Chris Barber

★★★★

A Trailblazer’s Legacy THE LAST MUSIC COMPANY. CD/DL

Magnificent tribute to the late Godfather of British jazz, blues and skiffle.

Barber’s death earlier this year at the age of 90 closed an important chapter in post-war British popular music; an epoch indelibly shaped by the Welwyn Garden City trombonist’s adventures in black American music that began in the 1950s and which inspired several generations of young British musicians, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Spanning 1951-2018, this 4-CD compendium brings together essential studio and live recordings that attest to Barber’s pioneering spirit via his exploration of New Orleansstyle ‘trad jazz’ and his role in popularising skiffle (he played bass on Lonnie Donegan’s landmark Rock Island Line). Among the highlights are collaborations with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, and Van Morrison, while Alyn Shipton’s 18,000-word essay and a stunning array of archival photographs helps to bring Barber’s remarkable story alive.