Blues 'n' Boogie

Pianist Fred Hunt quietly became a cult figure on the British Jazz scene. In the early 1950s he played semi-professionally before turning professional with Alex Welsh in 1954. He did two stints with the Welsh band (1954 1962 and 1964 -1974). During this time he carved out an enviable reputation. The Welsh band was the 'go-to' band for visiting Americans and so Fred played alongside, and recorded with, Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Ruby Braff and others. His style ranges from gentle to powerful coupled with his own tasteful, inventive ornamentations. He left to pursue a solo career in the 1970s. He only made two now rare, highly collectable albums under his own name before his death in 1986. This 'live' set shows him away from the constraints of a band and a recording studio enjoying and indulging himself often playing medleys where he alights on a standard, gains inspiration before segueing into another theme often in a variety of tempos. Highlights of Welsh band concerts were the duets he played with Alex. 'Davenport Blues' was one of their notable collaborations and a previously unissued version is the bonus track