Chris Barber s band is, quite simply, one of the most popular bands in the entire history of jazz. The world tour celebrating its 40th birthday went on for almost two years, and it is now in its 46th year. Barber himself celebrated his 70th birthday recently with gala broadcast on BBC Radio Two. The band s continuing success depends partly on the nostalgic appeal of its most famous numbers and a fair number of them are contained here, among them chart hits such as Petite Fleur and Whistling Rufus and traditional jazz favourites such as High Society and Panama Rag. These recordings derive from the late 1950s and early 60s, when the band featured the inimitable, singing clarinet of Monty Sunshine and the astonishing authentic blues vocals of Ottile Patterson. The superb trumpet of Pat Halcox drives the whole thing along wonderfully--as it continues to do to this day.--Dave Gelly