“The music succeeds on its own terms and is special enough to warrant the occasion. Mike Gibbs’s ‘Sonnet’ opens the record using Eastern modal scales to drone-like effect and with excellent solos from Tracey and Wheeler. A real rarity.”
Duncan Heining, Jazzwise, March 2006

“A sprawling but fitfully absorbing Shakespeare tercentenary live tribute. Stan Tracey's Alas Sweet Lady, a jazz-balladish reverie, stands up best over the years, with its whimsically imperious Tony Coe tenor-sax solo and subtle narrative development from Norma Winstone…. A slice out of a time of fast-changing values in jazz.”
John Fordham, The Guardian, 23 December 2005

2 CD SET - 2CDSML 8412

M.F. Horn 3, recorded during this period, displays possibly the strongest bias towards jazz-rock of any of his albums, and it’s impossible to resist the music’s muscular, propulsive rhythms. Maynard, whose soloing on trumpet, flugelhorn and superbone borders on the miraculous, is backed up by an all-star cast of mostly British musicians including drummer Randy Jones, pianist Pete Jackson, bassist Dave Markee and trumpeter/flugelhorn player Alan Downey. On one of the pieces Maynard is joined by his old friend Vimu Mukunda, here playing the veena. M.F. Horn 4 & 5, recorded in July 1973 before an invited audience at New York’s famous Jimmy’s jazz club, has now passed into legend and is widely regarded as possibly being Maynard’s finest big band recording. The twelve-piece group Maynard took into Jimmy’s that July day – comprised mainly of American, European and British musicians – is one of the best he assembled in his long and illustrious career. The passion, virtuosity and intensity with which they play is nothing short of stunning. There are plenty of solo opportunities for Maynard and fellow trumpeter Bob Summers, New Zealand-born baritone saxophonist Bruce Johnstone and Dutch tenor saxophone genius Ferdinand Povel within the furiously swinging, emotionally charged arrangements of gems such as Mike Abene’s The Fox Hunt, Don Menza’s Two for Otis, Pete Jackson’s Teonova and many others. Maynard and his band play out of their skins, and Vocalion are delighted to bring these milestone Maynard Ferguson recordings to a new audience in the twenty-first century.

2 CD SET - 2CDSML 8429

"Although Europe has produced many an accomplished and innovative jazz musician, a great number of ultra-talented ones remain in obscurity. Vocalion puts the spotlight on one such forgotten genius, British trumpeter Harry Beckett. The double CD combines the latter two of his three sessions for RCA; which were not only his debut recordings as a leader but also remain the most critically acclaimed of all his work."
"The sound quality of both sets is excellent ... In short this an exciting reissue of a great pair of albums by an often undeservingly overlooked master musician."
Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz, 20 May 2007

2 CD SET - 2CDSML 8430

"A wonderful 24-track collection of swing recordings cut for the Vocalion label between 1928 ('Bugle Call Rag' by Benny Goodman's Whoopee Makers) and 1936 (Don Redman 's 'Lazy Weather'). Sandwiched in between are stellar tracks from Taft Jordan & the Mob, Luis Russell & His Orchestra, Benny Goodman's Modernists, the Harlem Hot Shots, Benny Carter & His Orchestra, Joe Haymes & His Orchestra, the Blue Rhythm Band, Henry Allen & His Orchestra and Billy Banks' Chicago Rhythm Kings. An excellent collection that sheds some light on some tracks that usually don't show up on compact disc. A must for all hot jazz fans."
Cub Koda, All Music Guide

CDEA 6034

CDEA 6120

CDLF 8118

“This one is especially welcome, as much for the charts as for their execution. Best of all, though, is their cohesion and joyful swing dynamic.”
Peter Vacher, Jazzwise, March 2006

CDLF 8127

“The star soloists each get a shot at ‘Triple Threat’, a rousing Allyn Ferguson piece, before the magnificent Shank exults on the Holman-arranged ‘Lover Man’. Gerry Mulligan’s riffy ‘Apple Piety’ swings, bassist Roy Babbington and drummer Ronnie Verrell prominent, the soloists blowing hard, especially Pete King who finds some interesting harmonic options.”
Peter Vacher, Jazzwise, March 2006

CDLF 8128

“Alan Clare contributes two stylish quartet numbers….The Courtley-Seymour big band rouses things with a lusty post-bop take on ‘Struttin’ with Some Barbecue’.”
(author unspecified), Jazzwise, May 2006

CDLF 8129

CDLF 8140

CDLK 4122