An Englishman Abroad - The First US Albums 1957-61

Victor Feldman was an English jazz pianist, percussionist and vibraphone player, who made such an impression as a teenage musician on the pioneering modern jazz scene in his home country in post-war years, that Ronnie Scott advised him to move to the USA to find a wider arena for his talents, which he did in 1955. He readily found work performing and recording with a variety of bands, including Woody Herman’s Herd, Buddy De Franco and others. He was soon offered the chance to lead his own group in recording sessions, and over subsequent years he regularly fronted bands in the studio while still working assiduously with the top names on the scene.

This 38-track 2-CD collection all the tracks from his first four albums under his own name recorded and released after his move to the USA – “Vic Feldman On Vibes/Mallets Aforethought” on Mode, “The Arrival Of Victor Feldman” and Latinsville” on Contemporary and “Merry Olde Soul” on Riverside. His line-ups on these sessions variously include Scott LaFaro, Stan Levey, Conte Candoli, Vince Guaraldi, Al McGibbon, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Hank Jones, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. British jazz musicians who forged successful careers competing on the US scene were few and far between and it’s a huge tribute to Feldman’s talent that he enjoyed a long and successful career there – this collection helps to demonstrate why.