The Jazz Makers, The Jazz Five - The Jazzmakers & The Jazz Five (2014)

Ronnie Ross (bs), Art Ellefson (ts), Stan Jones (p), Stan Wasser (b), Allan Ganley (d) / Vic Ash (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Brian Dee (p), Malcom Cecil (b), Bill Eyden, Tony Mann (d).

Twofer: Tracks #1-8, from the 12" album "Ronnie Ross & Allan Ganley - The Jazz Makers". Tracks #9-14, from the 12" album "The Jazz Five - The Hooter!’”.

This CD presents two of the best English modern jazz combos of the late 50s and early 60s, both sharing the same instrumentation. Two outstanding British talents, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross and drummer Allan Ganley, launched The Jazz Makers in 1958, recruiting the delightful tenor of Art Ellefson for an impressively balanced and imaginative front line, with pianist Stan Jones and bassist Stan Wasser completing a formidable rhythm section. Ross, always a strong, coherent and inventive soloist, blended intuitively with Ellefson’s warm, flowing style and the results were filled with tremendous snap, vigour and musicality. It was a superb ensemble which produced compelling results and much music to remember.

The Jazz Five was formed in 1960 by baritone Harry Klein and tenor Vic Ash, two consistent, capable and accomplished soloists. Klein a confident, self-assured performer, was an assertive and swinging player, while Vic Ash possessed an outgoing, fluent approach, making him an ideal front-line partner. On a well written set of five originals and one standard, their ensemble had a bruising impact, with the rhythm section rounding out the group effectively, thanks in no small measure to the stimulating style of pianist Brian Dee, one of the highlights of this reunion.