One can’t underestimate the importance of journalist Les Tomkins, who lugged his reel-to-reel recorder down to Ronnie Scott’s original Soho haunt to both interview visiting US jazz legends and then tape their club performance. These March/April 1964 dates document the UK club debut of tenor sax supremo Getz who, on a bossa nova kick, had recently instigated the last worldwide musical phenomenon before Beatlemania. Here, supported by pianist Stan Tracey, “Manha De Carnaval” (Vol 1) and “Desafinado” (Vol 2) are Getz’s solitary concession to his bossa bankroll prior to forging the vibrant straight-ahead sets highlighted by “Night Rider”.
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