It has long been the ambition of many jazz musicians to either lead their own big band or record with strings. Tubbs achieved both. Now to the matter at hand: being a onetime North London nighthawk yours truly was at The Tally-Ho in May 1969 the night Tubbs majestic Big Band gave of their very best. Tubbs could easily have coasted along with small groups but whenever the opportunity presented itself he was determined to round up the cream of local freelancers. It was almost regarded as a badge of honour to receive such a call to duty. Added to this most welcome recording (with hopefully more to come) anyone who actually witnessed the THBB at full throttle will attest that in no way was this a vanity project – for Tubbs this was unquestionably the real deal. Of the seven tracks to have survived, Tubbs penned four – ‘Song For A Sad Lady’, ‘Dear Johnny B’ plus a brace of lethal tear-ups ‘Rumpus’ and ‘The Inner Splurge’ (the latter edging playfully into avant garde territory) which all but strips the paint off the Tally-Ho's walls. As to be expected Tubbs leads from the front amid a torrent of original ideas and breathtaking stamina. The only time he eases off the gas is for a reflective take on Harry South's arrangement of Duke Pearson's ‘You Know I Care’. Though there are also fine contributions from Wheeler, Christie, King, Klein (‘The Inner Splurge’) and Stewart, much of this session's success is all down to drummer Spike Wells. Predominant in the mix (‘Seven Steps To Heaven’ and ‘Dear Johnny B’) young Wells' full-on approach bestows the overall performance with unfettered drive and genuine chutzpah. Truthfully, Big Band albums don't come any more exciting or purposeful than Rumpus.