AMG Review of Best of British Jazz From the BBC Jazz Club, Vol. 3

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The third of six CDs issued by the Upbeat label in the mid-'90s focuses on previously unreleased performances by British trad jazz bands from the weekly radio broadcasts of the BBC Jazz Club, and it has quite a bit of variety. Trombonist Chris Barber's no-nonsense, freewheeling group performs a few vintage standards, some rarely performed numbers (including Freddie Keppard's "Stockyard Strut" and Duke Ellington's "Shout 'Em Aunt Tillie"), and some offbeat material such as "Beautiful Dreamer." Trumpeter Pat Halcox and clarinetist Ian Wheeler have plenty of strong spots. For a complete change of pace, the Temperance Seven -- an octet with trumpeter Cephas Howard and three versatile reed players, plus the period vocals of Whispering Paul McDowell -- perform 1920s-style dance music. Clarinetist Terry Lightfoot (with trumpeter Alan Elsdon) romps on five numbers. Dixieland and early jazz collectors will want this entire series.