Alan Skidmore Quartet : East To West

Repress of the Alan Skidmore Quartet's 1992 album East to West, which has been deleted for many years and features Stan Tracey, Roy Babbington, Clark Tracey, Bryan Spring and others

Alan Skidmore 's first recording for Miles Music in 1988 was Tribute to 'Trane (MMCD075), an album reflecting Alan's profound admiration for John Coltrane. Alan's reputation and ability to engage the best of fellow musicians was again illustrated the following year when he was invited to play at the Hong Kong Jazz Club. This time with Stan Tracey on piano, Roy Babbington on bass and Stan's son Clark Tracey on drums.

It was fortunate that recordings of these club gigs were made, and when another of Alan's quartet line-ups was committed to tape at Ronnie Scott's a few years later, on this occasion with Steve Melling on piano, Mick Hutton bass, and Bryan Spring on drums, the opportunity of combining these two outstanding performances from venues continents apart was not to be missed.

The resulting album East to West is a fine example of how much an enthusiastic audience can help lift jazz to another level, evident on all the tracks here, no more so than in Bryan Spring's inspired drum solo on the final number, and yes, that is Ronnie Scott himself announcing the band.