JOHN DANKWORTH

This weeks unwind into the weekend (AKA "coffee, cake and jazz") was brought to me by the late John Dankworth.

To be precise it was the first recording of the "Generations" big band he had and co-led with son Alec, "Nebuchadnezzar".

The liner notes explain the concept of the formation of the band, and basically Alec chose some of his contemporaries and John chose some of his for the members of the band. So as well as two generations of Dankworths the band had/has two generations of the UK's best jazz musicians.

Lots of really good original pieces as well as few standards that have been arranged by the younger players - including a really good version of Carla Bley's Ida Lupino arranged by Alec.

If I'm honest I've got to say I don't have that many John Dankworth records (have a few). Probably not as many as I should have.

It's also probably fair to say that while this is an excellent record it probably doesn't present John's playing when he really was at the top of his game.

However, from what I've read about him and his enthusiasm for sharing his experience and the music with others the essence of this project probably is a good way to remember him.