John Dankworth Big Band - Lifeline

This 1973 album from the John Dankworth Big Band has featured once before here when I used a track from it for a cartridge comparison. But the main event on the record is the suite Lifeline - 5 parts played continuously, that provide an ideal showcase for Dankworth's composing, conducting and playing skills, as well as those of the cream of British jazz players of the era. The album notes below (click to enlarge) give a background to both Dankworth and the music.

John Dankworth, a talented sax and clarinet player was also a composer of both film and TV scores, and with his wife, Dame Cleo Laine, founded the Wavendon Allmusic Plan - an educational and performance project - at their home. He was a towering figure over the British jazz scene, and before "crossover' became known as such he sought to bring the classical and jazz worlds together. Dankworth had orchestral commissions, he founded the London Symphony Orchestra's pops programme (in 1985), and was principle pops conductor with both the San Francisco Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic.

John Dankworth was the first British jazz musician to be awarded a knighthood (in 2006), and he died in 2010 aged 82.

Don't forget to switch to the HD setting for the best quality

Cartridge: Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC

Turntable: CTC Classic 301 with SME M2-12R

Click to enlarge