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For recent correspondence click here or scroll further down this page.

There are also a number of articles you might find interesting - click on the one you would like to read:

Recent Correspondence:

Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen

(May 2010)

Peter Maquire tells us that Copenhagen's prime jazz club, Jazzhus Montmartre is due to open again on 1st May with drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts kicking off the programme. Peter thinks the Jazzhus might have been the venue for Stan Getz's last recording. Click here for more information.

Eel Pie Island

(January 2010)

Trombone player Mel Henry remembers Eel Pie Island (See article below):

'The recent article about Eel Pie Island brought back memories. I DID play there in the 50s - with the University College Jazz Band (only one of us actually went to U.C.). In those days, we had to get there on the chain ferry (no bridge). Our drummer lost some of his kit on the journey - not a good start. Then the piano in the old hotel was right in the crack - our pianist just sat in front of it all evening without playing a note. Finally, the landlord refused to pay us because of no piano player. The raucous crowd couldn't have cared less, even if none of us played a note! Much later, I was a G.P. in the area and one of my patients was a cello maker - lovely guy - he had a workshop on the island until it burnt down in a big fire in about 1990.'

Eel Pie Island - on the river Thames near Hampton Court. Did you ever go? Looking back I have some regrets that I didn't, even though I lived not far away, but in those days it had something of a 'reputation' - a little unsavoury and not exactly safe (Ron Rubin remembers the point of his double bass disappearing through the floor boards.) It was probably nothing of the sort and there was certainly good music played there. But Wimbledon Town Hall or the smokey rooms at the Crown at Morden or the Six Bells in Chelsea were more acceptable to my south-west London parents. Mind you, at fourteen I was taking myself to Kingston Empire to witness the end of Variety which couldn't even be saved by the static nude shows they introduced. As someone said - my parents probably didn't realise what was on the bill!

Dan Van Der Vat and Michele Whitby have now written a book about Eel Pie Island, published by Frances Lincoln Ltd at £16.99, but click here for a closer look, and click here for the full Publisher's description which includes:

'EEL PIE ISLAND is the only inhabited island on the semi-tidal Thames. Its most famous contemporary resident, Trevor Baylis, OBE, inventor of the clockwork radio, has been heard to describe it (with some exaggeration) as "120 drunks clinging to a mudbank". Named for the favoured snack of Henry VIII, who was said to stop here on his way to and from Windsor ... in the middle of the twentieth century it was a venue for jazz and later English R&B groups, where the likes of Chris Barber or George Melly, and then the Rolling Stones or Rod Stewart, performed in the dancehall of the hotel. A surprising number of people all over Britain and beyond remember Eel Pie Island and its gigs - usually with a nostalgic smile.'

Jim Douglas

Jim Douglas writes: 'I was born near Edinburgh in 1942 and came into jazz at the back end of Sandy's reign in the West End Cafe in that city. I first met him whilst appearing at a concert with Pete Kerr's Capitol Band in the Usher Hall in the late fifties when he topped the bill with the band he co-ran with Al Fairweather. Later as a member of Alex Welsh's band our paths crossed many times and I like to think I became a good friend of both he and Al. I was delighted to be asked by Sandy to play at his Christmas parties in his home in Hampstead on several occasions with bassist Tony Archer. As you can imagine they were less than sober occasions! In the sixties I played on a cover version of 'Those Were The Days' with Sandy and Bobby Mickleburgh. As a fellow 'Auld Reekian' and musician I considered him a good friend and a wonderful clarinettist.'

When Alex Welsh died, Jim was involved in running a restaurant in Woburn but he kept in touch with Alex's wife Maggie: 'We started seeing each other and eventually married and have a son William. I returned to professional ranks in 1986 to join Digby Fairweather's 'Superkings' and subsequent shows such as 'Let's Do It' with Paul Jones, 'Lady Sings The Blues', Val Wiseman, and 'The Great British Jazzband'. I also toured Germany with an all-star American band led by Bob Haggard, and played the Berne Festival, etc. I was involved in quite a few recordings during this period including three CDs for a Post Office sponsored band - the 'First Class Sounds'.

Jim returned to cooking two years ago in a small pub near Woburn Abbey, but is considering retirement and just playing a few gigs again.

Photograph © Jim Douglas

Stewart Carter

(From Eric Jackson, January 2010)

Eric Jackson tells us that Stu Carter was well know to him when he was playing around the Enfield area. Apparently Stu subsequently moved to the Wirral with his wife Polly and went on to play with the Peninsula Jazz Men, but sadly died after an asthma attack about four to five years ago.

