Victor Feldman - An Englishman Abroad: The First Us Albums 1957-61 (2025)

Victor Feldman was an English jazz pianist, percussionist and vibraphone player, who made such an impression as a teenage musician on the pioneering modern jazz scene in his home country in post-war years, that Ronnie Scott advised him to move to the USA to find a wider arena for his talents, which he did in 1955. He readily found work performing and recording with a variety of bands, including Woody Herman's Herd, Buddy De Franco and others. He was soon offered the chance to lead his own group in recording sessions, and over subsequent years he regularly fronted bands in the studio while still working assiduously with the top names on the scene. This 38-track 2-CD collection all the tracks from his first four albums under his own name recorded and released after his move to the USA - "Vic Feldman On Vibes/Mallets Aforethought" on Mode, "The Arrival Of Victor Feldman" and Latinsville" on Contemporary and "Merry Olde Soul" on Riverside. His line-ups on these sessions variously include Scott LaFaro, Stan Levey, Conte Candoli, Vince Guaraldi, Al McGibbon, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Hank Jones, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. British jazz musicians who forged successful careers competing on the US scene were few and far between and it's a huge tribute to Feldman's talent that he enjoyed a long and successful career there - this collection helps to demonstrate why.

Tracklist
Disc 1:
1. Fidelius
2. Squeeze Me
3. Sweet And Lovely
4. Bass Reflex
5. Chart Of My Heart
6. Wilbert's Tune
7. Evening In Paris
8. Serpent's Tooth
9. Waltz
10. Chasing Shadows
11. Flamingo
12. S'posin
13. Bebop
14. There Is No Greater Love
15. Too Blue
16. Minor Lament
17. Satin Doll
18. Flying Down To Rio
19. Cuban Pete

Disc 2:
1. South Of The Border
2. She's A Latin From Manhattan
3. The Gypsy
4. Poinciana
5. Lady Of Spain
6. Spain
7. Cuban Love Song
8. In A Little Spanish Town
9. Fiesta
10. Woody'n You
11. For Dancers Only
12. Lisa
13. Serenity
14. You Make Me Feel So Young
15. Come Sunday
16. The Man I Love
17. Bloke's Blues
18. I Want To Be Wanted
19. Mosey On Down