Wild Bill Davidson With Alex W

Legendary American trumpet player in a superb 'live' session from the 1960s with one of the UK's finest bands. Wild Bill Davidson was one of the legendary trumpeters of American Jazz. He was part of the famous 'Condon Gang' from the 1930s onwards pioneering the Chicago School of Jazz. His hard driving trumpet and hard-living served to confirm his legendary status. The Alex Welsh band was the first choice of all the visiting American stars (Earl Hines, Red Allen, Bud Freeman, Peanuts Hucko, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Miller, etc.) being, arguably, the best band of its style in the UK. Wild Bill toured the UK with the band in the mid 1960s. This session recorded 'live' at the Manchester Sports Guild in 1966 sees the band and Wild Bill on particularly fine form. The wonderful rhythm section anchored by one of our best drummers, Lennie Hastings, provides the bedrock for the front line of class players: Alex Welsh, Roy Williams and John Barnes. Despite his wild man image, Bill's feature Blue & Broken Hearted and Blue Again reveal him to be a sensitive and innovative player of real class.