Ambrose & His Orchestra (London 1927-1935)

Bert Ambrose led one of the most popular dance bands in England during the 1920s and '30s. His group -- who featured arranger Sid Phillips on reeds, American clarinetist Danny Polo, trumpeter Max Goldberg, and trombonist Lew Davis as key soloists -- sometimes played very credible jazz. The hotter selections contrasted with the ballad vocals of Sam Browne. This well-rounded 14-selection LP is highlighted by "Out of Nowhere," "Singapore Sorrows," the heated "'Leven-Thirty Saturday Night," and "A Bench in the Park," with the band sometimes emulating Paul Whiteman and various American dance bands.