(From Hugo Strötbaum, Netherlands, April 2008)
What's going on at the Six Bells these days? What does it look like? What happened to the Chelsea Jazz Club? There must be people around that know more about it.
Reply and Discussion:
The Six Bells in the King's Road, Chelsea was a well-known landmark for jazz gigs, and a frequent venue for the Sandy Brown-Al Fairweather band. It is now part of the Henry
J. Bean's chain of pubs, and there is little, if any, evidence of the jazz that used to be played there. Apparently the upstairs rooms have been turned into offices. Henry J Bean's website gives pictures of today's interior www.henryjbeans.co.uk/chelsea
Henry J Bean's (2006/7)
Photo courtesy of Ian Maund
Hugo recalls: 'I don't remember much about those days in Chelsea. I was on holidays in England and must have read somewhere (Melody Maker?) that they (Sandy and Al) were playing at the Six Bells.
The Sandy Brown - Al Fairweather Band at the Six Bells Chelsea, June 1968
Malcolm Cecil (bass), Stan Robinson (tenor sax), Sandy (clarinet), Brian Lemon (piano), Al (trumpet), Mike Scott (drums).
© Hugo Strötbaum
When I see the photographs the whole thing comes to life (I was 22 years old then), very good music, informal atmosphere, glass mugs filled with apple cider and those larger-than-life paintings of jazz musicians on the walls (Fats Waller, etc).
Al and Sandy at the Six Bells, Chelsea, June 1968
© Hugo Strötbaum
I went there two nights and that was all I ever saw of Sandy and Al. Strange, I remember them as two very sympathetic guys, bent on their job of making music'.
We probably each have our own memories of the Six Bells. I remember taking a girlfriend there once - she hated it! The air was clear to about five feet off the floor and above that a haze of cigarette smoke, but the music was unbelievable. Tony Coe was playing with Sandy and Al that night and the whole band was buzzing.
Of course, many other bands played there - please send us your memories and any pictures you have of the Six Bells. Does anyone know anything about the Chelsea Jazz Club? Click here to Contact Us .