Following the successful 25th Anniversary concert for Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen at the Royal Festival Hall in 1983, Chris Moreno of E & B Productions had an idea to put a jazz package together of British Jazz musicians. “Just a few dates with three Bands, nothing permanent.” This proved so successful that ten years later the sixth tour of the United Kingdom has been completed, 29 dates in 31 days, all sell outs, one recorded for Harlech TV and still touring. Les Squires and John Benson, the Co-Producers of this album hope it captures the talent, expertise and enthusiasm of the nineteen musicians who shared the stage for these 29 performances, every single musician giving their best of BRITISH JAZZ.
KENNY BALL and ACKER BILK have played all six tours for Chris Moreno and they compliment each other beautifully; the smooth clear tones of Acker on the clarinet and the raunchy, exciting notes coming from Kenny’s trumpet; making sure that everyone in the audience enjoys themselves whatever their preference.
It is also ultimately clear that everyone of Kenny and Acker’s musicians are talented, highly polished jazz musicians in their own right. Acker, coming up to his 40th Anniversary in the music industry, although in the enviable position of choosing what work he does and only when he wants to, wouldn’t have missed this tour for the World. Due to the success of the tour, Kenny Baker and Don Lusher have now headlined a band called The Best of British Jazz and are touring throughout the UK, and The Paramount Jazz Band are performing a few selective dates as well as working with Acker. Mix and match these nineteen musicians and I would guarantee that nearly all of them have played together in one band or another over the years - if you get what I mean!
KENNY BAKER featured in the March 1990 tour with Acker and Kenny, and was delighted when asked to put a band together for this tour. The supreme DON LUSHER together with TERRY LIGHTFOOT, ERIC DELANEY, BRIAN LEMON and JOHN REES JONES joined Mr. Kenny Baker for this tour. Listen out for Eric’s dynamic drum solo, it will get your blood racing. Eric performs this solo on his drums on a revolving platform and you should have seen the antics of the stage crew in order to make sure the recording went smoothly – what would we do without the backstage guys.
Kenny Ball told me that Kenny Baker has always been his mentor, so now you have ‘teacher and pupil on the same stage together’. Kenny Baker remarks “We are all extremely pleased that this album is available and for me it will bring back happy memories”
