Recorded at EI.KOND STUDIO, DUSSELDORF
Recording Engineer GERALD NEUMANN
Produced by MONTY SUNSHINE
Executive Producer WIM WIGT
A & R Timeless RIA W1GT
Art Direction Design DOLPHIN DESIGN

Track Listing:
1. WEARY BLUES A. Matthew. M. Greene, C. Gates, arr. M. Sunshine 3:49
2. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
3. SALUTATION MARCH K. Oliver, arr. M. Sunshine 4:08 Traditional, arr. M. Sunshine 3:44
4. SPINNING WHEEL
5. SAVOY BLUES K. Ory. S. Robin 3:32
6. THE MOOSE MARCH P.H. Fifth, arr. M. Sunshine 5:36
7. IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER Arr. B. Dew 3:31
8. EAST COAST TROT J. Cobb, arr. M. Sunshine 3:49
9. JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE Traditional, arr. M. Sunshine
(Vocal B. Dew) 4:35
10. MARIE Ker. G. Bennard. arr. I. Berlin, arr. M. Sunshine 5:01 M. Sunshine 4:03
11. CHIMES BLUES
12.THE WRECK OF THE OLD NINETY SEVEN Arr. B. Dew 4:19
13. DOES JESUS CARE Traditional, arr. M. Sunshine 4:17
14. DINAH H. Akst, S. Lewis, J. Young, arr. A. Bagot 2:35
15. SARATOGA SWING D. Ellington 3:31
Total Time 62:09

World famous clarinet player Monty Sunshine was born in London on 5 April 1925. He received. so he once told. .1 very dull education, consisting of 'numerous years' as a student at Camberwell School of Art. During that time he started to play the clarinet, very much influenced by the records of Johnny Dodds and George Lewis. Around 1949 he formed with Ken Colyer, John R.T. Davies and others the Crane River Jazz Band which was to have a great impact on the development of British traditional jazz. After this period Monty formed his own quartet, in which were Chris Barber on bass, Ron Bowden drums and Lonnie Donegan banjo. In 1953 Monty and Chris formed a band to be led by trumpeter Ken Colyer who was about to return from a long stay in New Orleans. However, after musically different opinions, a year later Colyer was fired and Barber took over the leadership and so the Chris Barber Jazz Band was born on 31 May 1954. After some time it appeared that Monty was of great importance in the growing popularity of the Barber Band. In October 1956 the band recorded an LP which contained a solo number by Monty Sunshine. It w^as just part of the LP. However, in early 1959 this title was issued as a single and after a few months Monty and Chris received a Golden Disc for the million seller Petite Fleur. With Barber Monty made his first tour of the USA and visited almost every European country. It w^as a great shock for traditional jazz lovers when, at the end of 1960, Monty left the Chris Barber Band. Fortunately, he formed a new band - playing the same type of jazz as his old group. In March 1961 the new Monty Sunshine Jazz Band made its first public appearance in London with, amongst others, Rod Mason [trumpet) and Johnny Parker (piano). From the start the band was a great success, especially at the Continent.
But w^hen the so-called Trad Boom w^as over (1965) it was more difficult to keep a band on the road. Luckily Monty never really gave up and everything went better from around 1970.
Especially in Germany Monty and his band were very popular and most of his records were made there. In 1972 the old Crane River Jazz Band was reformed and they met with great success. In 1975 Monty renewed his connections with Chris Barber, becoming a regular guest artist with the Barber Band.
Monty's present line-up has been playing together for several years now7 and only in the spring of 1993 his drummer since the mid-seventies, Geoff Downes, had to give up because of a severe illness. The band now consists of Gordon Whitworth (trumpet), John Beecham (trombone), Monty (clarinet), Barry Dew (banjo, guitar, vocals), Tony Bagot (bass) and Tony Scriven (drums, washboard).
Gerard Bielderman