CDVS 1950

The best 1940s recordings of The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra, better known as The Squadronaires, are compiled on this disc. Featuring contributions from soloists such as Jock Cummings (drums), George Chisholm (trombone), Andy McDevitt (clarinet) and Ronnie Aldrich (piano), the Squads swing their way through a selection of compositions by some of the biggest names in the big band business. These include Duke Ellington (C Jam Blues), Jerry Gray (A String of Pearls) George Williams (The Pogo Jump, A Mellow Kind of Mood), Sy Oliver (Double Jack, Nocturne, You Gotta Go) and Gene Krupa (Drummin’ Man). But there is much more also on offer here, making this a fine tribute to one of Britain ’s most important big bands of yesteryear.

CDVS 1951

To complement Vocalion’s series of Ambrose dance band CDs, we proudly present this addition to the series, but at super bargain price. Ambrose is rightly famous as having led one of Britain ’s finest dance bands during the golden era of the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, and here he provides further evidence of just why his band was one of the best in the land. He applies his exacting approach to classics such as Juan Tizol’s Caravan and a beautiful arrangement of De Falla’s Fire Dance, but many of the compositions featured here come from the pen of clarinettist Sid Phillips, who for a time during the 1930s was a member of Ambrose’s band. They include charming numbers such as A Burmese Ballet, The Night Ride and Wood and Ivory. The closing tracks – Dance of the Potted Puppet & Swing Low, Sweet Clarinet – are featured solo spots for clarinettists Carl Barriteau and Reginald Kell, respectively.

CDVS 1959