Play 90 second soundbite of 'Darkness On The Delta' @ 'CD quality'
Bilk, however, was much more than a 'commercial' jazz man - he's been tootin' his 'net long before the British Nation was introduced to his more 'acceptable' side. This two CD collection shows what and where Acker Bilk was during his less 'famous' 50's years. Bilk, like many of his contemporaries struggled to be heard on the larger scale due to broadcasting naivity and the like. He'd been working hard in the jazz underworld, building a reputation as a great master of the clarinet and as the leader of a band that were making quite a 'noise' on that 'underground' scene.
Bilk's choice of musical weaponry, the much misunderstood clarinet, didn't grab the listeners' attention with its more gentle intonation and timbre in quite the same way that the more brash refrains of the trumpet, saxophone and trombone did. It took a while longer for Bilk to make his name, but through sheer guts and persistence he broke through and later on became very much a household name with his more commercially acceptable sound. None-the-less, Bilk and his jazz band still went on to record a quite massive catalogue of great jazz music and it's that that's showcased here - the stuff that time might have forgotten but that can now be enjoyed once again with all its subtle clarinet nuances.
Jazz buffs should grab a copy of this very rewarding and entertaining double album of Acker Bilk's works. It's a step back in time but recalls an era when jazz was the, soon to be crowned, King of rhythmic innovation - I suppose it could be said that jazz was the 'indie' of its day and just like modern day indie it found its place and grew into an accepted and much loved musical artform. 'Acker Bilk - Just About As Good As It Gets! (The Original Jazz Recordings 1954 - 1957)' is a piece of musical history that's just as viable now as it was back then - try it out - you'll be amazed how good and cool it is!
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