HARKIT RECORDS ANNOUNCE THEIR RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR HIGHLY IMPORTANT 60's "LIVE IN LONDON" JAZZ ARCHIVE!

They were known as the Swinging 'Sixties, but it was in the field of jazz that things were swinging in a particularly productive direction. In London, saxophonist Ronnie Scott and Pete King were running their own club, as was singer/actress Annie Ross, and in both of these venues American jazz stars were making their very first appearances in a U.K. club, as well as, in many cases, performing in Britain for the very first time. One great artist was even persuaded to conquer his fear of flying to come across the Atlantic. During the same period also, British musicians were making significant developments. So it is no exaggeration to say that here was jazz history in the making.

A providential fact was that simultaneously in this ultra-eventful decade an avid young jazz devotee and occasional singer named Les Tomkins was transforming himself into a prolific jazz journalist. With the aid of a professional Ferrograph Mk.2 tape recorder, Les began amassing his archive of over 1,000 interviews with jazz greats, for magazine publication from then to the present day.

One evening in 1963, a conversation Les had with Ronnie Scott resulted in the latter suggesting that Les bring his equipment to his club to capture as much as he could of the unprecedented month-to-month magic.   This he promptly did, as well as broadening his activity to Annie's Room and other nighspots.

This momentous sound archive has now been licensed to harkit records. After intense compiling work by Les Tomkins, releases of previously-unissued masters are planned for January 2003 onwards, under the generic title "Live in London". These will include inspired performances by such outstanding instrumentalists as Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Bill Evans, Jim Hall, J.J. Johnson, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer and Derek Smith, and such individual vocalists as Annie Ross, Blossom Dearie, Jimmy Witherspoon, Helen Merrill, Jon Hendricks, Anita O'Day and Ernestine Anderson. Among likely names to be inscribed on subsequent CD's are Britons Stan Tracey, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Dudley Moore, Kenny Baker, Tommy Whittle, Danny Moss, and Americans Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Sonny Rollins, Yusef Lateef, Cannonball Adderley and Dizzy Gillespie.

The gratifying fact is that, preserved on his shelves all this time by Les, these recordings have retained virtually all their original properties, and now, with the enhancements of harkit record's technical skills, will be providing exciting, revelatory jazz listening...

UK/EIRE DISTRIBUTION
PINNACLE RECORDS LTD.
(Contact Andrew Geddes)
Tel: 01689 899012

Further information available from:
Harkit Entertainment Ltd.,
Publicity Department,
P.O.Box 617,
Bushey Heath,
Hertfordshire,
WD23 ISX,
United Kingdom.

Telephone: 020-8959 1888
Facsimile: 020-8421 8463
sales@harkitrecords.com