The Frankfurt Concert

England's Acker Bilk's big 1961 hit, the sugary, vibrato-laden "Stranger on the Shore," masked the fact that Bilk had been (and continues to be) a fine New Orleans jazz performer. With "Stranger," Bilk became the first British artist to top the U.S. pop music charts, paving the way for that other group of Brits, the Beatles. Although the tune is on the program, this live concert focuses on Bilk's true jazz leanings, which he honed as a leading member of the traditional jazz revival in Great Britain during the late '50s and early '60s (sharing that spot with Humphrey Lyttelton). Performing in Frankfurt with his Paramount Jazz Band (which he formed in 1958), Bilk offers a play list of traditional jazz tunes to a large and enthusiastic audience. The clarinetist also displays an authentic blues-tinged Louis Prima-like vocal ability on "After You've Gone." Some tunes are played in the "Stranger" mode, like "A Taste of Honey," offering a pleasant respite from the traditional jazz material. The members of the band are excellent in their own right. Scottish-born pianist Stan Greig is as much responsible as Bilk for the group's sound, with his very strong pianism on many of the tracks (such as "Nagasaki"). John Mortimer and Colin Smith get a chance to move to center stage on trombone and trumpet, respectively. Drummer Ron McKay offers traditional Louis Armstrong scatting on "Dinah." But Bilk is the main attraction on the album. With this release, Hitchcock Media continues to release heretofore unavailable material from the '50s and '60s. This is a fine album and is recommended.