One month after saluting the artistry of Wilbur De Paris (Hot Mustard, RTS 4259), Retrospective presents another superb jazz release, this time celebrating the centenary of another great jazz trombonist – Britain’s finest ever – George Chisholm (1914-1997), the 'Gentleman of Jazz'. Many remember him primarily as a TV entertainer on such as The Black & White Minstrel Show, yet Europe has produced few jazz masters to rival him.

Disc one (1937-1944) of our 2CD survey presents George from his very first studio session as a trombonist (with Gerry Moore in 1937), through his notable early dates with the likes of Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller and Danny Polo’s Swing Stars. Alongside his own 1938 Jive Five and 1944 Jive Eight recordings are some of the best from the many years he spent with the famous RAF band, The Squadronaires, plus a trio of surprisingly hot examples of Victor Silvester’s Jive Band.

Disc two (1947-1962) shows how his style shifted in the 50s towards mainstream jazz, with eight fine numbers from his own 1956 group, as well as examples of his playing with Kenny Baker, Kenny Graham and others. But he never forsook ‘Trad’, and the disc also contains some delightful tracks with singers Denny Dennis, Michael Holliday and Clinton Ford.

Throughout his life, George Chisholm brought happiness wherever he went. Happily we can still enjoy it.

Track Listing:
CD 1 (1937-1944)
1. Honeysuckle Rose
2. I Ain’t Got Nobody
3. Mighty Like The Blues
4. Jazz Me Blues
5. Don’t Try Your Jive On Me
6. Mozel Tov
7. If You Were The Only Girl In The World
8. Shine On, Harvest Moon
9. Stooge Blues
10. The Flat Foot Floogie
11. Let’s Go
12. Archer Street Drag
13. Rosetta
14. You’ll Always Be Mine
15. Penalty Five Pounds
16. No Smoking
17. At The Jazz Band Ball
18. The Darktown Strutters’ Ball
19. Jersey Bounce
20. Blue Lou
21. Cherokee
22. Stompin’ At The Savoy
23. Poor Butterfly
24. Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider
25. All Is Not Gold That Jitters
26. Broadhurst Garden Blues
27. Little Earle

CD 2 (1947-1962)
1. My Blue Heaven
2. That’s The Beginning Of The End
3. Symphony In Riffs
4. Lazy River
5. Blues For Twos
6. Just You, Just Me
7. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
8. Sonny Boy
9. Georgetta
10. I May Be Wrong
11. When Your Lover Has Gone
12. A Smo-o-oth One
13. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
14. Love Me Or Leave Me
15. How’s This?
16. Mood Indigo
17. That’s A Plenty
18. My Mother’s Eyes
19. Big Butter And Egg Man
20. Lazy (With Michael Holliday)
21. What More Can I Say?