The primacy of bands like those of Goodman, Dorsey and Glenn Miller during the big band era made it almost impossible for British bandleaders to get a toe-hold in the United States. Three of them managed it--Spike Hughes, Ted Heath and Bert Ambrose. Listening to this comprehensive collection (just under four hours) of Ambrose's polished and often inspired recordings, one understands why he was popular across the Atlantic with both American musicians and listeners. But his main impact, of course, fuelled by weekly Saturday night broadcasts, was on British audiences. Brassmen like Tommy McQuater, Ted Heath himself, George Chisholm and Stan Roderick and reed players like Harry Hayes, Billy Amstell and Sid Phillips made up his bands. They were every bit as good as their US counterparts. Ambrose hired the ever under-rated American clarinet player Danny Polo to play for him, and some of Polo's best solo work is included here. "B'wanga", "Cotton Pickers' Congregation", "Copenhagen" and the jazz tracks are all outstanding, but the "dance music" was superior, and the vocalists who sang with Ambrose, most notably Sam Browne, all had original styles. --Steve Voce