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The Essential Ambrose represents both the hot and commercial aspects of Ambrose's band and throughout it exhibits a very high standard of musicianship. Ambrose was known to hire only the best and also to pay accordingly with musicians often earning 10-15 times the national average wage! The first CD in this superbly re-mastered double set reflects the jazz orientated side of Ambrose. It particularly highlights the talents of saxophonist, clarinettist, composer and arranger Sid Phillips who's 'Cotton Pickers Congregation' kicks off the set in spectacular style. Our second CD although very different from the first is nonetheless arresting featuring the 'pop' songs of the day as performed by such consummate musicians as Sam Browne, Jack Cooper and Evelyn Dall. Ambrose's skill had been to recognise talent and use the best available to him. He was not particularly a jazz fan but saw its commercial potential and in Sid Phillips had a magnificent talent he could utilise to his bands best advantage. By the early 1940's however Ambrose's time was over and he never quite made the transition into the modern era. He did however make a comeback of sorts when he managed the singer Kathy Kirby in the 1960's. A millionaire in the 1930's, Ambrose died bankrupt in 1975, a victim of his inability or unwillingness to adapt with the changing times and apparently a little problem called gambling!.
This 2 disc set by Ambrose and his Orchestra is especially good on two fronts. It encompasses the mid to late thirties edition of the orchestra and includes one disc devoted to more uptempo numbers which feature the superb and inventive arrangements by Sid Phillips, and a second disc of more commercial fare with vocals which are solidly mainstream and not too intrusive relative to the musical values of each performance. Ambrose had a superb band which attracted some of the best musicians in the U.K. Despite being a "Hotel Band" expected to play a variety of songs, it is clear from these recordings that he was comfortable enough to allow his arrangers to create some truly outstanding hot dance music. The brass section is especially notable. The trombones in unison shine with a burnished warmth of tone complemented by crisp trumpets and smooth wind writing. Sid Phillips must have been quite taken by Raymond Scott's avant garde forays into the unusual as several Scott tunes are here and some by Phillips which create the same interesting mood. The second noteworthy aspect of this release is the superb remastering. The sonics are really quite wonderful considering that the likelihood the metal masters survived the WW2 scrap drives in England is slim. The only caveat is the slender documentation which amounts to a track list. Otherwise a first rate complement to the "Decca M Series" on Retrieval and the 2 disc earlier Ambrose set on ASV. Highly recommended.
