Roy Williams, who is beautifully featured in the solo Jerome Kern classic "All the Things You Are," came to prominence with the Alex Welsh band and was voted No. 1 trombonist in the 1981 Jazz Journal International poll. During a trip to the States he played at the Gibson Jazz Party and, back in the British Isles, was in constant demand to support visiting American stars. Apart from his role as leading soloist with the Five A Slide he is currently with the Humphrey Lyttelton band.

Pete Strange, one of the originators of the Five A Slide, now provides many of the group's arrangements, notably on this album with Kid Ory's "Muskrat Ramble," "Dancing on the Ceiling," "Where or When," Johnny Mandel's "Low Life" and the band's tribute to the fruitful musical partnership between Neal Hefti and Count Basie, Hetti's own "Countdown." Between 1961 and 1965 he worked with the Bruce Turner Jump Band and alongside such jazz stars as Pee Wee Russell, Henry "Red" Allen, "Peanuts" Hucko and "Wild Bill" Davison. Today he shares his work in the Five A Slide by arranging and playing trombone with the Midnite Follies Orchestra, Alan Elsdon's Jazz Band and Digby Fairweather's Fairweather Friends.

Campbell Burnap is the pin-up of the band, a husky, handsome character who takes time off to act in the occasional TV film and delights the ladies with his husky vocals, one of which is heard on this album - "Sweet Lorraine." As a part of the current Acker Bilk Paramount Jazz Band he is often out on tour and sometimes finds time to lead his own quintet on club dates.

John Beecham is often called upon to play the baritone role in the ensemble and is now awaiting the delivery of a new bass trombone. In a varied career he has appeared with several British blues bands including GB Blues and the Kinks. At the moment he is the regular trombonist with Ken Colyer's Jazz Band and appears as tuba with Chris Barber. He takes the leading role on Ory's "Muskrat Ramble." The fifth member of the front line is Jim Shepherd, an ardent mouldy fig boasting of an enormous collection of old 78 rpms, an army of brass instruments of all kinds, an array of miniature trains, several vintage cars and a formidable knowledge of early hot dance music. Apart from freelancing around the British jazz scene, he is also the editor and proprietor of The Greyhound Owner, was the lead trombonist with the London Vintage Jazz Orchestra and has played alongside such visiting firemen as "Wild Bill" Davison and Jimmy McPartland.

The rhythm section is led by the percussive piano playing of Australian born Collin Bates who had originally worked alongside Pete Strange in Bruce Turner's outfit, was a part of John Chilton's Feetwarmers who regularly backed the British blues singer George Melly, and later toured the clubs as a soloist. He contributes a number of swinging solos on this album, particularly on Kenny Pyrke's clever arrangement of the old Bing Crosby ballad "On the Street of Dreams," and behind the trio of trombone voices in "Where or When." Pete Skivington, on electric bass, is a long standing member of the Alex Welsh band, remaining faithful to his old leader during the latter's convalescence and is still to be found playing behind Alex in his new group. His solo work can be heard on the Five A Slide's tribute to Charlie Parker, arranged by Randy Colville, and to good advantage on the superb Roy Williams tour de force "All the Things You Are." Drummer Johnny Richardson is regarded by many as Britain's top percussionist and has played with countless groups from traditional to modern. Nowadays he is the regular Five A Slide drummer, preferring otherwise to freelance.

The pieces selected for this Jazzology album clearly demonstrate the band's versatility, and their broadminded approach to jazz music. Roy Williams and Campbell Burnap share honours on the Bird tribute, incorporating a fine chase chorus before the piano and bass add their solos to a vaguely boppish opener. "On the Street of Dreams" is moodily patterned by trombonist Kenny Pyrke who has depped for the group on odd occasions. Pete Strange and Collin Bates add colourful solos to the Lewis-Young evergreen, previously featured on record by Bing and by the Ink Spots. Pete Strange's brilliant writing on Ory's familiar "Muskrat Ramble" allows for a spate of lively solos by all the front line as well as a forceful interlude by the piano. The band's favourite Jerome Kern song, "All the Things You Are," opens with the verse played out of tempo by Roy Williams and excitingly transformed by a piano bridge into an unforgettable series of improvisations. The last item on Side 1 is a lovely Rodgers and Hart classic made famous many years ago by our own Jessie Matthews in the show "Evergreen," both on stage and on film, "Dancing on the Ceiling," and arranged for the band by Pete Strange with telling solos by Burnap, Jim Shepherd and Collin Bates.

Randy Colville wrote the book on Gershwin's "Somebody Loves Me," one of the great popular ballads, and Roy Williams offers some delectable ideas before Pete Strange adds an excellent muted chorus, followed by Jim Shepherd and Collin Bates. Randy again wrote for the band's version of the Joe Venuti blues feature, "Sweet Lorraine," and, following the Burnap vocalising backed beautifully by Williams at the top of his form, the piano takes over and Campbell takes up his trombone for an effective blow. "Where or When," arranged by Strange, adds both Pete and Campbell to the ensemble with some fine solo work by all three and a few telling chords from Bates. "Low Life" again shows the group's broadminded approach with an instrumental previously recorded by Bob Brookmeyer and Bud Shank. Strange writes the score and solos with distinction, followed in turn by a lusty John Beecham and the piano.

Finally, the band pays yet another tribute to a jazz giant, the bandleader Count Basie with "Countdown," a typical Neal Hefti composition in which Pete Strange's forceful figures remind us of the penetrating power of the famous Basie/Hefti partnership. The Five A Slide is a unique combination, proving once and for all that contemporary British jazz has come of age. The arranging skills of Pete Strange, Randy Colville and Kenny Pyrke are self-evident, and are brought to a musical perfection by a novel and talented group of musicians.

-James Asman