Acker Bilk Omnibus(trad jazz)(mp3@320)[rogercc][h33t]

Acker Bilk Omnibus
Recorded 1958-1959
Label ; Pye
Reissued : Hallmark (2010)
Format : [email protected]



Original Liner Notes:
IN THE SPACE OF TIME which has elapsed since first the Incandescent Brilliance of the Genius of Mr Acker Bilk burst like a Display of St Catherine’s Fire on a Traditional Music World illumined previously only by the Fitful Flickering of Lesser Talents, a Growing Clamour has been descried from among the Serried Ranks of his Loyal Devotees. It is for the issue of a Handy Compendium encompassing each Aspect of the Art of Mr Acker Bilk displayed Separately in the Initial Triumvirate
of Phonographic Recordings bearing his Name. Accordingly, in the Dozen Melodic Delicacies here assembled, can be found Representatives from these three Categories.
Part the First derives from Mr Acker Bilk’s Splendid Phonographic Debut: a Recording designed to revolve at a Speed of no less than Thirty-three and One Third Revolutions the Minute and entitled Mr Acker Bilk Requests. The Quartet of Agreeable Jingles comprising this Succulent Abstract arrange themselves as follows, viz.: – (1) that Syncopated Masterpiece, The Gladiolus Rag; (2) a Rhythmic
Celebration of the Charms of Dardenella; (3) a Performance as Spirited as it is Authentic of the Traditional Ballad, The Franklin Street Blues; Fourthly (and Lastly) a Soul-Searing Rendition of The Travelling Blues, the Same being Well Chosen in View of that which occurred Thereafter. For so Gratifying were the Shouts of Acclaim, so Loud the Protestations of Esteem which greeted the Impingement of Mr Bilk’s First Essay, that he had perforce to voyage speedily to the Recording Manufactory, there to consider his Second Task. This done, and the Die Cast, the Redoubtable Westcountryman caused it to become known that his Choice had fallen upon the Exercise of his Prodigious Laryngeal Dexterity. He was decided to sing.
Thus it befell that the Genial Bristol Blower committed to Memory the Words and Music of those Ditties he felt inclined to Carol, insert his Head and Shoulders within the Larger End of the Recording Horn and give his Best, what Time the Paramount Jazz Men achieved a Seemly Display of Virtuosity in his Aid. First commemorating in Stentorian Fashion the Attributes of that State endemic to his Music, the Egregious Mr B then passes to the Glottal Exploration of a Trio of Tunes as much Distinguished for their Originality of Approach as for their Catholicity of Source. Of these, Higher
Ground and Carry Me Back are Negro Plantation Songs, while Jump In The Line was originally a ‘Calypso’ from the Facile Noddle of Mr ‘Blind’ Blake – a Celebrated Minstrel who had worked in the Caribbean Isles which produced this Strange Idiom.
Scarce had the Agog Ears of an Admiring Publick recovered from the Resounding Concussions of this Second Fanfarronade, however, than our Congregation of Sonic Adventurers and its Captain were again obliged to re-form in preparation for yet a Third Encounter – this time to engage, Mellifluously yet with Proper Regard for Rhythmic Stimulance, in a Tussle with a Quartet of Martial Tunes. This Melodic Fusillade erupts (to commence the Third Salva in our Magazine) with a Stirring
Assault upon the March, Blaze Away. Hotfoot upon the Closing Strains of this, there exsufflates a Dynamic Enactment of the Transatlantic Favourite, Under The Double Eagle: a Military Air from the Nimble Pen of Herr Wagner which will not long remain Unrecognised by those who patronize the Searchlight Tattoo. By an Adroit Manoeuvre Southwards to the Spanish Isthmus, our Hero infuses a Tropical Aspect into his Campaign by the use of the March called in their Lingo El Abanico, and the
Volley terminates, in a Well Aimed Thrust from the Mother Country, with C R E – these Many Years the Unofficial Battle Cry of Her Majesty’s Corps of Royal Engineers, from which Patriotic and Workmanlike Body derives the Initial Nomenclature alluded to in the Title.

Tracklist :
01 C. R. E. March (2:47)
02 Carry Me Back (3:14)
03 Travelling Blues (3:09)
04 Gladiolus Rag (2:31)
05 Jump In The Line (3:00)
06 Blaze Away (2:43)
07 El Abanico (2:46)
08 Franklin Street Blues (3:08 )
09 Louisian-i-ay (3:52)
10 Dardenella (3:46)
11 Higher Ground (3:08 )
12 Under The Double Eagle (2:56)



Personnel:
Ken Sims - trumpet
John Mortimer - trombone
Acker Bilk - clarinet, vocals
Roy James - tenor banjo
Ernie Price - bass
Ron McKay - drums, vocals