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"Most of our people have never had it so good." When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan uttered his famous era-defining phrase in the summer of 1957 he wasn't thinking of the UK's modern jazz community. Yet his words were an equally apt summary of their fortunes that year. After the bitter defeats of 1956, when America delivered reminder upon reminder of its musical superiority, London's modernists were finally fighting back. They had a new enclave, the Flamingo Club, with membership in its thousands, and a new cause celebre in the Jazz Couriers, a quintet of genuine kick-ass quality. Add to that, exciting new bands led by Don Rendell, Tony Kinsey, and Johnny Dankworth and it was clear that the first generation of the capital's "mods" were on the way up. Sleeve notes by Simon Spillett. Featuring Ronnie Scott Sextet, Dave Lee Trio, Johnny Keating All Stars, Tubby Hayes/Victor Feldman Sextet, Kenny Baker's Half Dozen, Derek Smith, Don Rendell Jazz Six, Vic Ash Plus Four, Dizzy Reece Quintet, Tony Kinsey Quintet, Jimmy Deuchar Sextet, The Jazz Couriers, Dick Heckstall-Smith Quintet, Johnny Dankworth, Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists, Melody Maker's All-Stars, Wes Montgomery, Milt Jackson, Carl Perkins Trio, Miles Davis, Horace Silver Quintet, Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble, Mose Allison, Ray Charles & Milt Jackson, Jimmy Smith Trio, Lorez Alexandria, Charles Mingus, Art Pepper, Barney Kessel, Thad Jones, Jimmy Giuffre 3, and the John Coltrane Sextet.
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