Ken Rattenbury's Jazz Band with Bill Rank CD. 1969 rec.

Ken Rattenbury and his Band with guest trombonist Bill Rank recorded at The Crown & Cushion, Perry Barr, Birmingham, on June 23^rd 1969.

This is a very rare recording taken hurriedly when the great Bill Rank was on holiday in England during the summer of 1969. Bill was 65 years old at the time.

Bill, who was born in 1904, was a member of the wonderful Jean Goldkette Orchestra based in Detroit, from 1923 until 1927 when he joined the legendary Paul Whiteman Orchestra.  He stayed with Paul Whiteman until 1938. During the 1940s, he led his own band in the Cincinnati area, and carried on playing right up to a couple of days before his death in 1979. Bill also played alongside the great Bix Beiderbecke with Bix’s own Gang and also with Jean Goldkette and Paul Whiteman up to Bix’s sad death in 1931.

That’s Bill’s background for those who need clarification. The quality of reproduction is considerably below normal recording standard due to limitations of the original recording equipment and age deterioration of the original tapes. However, the musical content is likely to be of historic interest to jazz enthusiasts.

Track listing:

1. Bill Rank warming up.
2. Shine
3. At The Jazz Band Ball
4. How High The Moon
5. Margie
6. Apex Blues
7. Dinah
8. China Boy
9. I Got Rhythm
10. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
11. Jazz Me Blues

Ken Rattenbury-trumpet, Joe Lees-clarinet/saxophone, Derek Halford-trombone, Stan Tinkler-piano, Bev Pegg-guitar, Harry Hadley-double bass, Les Handley-drums, plus Bill Rank-trombone.

(a)     Bill Rank-trombone / (b) Derek Halford-trombone

Quality note: The recording quality of track 2 – “Shine” is extremely poor. Normally this would not have been included with the other tracks. However, the brief conversation between Ken Rattenbury and Bill Rank regarding microphone placement just before the tune starts makes this a worthwhile inclusion it is felt.

This album also give the listener an opportunity to hear the superb trumpet playing of one of the most underrated trumpeters in the UK, the fabulous Ken Rattenbury. In fact, when Wild Bill Davidson played with Ken’s band, he was quite taken aback by Ken’s all round superb trumpet playing. On making a follow up visit from the USA to the Midlands where he was due to share the stage with Ken again, he asked sideman Joe Lees “Is that godamm trumpeter still here?”

There is an insert containing a detailed description of how the session came about and notes about the individual tracks included.