Sunday 24 February 2008

TV Thrillers

Johnny Gregory's TV Thriller Themes is one of those fabulously fortuitous finds. It's a classy collection of US and UK Crime Jazz from the mid -1960's

Featuring a bold and brassy big band sound that belies its British origins, TV Thriller Themes, includes such US Crime Jazz staples as Route 66, 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason and Johnny Staccato plus less familiar gems like M Squad and Tightrope, alongside forgotten Brit crime themes like Top Secret, Echo Four Two and Ghost Squad. Of special interest is the inclusion of the original Avengers theme.

The man behind TV Thriller Themes, Johnny Gregory, was the son of band leader Frank Gregori, whose band was a regular fixture at Quaglino's restaurant in London during the 1930s and 1940s. Johnny Gregory became a prolific record arranger with Philips and the BBC Radio Orchestra’s principal guest conductor. An Ivor Novello Award winner Gregory wrote the music for some 27 films, and accompanied singers including Matt Munro, Anthony Newley, Connie Francis and Cleo Laine.

TV Thriller Themes is another great addition to my current fave Crime Jazz collections Jazz From Great TV Shows and Like Wild!.

2 comments:

Lemoncat,, said...

thanx for this one rcool.. i really nice gregory album some fine tracks,,excellent :)

THXjay said...

Hey Crispy,

Another gem in the John Gregory cannon, I love his big sound.

Excellent thanks

Jay