Tommy Whittle and Alan Barnes
‘Straight Eight’ was the first album to be released on the new Miles Music label in 1985, and the pairing of the established Tommy Whittle with the young Alan Barnes, who was rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the bright new talents on the jazz scene would not have been immediately obvious.
That John Miles wanted to showcase experience and youth in the UK jazz world was an indicator of how he saw the place of Miles Music. More youthful talent was added by Alec Dankworth on bass, with Mick Pyne bringing creativity on piano and Alan Jackson inventiveness on the drums.
Here is all the music from the original LP and an added three takes of a number that the vinyl record could not accommodate. You choose!