audio files & CD release 2003

The current CD Alone Together is on the band’s own label F6 Productions and has already had some great reviews. The eleven tracks include: EDWD, a beautiful tune written and arranged by Adrian Fry in memory of the late Teddy Layton (EDWD was his e-mail signature); My Man’s Gone Now; and Take Your Shoes Off Baby. The liner notes are written by John Cox and can be read here.

To hear some audio excepts from Alone Together please click on the links in the "hear the band" panel to the right of this text.

Alone Together is available for £10.99 at selected HMV stores (catalogue number FSP049) or direct by emailing your full postal address to CD@andydickens.com. Alternatively please call +44 (0) 2380 251301.

Alone Together Reviews:

"Media publicity and official support (such as it is) for British jazz musicians is usually focused on the young turks who play in contemporary styles. Yet around the country there are several outstanding bands performing in a variety of more established genres, whose appreciation is largely limited to their regional fans. The southern England-based Andy Dickens Band is one of the best and deserves to be much better known.

This album should help their cause. It is a fine display of first-rate musicianship, imaginative tune selection, arranging and soloing along with a dedication to quality music making. Although centred in swing, the group has the versatility to play other jazz forms. The album contains convincing
performances influenced by Blakey, Ellington, West Coast, R&B and more modern styles. They can do this because the band has four distinctive arrangers, five musically flexible soloists and an adaptable rhythm section. They certainly make the most of their considerable assets.

Andy sings on four tracks, much in the way that jazz trumpeters find hard to resist. I doubt he will ever be offered a £1m record contract by Universal, but his warbling is tuneful and charming and is not overdone. His horn playing, whether Armstrong or Eldridge inspired, is strong and secure and
sets the standard for the rest of the band.

The record is dedicated to the memory of the late Teddy Layton who played with the group for 18 years. I guess he would have been mightily impressed by the music, particularly the moving elegy Edwd, written by his friend Adrian Fry. Sound quality is impeccable and the liner notes by John Cox are erudite and informative."
Jazz Journal International, January 2004

“This is an excellent release from a swinging and eclectic band. The set is dedicated to the memory of reedman Teddy Layton and he would surely have nodded whole-hearted approval at the proceedings...The unhackneyed repertoire includes reworkings of The Mooche, Give me a Kiss to Build a Dream on and Alone Together. The leader can wail in the style of Roy Eldridge, sound contemporary as on Andy Daniels' beautiful arrangement of My Man's Gone Now, sing an effective torch song, and even conjures up the ghost of Hot Lips Page on the forgotten gem Take your Shoes off Baby. Adrian Fry on trombone, John Coverdale on guitar and Pete Effamy in alto/clarinet, all take great solos and throughout the rhythm section swings sensitively hard. The carefully thought-out arrangements make this into a classy production all round"
Alan Barnes, Musician magazine, June 2003.

“A fine album by top musicians”. Campbell Burnap,Jazz FM, April 2003

“A really excellent CD with a wonderful choice of program… I just love the band... Marvelous!”
Roy Oakshot, BBC Radio 2, April 2003

For more band reviews please visit the Press Releases and Reviews section of this website.

To hear some short excepts of the band please select one of the audio links to the right of this text.