A Jazz Suite Inspired by Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood" is an album by the English pianist Stan Tracey and his quartet, that was released by the Columbia subsidiary of EMI in 1965. The music was written in response to the 1953 BBC radio play Under Milk Wood, by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. It has often been cited as one of the best jazz recordings made in the United Kingdom.

In a series of articles for The Guardian newspaper titled "50 great moments in jazz", John Fordham wrote of the album: "Under Milk Wood was an evocative collection of sparky themes inspired by the Dylan Thomas radio play (it's sometimes performed with a narrator reading the parts). And thanks to Tracey's sparing piano and Wellins's softly hooting sax, the rippling tone-poem 'Starless and Bible Black' is widely acclaimed as one of the great jazz performances". - Wikipedia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd-aDGOSC3o&list=RDFd-aDGOSC3o&start_radio=1

#StanTracey #BobbyWellins #JeffClyne #DylanThomas #UnderMilkWood #BritJazz #Jazz #Music

Up In The Air by Harold McNair released on Bahamian Rhythms Ltd.in 1964.

..Recorded in '64, yeah, but it don't sound old. Sounds like it was cooked yesterday in some backroom Nassau studio with rum on the floor and smoke in the air. McNair's flute? Man. He flips through these standards like he owns 'em. "Desafinado" - you heard it a thousand times. But this version? Slower. Slimy. Creeps in like midnight...Like concrete under dirt. Track list is all covers - "Fly Me To The Moon", "Witchcraft", "Stella By Starlight" - all that supper club nonsense. But McNair don't play polite. He twists 'em. Makes 'em dance with a limp. "Speak Low" swings like it's drunk but still trying to impress somebody... - Bandcamp Notes

https://harold-mcnair.bandcamp.com/album/up-in-the-air

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuvoFjsXqq0&list=RDDuvoFjsXqq0&start_radio=1

#HaroldMcNair #JazzFlute #BritJazz #Jazz #Music

Ended Tuesday and welcomed Wendesday with Harp And Soul by David Snell released on Columbia in 1966.

David Snell - Harp And Soul Review

David Snell's Harp And Soul-yeah, that 1966 LP-is one of those records you stumble on while digging through crates, half expecting to hate it, then end up playing it three times in a row. It's not flashy. Doesn't scream for attention. But damn if it doesn't settle into your bones after a while. Snell, mostly known as a session harpist and later a film score conductor, steps out here as both player and co-conductor (alongside Johnny Scott, who also handles flute and orchestra duties). And honestly? He holds his own. First off, the harp. You'd think it'd be twee. Or worse-background noise for a department store in 1972. But Snell doesn't let it get syrupy. He's got this dry, almost percussive touch...

https://david-snellhr.bandcamp.com/album/harp-and-soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfbPffD1_dY&list=RDCfbPffD1_dY&start_radio=1

#DavidSnell #Jazz #Harp #JohnnyScott #BritJazz #LibraryMusic #Music #SpaceAgePop

Phase III by The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet, released in 1968 by Columbia as part of their Landsdowne Series.

An absolute classic of British post-bop and modal jazz, incorporating complex time signatures and Eastern influences. The quintet comprises Don Rendell (tenor and soprano saxophones, flute), Ian Carr (trumpet, flugelhorn), Michael Garrick (piano), Dave Green (bass), and Trevor Tomkins (drums).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBmHTqemejY&list=OLAK5uy_mhxjgb0UardiY0kymHflQPjaSe9-G7IPU

#DonRendell #IanCarr #MichealGarrick #DaveGreen #TrevorTomkins #Jazz #BritJazz #ModalJazz #Landsdowne #Music #PostBop

Personal Portrait by Joe Harriott released by Columbia in 1968 as part of their Landsdowne Series.

"...1968's Personal Portrait (Columbia) was a mixed bag of jazz with strings and some affecting work with old bandmate Smythe and Stan Tracey.." - Wikipedia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDOWiS60PcE&list=RDjDOWiS60PcE&start_radio=1

#JoeHarriott #StanTracey #DavidMack #Landsdowne #BritJazz #Jazz #Music #PatSymthe

Ended Thursday and wecolmed Friday after a walk with Curried Jazz by The Indo-British Ensemble, released on Music For Pleasure in 1969.

