Belgian Jazz: 1950-1970

I've never been a big fan of jazz sampler albums. Samplers provide you with an overview of a jazz period by featuring many different artists and the songs that made them famous. Most samplers are invariably dull, loaded up with filler that was inexpensive to license. Instead of providing a service, they generally turn off audiences new to the music. One set that defies this trend and is one of the most rewarding survey albums I've heard in years is Let's Get Swinging: Modern Jazz in Belgium 1950-1970, which was released last month by Sdban, one of London's leading vinyl specialists.

Rather than load up this two-album set with tracks you already own by Belgian artists such as Bobby Jaspar, Toots Thielemans and others, the label has created a package that introduces you to brilliant Belgian jazz artists you may not be familiar with and songs you probably don't know. What's more, these artists provide you with an entry point to their discographies as leaders and sidemen.

The song choices here are sparkling. Who knew that 1960s Belgian jazz was this juicy and lyrical? What's more, every track on this set is solid. There isn't a single dud. Which means you can put it on and sail through all 20 tracks without being turned off. Since Amazon and other retailers don't seem to feature the track names or years they were recorded, let me provide you with the information:

CD1

• Jack Sels- African Dance (1961)
• Jon Eardley- Subtroyan Influence (1969)
• René Thomas-Bobby Jaspar Quintet- Bernie’s Taste (1962)
• Jacques Pelzer And His Young Stars- Don’t Smile (1958)
• Philip Catherine & Robert Pernet- Grelots (1968)
• Francy Boland- Dark Eyes (1967)
• Saxorama & Jack Sels- Minor 5 (1963)
• Herman Sandy Quartet- Digging Chick (1955)
• Fats Sadi Quartet- Ensadinado (1966)
• Bobby Jaspar Quintet- Clarinescapade (1956)
• The Clouds- Cecilia (1965) 
  
  CD2
  • Lucky Thompson & Jack Sels Sextet- Minor Works (1959)
  • Francy Boland Trio- Night Lady (1967)    
  • Bobby Jaspar- Coraline (1954)
  • Jacques Pelzer Sextet- There’ll Never be Another You (1955)
  • René Goldstein and His Group- Witch of Salem (1958)
  • The Clouds- Hall’s Blues
  • René Thomas Et Son Modern Group- Get Happy (1956)
  • Jacques Pelzer Quartet- Work Song (1961)
  • The St. Tropez Jazz Octet- Let’s Get Swinging (1970) For American jazz lovers looking to branch out, Europe offers a bonanza of recordings by gifted greats from the continent in the 1950s and '60s. As readers of this blog know, this is particularly true of Sweden and Britain. Now you can add Belgium to the list.
    
    JazzWax tracks: You'll find Let's Get Swinging: Modern Jazz in Belgium 1950-1970 (Sdban) here. As for Spotify fans, you're in luck. The double-album is available there to listen for free.
    
    JazzWax clips: Here's Jon Eardley's Subroyan Influence. Eardley, an American trumpeter, moved to Belgium in 1963...
    
    
    
    Here's the Francy Boland Trio playing Night Lady...
    
    
    
    And here's Fats Sadi with Francy Boland, Jimmy Woode and Kenny Clarke playing Ensadinado...