. This is great world class jazz by any standards.Bill Waterfield, Northampton. November 2001

I knew what the CD sounded like, so the only criteria was availability cost and delivery, all were excellent.