Real Audio (56k)
Personnel:
KENNY BALL .-trumpet and vocals
JOHN BENNETT trombone & vocals
ANDY COOPER . clarinet & vocals
HUGH LEDIGO - piano
JOHN FENNER guitar and banjo
JOHN BENSON bass and vocals
RON BOWDEN drums
Track Listing:
1. GOT PLENTY O'NUTTIN' 2:33
2. PENNIES FROM HEAVEN 3:24 Burke/johnstone
3. TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC 3:36
4. YOUR FEET'S Too BIG 3:06
5. THE PREACHER 5:17
6. STEVEDORE STOMP 3:38
7. THE PAY OFF 2:51
8. I STILL LOVE YOU ALL 2:04
9. ROYAL GARDEN BLUES 4:50
10 OL' MAN river 3:54
11. I WANT A BIG BUTTER AND EGG MAN 2:44
12 flying HIGH 4:31
13 YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE 4:47
14 I CAN'T GET STARTED 4:38
15 MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW 2:49
16 SAMANTHA 2:13 Cole Porter/Chapell Music
TOTAL time 56:55
Kenny Ball has achieved, probably, more honours and praise than any other
jazz musician outside of America and even in that large country his famous Midnight
in Moscow disc unexpectedly shot to No. 2 in the US Charts! Perhaps that feat
was not so surprising when one considers that Kenny and his Jazzmen had thirteen
other singles appearing with regularity in the British Charts.
Yet, although such symbols of success might have embarrassed other jazz musicians,
Kenny has always taken these achievements in his stride. The fact that he is
immensely successful playing the music he loves and in the course of this, happens
to produce successful records and sell out concerts is all a bonus to him. As
he will be heard to tell many an audience "It's a shame to take your money."
Kenny is a devoted fan of his idol, Louis Armstrong, who presented Kenny, personally
with Kenny's first million selling record. He believes that jazz can be happy,
sad, thoughtful, beautiful, but, above all it must be entertaining. His philosophy
is "if you can't get an audience to stop and listen then you can't get them
interested in jazz." In this context he is at one with the great Louis.Like
most jazz musicians Kenny had his share of tribulations. For years he tried
to interest agents and managers in his beloved "Dixieland" music but the vogue
in the fifties was for New Orleans jazz only, and a primitive form of that style.
He persevered, believing in the quality of the music and, at last, the band
had its big break, with a residency on a BBC Sunday morning radio show named
Easybeat which established him as a national figure with millions f listeners.
Finally Kenny Ball had arrived. Now, in his native England Kenny is, by far,
the most prolific recording and performing jazz artist. His success also reaches
into Australia,New Zealand, the Far East. For many reasons not the least being
tied to disinterested European record companies his fame has not spread in Europe
as widely as could have been wished ... until now!After 35 years of leading
The Jazzmen Kenny Ball's particular dynamic style of Dixieland jazz is beginning
to attract serious attention and his unbeatable live performances are drawing
big audiences to his concert. He has played everywhere - from Prince Charles'
and Princess Diana's engagement party, where he played by Royal Command, to
a 10,000 sell out concert in Red Square, Moscow. Kenny Ball's enthusiastic brand
of jazz makes instant converts. Praised by Louis Armstrong as a wonderful player;
Kenny Ball can look back on an unparallaled career and look forward, too, to
his next challenge - to become as big in Europe as he is elsewhere.
This CD represents a cross section of a typical Kenny Ball show and features
special solos from individual Jazzmen.
Enjoy! John Martin
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