(From Steve Fletcher, October 2009)

Steve Fletcher writes: 'Do any of your readers know of a fine trumpet player named Stewart Carter who ran a band in the Ponders End district of North London in the early 1950s?' Contact us if you can help.

Johnny Dankworth's Zodiac Variations

(From Wellington Choy, New Zealand, July 2009)

Wellington Choy writes from New Zealand: "I have been listening to Johnny Dankworth's 'Zodiac Variations' and am most impressed. One question that comes to mind is whether Dankworth's UK based musicians went to New York to play behind the US 'guest' artists (Clark Terry et. al.) or whether they dubbed the US solos over the London based band that recorded in London a few days later. The first alternative would be rather expensive, the second raises the question as to what rhythm section the US guys had - or were they listening to a 'rehearsal' date tape of the UK band. Does anyone know? (Contact us if you do).

The Great Lie

(From Alvin Roy, July 2009)

One of the benefits of the internet is to discover videos of both recorded and live jazz performances. Here's one. Alvin Roy tells us of this video of his band at London's 100 Club in 1986 with Alvin on clarinet, Alan Littlejohn (trumpet), George Oag (guitar), Boots Baker (trombone), Roger Marsden (piano), Mick Hutton (bass) and Colin Seymour (drums).

Click here: for the Alvin Roy Jazz Band playing the Woody Herman number The Great Lie.

Len Doughty and Alex Welsh

'Ken Doughty' or 'Len' Doughty

(From Bill Brown, Australia, March 2009):

'In regard to that reference to a session with the Alex Welsh Band minus Alex but with this 'Ken Doughty' on trumpet that Jim Keppie listed. I have a cassette session from November 1957 where Len Doughty deps. on trumpet for a hospitalised Alex. It was a Jazz Club Broadcast compered by that fine Welsh pianist Dill Jones. The personnel of the band were as Jim mentioned - Crimmins, Semple, Hunt, Staunton, and Richardson. The tunes were - Monday Date, Squeeze Me, Japanese Sandman, New Orleans, Swingin' The Blues (minus trumpet), Sentimental Journey, Foolin' Myself (Crimmins feature), and There'll Be Some Changes Made. I've never heard of another 'Doughty' but I could be wrong of course. If there is another such session in existence I'd love to hear it.'

(From Roger Strong, New Zealand, 2009):

'I have been reading the article on Alan Littlejohn and I thought that I recalled an old friend, Len Doughty, talking about him and sure enough there was Len's name in the article. A very long time ago - I think the late 60s or early 70s, I had a reel-to-reel tape recorder and there was some sort of directory to get in touch with people with similar interests. I got in touch with Len Doughty in the UK and we exchanged many tapes at that time.. Len mentioned several times that he played valve trombone but usually just in passing. However, I have subsequently found that he recorded with the Alex Welsh band on an album they called 'The Roaring Twenties' - just some tracks. I think it may have been re-issued under a different title but I have never been able to lay my hands on it. Does anyone know if it exists?'

Bill Brown wrote from Australia: ' I think that Len was involved in the late Sixties with a tape swop circle called World Wide Jazz Tapes run by the late Tony Thomas. I joined this group in 1995 (it is still going). Anyway, Tony mentioned Len's name to me. As far as the Welsh recording is concerned, an album was made in 1959 called 'Music Of The Mauve Decade' It had the then Welsh band plus Len on two tracks: 'Down Among The Sheltering Palms' and 'Bye Bye Blues'. Harry Gold on bass sax was the other guest, also on two tracks. In the Seventies the LP was re-issued as 'The Roaring Twenties'.

Jim Keppie also wrote from Scotland saying he has the same 'The Roaring Twenties' LP and mentions a cassette he has of the 'Ken Doughty Band' with Archie Semple, Roy Crimmins, Fred Hunt, Chris Staunton and Johnny Richardson (? circa 1955). Jim wonders if 'Ken' and 'Len' might be related?

Ian Howarth and Alan Cooper

(from Mel Henry, March 2009)

Trombonist Mel Henry remembers Ian Howarth whose departure we noted and follows up Jamie Evans' letter:

'The sad news of Ian Howarth's departure brought back some memories for me of sitting in with the Alan Cooper trio ( with Jamie on piano and Ian on drums) at some awful pub somewhere in Battersea about twenty or more years ago. All kind of strange musos would find their way there - something to do with Alan's flambouyant and eccentric personality I think - I particularly remember a couple of strange evenings with Stanley Adler on cello. I just loved playing with Alan, a really creative guy.'

