Victor Feldman was an English jazz pianist, percussionist and vibraphone player, who made such an impression as a teenage musician on the pioneering modern jazz scene in his home country in post-war years, that Ronnie Scott advised him to move to the USA to find a wider arena for his talents, which he did in 1955. 

He readily found work performing and recording with a variety of bands, including Woody Herman’s Herd, Buddy De Franco and others. 

He was soon offered the chance to lead his own group in recording sessions, and over subsequent years he regularly fronted bands in the studio while still working assiduously with the top names on the scene. 

This 38-track 2-CD collection all the tracks from his first four albums under his own name recorded and released after his move to the USA – “Vic Feldman On Vibes/Mallets Aforethought” on Mode, “The Arrival Of Victor Feldman” and Latinsville” on Contemporary and “Merry Olde Soul” on Riverside. 

His line-ups on these sessions variously include Scott LaFaro, Stan Levey, Conte Candoli, Vince Guaraldi, Al McGibbon, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Hank Jones, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. 

British jazz musicians who forged successful careers competing on the US scene were few and far between and it’s a huge tribute to Feldman’s talent that he enjoyed a long and successful career there – this collection helps to demonstrate why.

Tracks

CD 1
1. FIDELIUS Victor Feldman 
2. SQUEEZE ME Victor Feldman 
3. SWEET AND LOVELY Victor Feldman 
4. BASS REFLEX Victor Feldman 
5. CHART OF MY HEART Victor Feldman 
6. WILBERT'S TUNE Victor Feldman 
7. EVENING IN PARIS Victor Feldman 
From the album “Victor Feldman On Vibes/Mallets A Fore Thought” (Mode MOD-LP 120) 1957 
Los Angeles, September, 1957    Victor Feldman (vib) Carl Perkins (p) Leroy Vinnegar (b) Stan Levey (d)
8. SERPENT'S TOOTH Victor Feldman 
9. WALTZ Victor Feldman 
10. CHASING SHADOWS Victor Feldman 
11. FLAMINGO Victor Feldman 
12. S'POSIN Victor Feldman 
13. BEBOP Victor Feldman 
14. THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE Victor Feldman 
15. TOO BLUE Victor Feldman 
16. MINOR LAMENT Victor Feldman 
17. SATIN DOLL Victor Feldman 
From the album “The Arrival Of Victor Feldman” (Contemporary  C3549)  1958    
Los Angeles, January 21 & 22, 1958  Victor Feldman (vib,p) Scott LaFaro (b) Stan Levey (d)
18. FLYING DOWN TO RIO Victor Feldman 
19. CUBAN PETE Victor Feldman
From the album “Latinsville” (Contemporary S9005)        
Los Angeles, March 29, 1959    Vic Feldman And His Orchestra : Conte Candoli (tp)  Walter Benton (ts,timb) Victor Feldman (vib) Vince Guaraldi (p) Al McGibbon (b) Willie Bobo (timbales) Armando Peraza (bgo) Mongo Santamaria (cga)

CD 2
1. SOUTH OF THE BORDER Victor Feldman 
2. SHE'S A LATIN FROM MANHATTAN Victor Feldman 
3. THE GYPSY Victor Feldman 
4. POINCIANA Victor Feldman 
5. LADY OF SPAIN Victor Feldman 
6. SPAIN Victor Feldman 
7. CUBAN LOVE SONG Victor Feldman 
8. IN A LITTLE SPANISH TOWN Victor Feldman 
From the album “Latinsville” (Contemporary S9005)        
Los Angeles, March 29, 1959    Vic Feldman And His Orchestra : Conte Candoli (tp)  Walter Benton (ts,timb) Victor Feldman (vib) Vince Guaraldi (p) Al McGibbon (b) Willie Bobo (timbales) Armando Peraza (bgo) Mongo Santamaria (cga)
9. FIESTA Victor Feldman 
10. WOODY'N YOU Victor Feldman 
11. FOR DANCERS ONLY Victor Feldman 
12. LISA Victor Feldman 
13. SERENITY Victor Feldman 
14. YOU MAKE FEEL SO YOUNG Victor Feldman 
15. COME SUNDAY Victor Feldman 
16. THE MAN I LOVE Victor Feldman 
17. BLOKE'S BLUES Victor Feldman 
18. I WANT TO BE WANTED Victor Feldman 
19. MOSEY ON DOWN Victor Feldman
From the album “Merry Olde Soul” (Riverside RLP366)    1961    
New York, January 6 & 11, 1961    Victor Feldman (vib) Andy Thomas (p) Tony Reyes (b) Frank Guerrero, Ramon "Sonny" Rivera (perc)