A late 60s blend of modern jazz and Indian rhythms -- similar to some of Joe Harriott's work with John Mayer, but a lot more obscure overall! The tracks here are all relatively long -- and build from slow rhythms on tabla, tamboura, and more conventional drums -- augmented by bits of sitar, plus more conventional jazz instrumentation from Kenny Wheeler on flugelhorn, Ray Swinfield on flute, and Leon Calvert on trumpet. The tunes here are often quite atmospheric -- stretching out in a lot of space at first, really letting things develop organically before pushing forward to find their groove! The set was composed and arranged by Victor Graham -- and titles include "Lalit", "Yaman", "Pahari", and "Bhimpalazi". - Dusty Groove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Iuy37HcxQ&list=RDk6Iuy37HcxQ&start_radio=1

#TheIndoBritishEnsemble #Britjazz #Jazz #Raga #Tabla #KennyWheller #Music #Tamboura

Shades Of Blue by Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet, released on Columbia as part of their Landsdowne series in 1965.

Gerald Lascelles wrote in a contemporary review in Jazz Journal:

The quintet stimulates a remarkably fresh feeling, and reveals little in the way of ad­herence to any particular jazz form. The leader’s constant shifts from tenor to soprano keep the front line alive and variable in tone contrast, and there is a constancy in the rhythmic re­sponse which is quite rare and always animated.

Ian Carr, who has been working with Don since the beginning of 1963, provides some splendid moments in solo work, ...Garrison ’64 is quite an ambitious approach to the new patterns set by Coltrane, Davis, and the other leaders of style today. It would be wrong to describe it as free form, but it conveys the same loose feeling.

https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2025/08/14/jj-08-65-don-rendell-ian-carr-shades-of-blue/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bxCVrN8X9E&list=OLAK5uy_lfb6d-fprKIVSVIRJ16NAYeQHlzGj75Es

#IanCarr #DonRendell #Jazz #BritJazz #Music #Landsdowne #Modal

Ended Thursday and welcomed Friday after a walk with Indo-Jazz Fusions II by Joe Harriott - John Mayer Double Quintet, released on Columbia in 1968.

Jarmo Eskelinen October 17, 2025

...on this second try the fusion works much better, especially on the side-long Partita. After the Indian intro, the tune flows easily to a relaxed modal groove, with tablas and the sitar gelling perfectly with the jazz band. Harriott is a talented saxophonist and original improviser, with a tonal world and sound well suited for world fusion. Side two is a bit more uneven, but the closing track ’Subject’ nails the pioneering sound convincingly. On the next album ’Hum Dono’ Harriott would find his soul mate in guitarist Amancio D’Silva and reach the pinnacle of the indo-jazz fusion to new heights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S74v3HuIBaM&list=PL4ga6uXkJwHfgnZxKL-tuHrp1lPpNoJyJ&index=7

#JoeHarriott #KennyWheeler #JohnMayer #Sitar #Raga #IndoJazz #BritJazz #Jazz #Music

Moonscape by Michael Garrick Trio, released on Airborne Records in 1964.

One of the earliest albums as a leader from British pianist Michael Garrick – a set that pre-dates his amazing Argo albums of the 60s, and which was originally issued on 10" vinyl, in a limited pressing of 99 copies! The sound here is no less radical than Garrick's better-known albums of the decade – a mixture of angular edges and more open, free-flowing lines that soar out beautifully with a great sense of joy and life! Although a trio album, the record has all of the same imagination as Garrick's sextet dates – a sense of space and creative energy that's simply breathtaking – supported by some excellent original compositions by Garrick, and played by a trio that includes Dave Green on bass and Colin Barnes on drums. - Dusty Grooves

https://www.trunkrecords.com/releases/moonscape_07/moonscape.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6KmWvfxAVQ

#MichaelGarrick #Jazz #BritJazz #Music #JazzPianoTrio

Dusk Fire by Don Rendell Ian Carr 5tet, released on Columbia in 1966.

Kenneth Bridgham wrote on Allmusic:

A superb blending of both jazz and classic elements into a third stream. Both the concept and the trumpet sound are very obviously indebted to Miles Davis, but that does not change the fact that this is beautiful music to behold, whether one is looking to intensely focus on the minimalism of every note or just medidate to the overall experience.

https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/06/12/don-rendell-ian-carr-quintet-dusk-fire/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw9a232j7tU&list=PLAeiyKcSz5mI53g6TQ2oQ8BOfXzeh1rkm&index=1

#IanCarr #DonRendell #MichaelGarrick #BritJazz #Jazz #Music #ThirdStream