(from Jamie Evans February 2009)

Drummer Ian Howarth was originally from Lancashire where he played washboard in his school skiffle group and trombone in his school orchestra before taking up the drums. He was an original member of the Vintage Syncopators, one of Red Hayes' Jazz Wizards, and played with and led the Temperence Seven. More recently in the 1990s he played with Alan Cooper's Trio. His friend, the pianist Jamie Evans, sent us the following eulogy presented by Jamie at Ian's funeral in January 2009:

"I played piano with clarinettist Alan Cooper on and off for over 30 years and during the latter part of that time, our drummer was Ian Howarth. I was dubious at first when Cooper suggested we use Ian because, although he was always an engaging and amusing man, I didn’t think a comedy band cum traditional drummer would fit in with our broader small group swing style. I was, of course, totally wrong. Ian turned out to be perfect.

He could turn his hand  to most styles, from woodblocks to bebop. Not only that, he was great  company and we would often meet for a few pints of real ale even when we had no gigs. “Dr Young’s elixir will soon put you right lad,” (excuse the Wigan accent)  he would say  toasting me with a glass of Youngs Special Bitter, tweaking  his Panama hat (summer) or cloth cap (winter).

Well today  is a particularly sad occasion personally. Cooper passed away less than 18 months ago and now, with Ian’s departure, I am sole survivor of what Ian always referred to as “Alan Cooper’s famous trio”. I am not too sure about the “famous”  but to have lost two dear friends and great musicians within such a short space of time is a double blow. Ian also counted the late US drummers, Max Roach and Elvin Jones among his friends and he collaborated with a wide range of musicians in the UK, ranging from many New Orleans stalwarts to modernists like Lol Coxhill and Stan Sultzmann. I’ll never forget the look of delight on Ian’s face at one of our gigs when Lol Coxhill and Cooper duetted on the most  amazing surrealist, free-form version of  A Closer Walk With Thee.

One of  Ian’s favourites was  Thelonious Monk and for many years now I can’t hear two of the great  man’s compositions  without thinking of  him. On one occasion I unwisely attempted a solo version  of  In  Walked Bud but floundered hopelessly on the middle eight. “Not a bad version of  Bud Nearly Walked In“, was Ian’s droll judgement. And at one of our residencies, in the days when pubs closed at 11 o clock, I used to serenade the departing punters with Round Midnight. Ian soon retitled that one to Round Ten Past Eleven. It’s a fond farewell to a loyal friend and, on his day, a superb drummer…"

Ben Webster and Teddy Wilson - Old Folks

(From Dave Bowen - December 2008 and Thorbjørn Sjøgren January 2009)

December's Video of the Month continues to interest visitors to the site. Of Ben Webster and Teddy Wilson playing 'Old Folks' we said: 'Unfortunately, we cannot tell you who the bass and drum players are, nor why a tear runs down Ben Webster's cheek as he plays with beautiful sensitivity this tune'.

Thorbjørn Sjøgren from Denmark has written to tell us that the bass player on the clip is Hugo Rasmussen, the drummer is Ole Streenberg and the recording date was 25th September 1970. Reeds player Dave Bowen from Dorset has written to tell us: 'You may be interested in the comment made by the Danish tenor player Jesper Thilo, himself a very fine reeds player who played with Ben in Copenhagen. In an interview for a TV documentary about Webster called 'The Beauty and the Beast', Ben was asked why he sometimes cried when he played. Ben replied, 'Because I play so beautiful'. Thilo thought that was fair comment'. To watch and listen to this clip again click here

Bruce Turner Biography

(From Ole Fessor Lindgreen - December 2008 and Peter Quinn - January 2009)

Fessor Lindgreen wrote from Denmark asking if anyone knows where he might get a copy of Bruce Turner's biography? Peter Quinn has written from France to say that Bruce's autobiography is called 'Hot Air, Cool Music' and was published in 1984 by Quartet Books Ltd., a member of the Namara Group, 27/29 Goodge Street, London W1P 1FD. The ISBN number is 0-7043-2459-8. (Copies are available to buy online if you type the title and the author into a search engine such as Google).

Rufus 'Speckled Red' Perryman

(From Michael Hortig - August 2008)

Michael Hortig in Austria is working on an article on barrelhouse pianist Rufus Perryman. If anyone can let Michael have any information about Rufus, please let us know and we will forward your message on.