WHAT'S NEW

Clapping The Solos

In conversation with one musician last month, he raised the question once again of the indiscriminate clapping after every solo, good or indifferent, at live jazz gigs. We included some correspondence about this topic some time ago on the Forum Miscellaneous page, and it still appears to be an area where there is difference of opinion. As the earlier correspondence said, it seems to have become a habit, exclusive to jazz, to clap after every solo. One earlier correspondent wrote: "... behind me sat a couple who had evidently brought along a jazz virgin and after the first number, they were at great pains to tell her that the done thing was to applaud after each solo". I wonder why this has occurred in jazz, and why applause is not left until the end of a piece when the band leader acknowledges the soloists?

Photographic Memory

Do you have a photograph that triggers a jazz memory for you? Why not tell us about it ? You could either email a JPEG copy of the photo to us or if you would prefer, post it to us and we could copy it, and send the original back to you. (Click here for our contact details). Last month's photograph of Sid Phillips and his band triggered a number of memories (see bottom of the page).

Sandy Pringle has sent us this photograph of Freddy Randall marching his band's front line round the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom in the 1950s playing 'The Saints'. Freddy was born in Clapton, East London in 1921. He taught himself to play trumpet and never learned to read music but he became a significant player in the traditional jazz scene. He retired in 1958, but returned to playing in 1963, and again in 1972 working with clarinettist Dave Shepherd. Freddy died in 1999. (Click here for more about Freddy).

Gordon Brown

As a general election in the UK begins to peep over the horizon, Bill Brown in Australia caught a line in one of the newspapers over there that read: "Regarding the abortive coup on the leadership of the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, the concensus was that the party should stick with him as leader up to the election. Those members were classed as 'fairweather' Brown supporters.' Bill says: 'Gosh, I mean we were all Fairweather/Brown supporters years ago!'

Taster

Verona Chard

The idea behind this item is to offer a 'taste' of a musician, singer or band that you might not have come across before.

Singer Verona was born in Bristol and raised in Bath, Somerset. From the age of five she wanted to become a professional singer and performer, and so she worked regularly with the Jane Lilley Singers and won numerous solo awards at local festivals. She tells how her parents embraced all styles of music: "Saturday afternoons were spent, after my ballroom dancing and swimming lessons glued to ‘the box’, transported to some other place watching musicals and epic movies." Before training in London at the Royal Academy of Music and the Trinity College of Music, Verona worked as an actor touring with people like George Chakiris, Norman Rossington and Barbara Murray in weekly repertory theatre and pantomime.

Photograph courtesy of Verona Chard

Since leaving college Verona has sung at residencies at the Holiday Inn, Brentford and the Duke of Kent W13, performed at the Ealing Jazz Festival, the National Theatre; the Purcell Room – South Bank; Café Royal; The Green Room; The Spice of Life; Hugo’s and for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Arts. She met Humphrey Lyttelton through pianist Ted Beamont and in 2005, Humph asked her to record a track ‘Jail Break’ for his ‘Sad Sweet Songs and Crazy Rhythms’ album. He then invited Verona to ‘sit-in’ at The Bull's Head in Barnes and this experience inspired her to set up live jazz at Monty’s in The Mall, London W5 and subsequently Vamp Jazz, Blues and Live at Café Chai W5, which re-launched in October 2009.

Verona's jazz album 'Fear No More' is due for release on 23rd April. The concept for the album was inspired by Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine’s 1964 recording ‘Shakespeare and All That Jazz’. The music includes arrangements of songs by Elton John, Stephen Sondheim, Galt MacDermot, Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart and a very original treatment of the iconic ‘Fever’. It also features an arrangement of ‘Jail Break’ as a tribute and ‘thank you’ to Humph.

Click here to listen to Verona (we especially recommend the unusual and carefully crafted interpretation of 'Fever') and her upcoming gigs, and click here to find out more about her and about the album.

Cyril Davies

Roger Trobridge who wrote our Forum article on Harmonica Jazz now has a video of Cyril on the Cyril Davies website. The video, from a 1963 television programme features Cyril singing ''Got My Mojo Working' with his All Stars, including Long John Baldry and drummer Carlo Little. Click here for the video

There will be a tribute concert at the Eel Pie Club in Richmond, Surrey in May..

Out Clubbing

Oxford Big Bang

Maxwell Mason was born in Wales. Pembrokeshire. When he left Christ College, Brecon, he went to Southampton University to study Geography and Maritime Archeology. Then he joined the Navy as a Hydrographer. Max had very little interest in music, in his early years he did take classical guitar lessons for four years, but gave them up as many do. In 2004 Max needed a change so he quit the Navy and with no experience bought a restaurant in Oxford. He decided to specialise in sausage dishes, and the 'Big Bang' was born. The restaurant is situated on Walton Street in Oxford's Jericho district, if you know your Inspector Morse stories, that should ring a bell. This is no ordinary 'sausage and mash caff' - produce is sourced fresh within a twenty mile area, and although you can have traditional Oxford sausages, the menu sings of Gluten free wild venison, wild boar and pigeon, Stilton and walnut, and Merguaz spicy lamb. The mash may be carrot and swede, garlic and rosemary, etc....and the gravies just as interesting. Red cabbage, peas and fried onions complement the meal. Is your mouth watering?

When Max approached Tracey Jefferies to help him with the PR for the restaurant back in 2004, Tracey's husband Paul suggested to Max that the intimate basement area would make a great Jazz Cellar. Paul Jefferies plays double bass and bass guitar with 3bpm, a local jazz trio (click here for a video of him in concert with 3bpm and Art Themen last year). Paul who is based in Oxford is also responsible for promoting a large number of gigs throughout Oxfordshire, including the weekly dinner jazz gigs at the Big Bang. The Big Bang Jazz Cellar opened in 2005 and for five years has staged live jazz every Tuesday evening. Since then, Max has been converted. "I think jazz is great," he says. " It seems to attract an intelligent audience, people who are prepared to sit down and listen to the music." The Jazz Cellar has been a great success and has a following of local people, students and tourists visiting the City.

Max Mason and Paul Jefferies

In 2009, Paul put forward the idea of staging a Jazz Festival for Oxford and asked Max and Alissa Robinson (the web designer for the Oxford City Guide) if they would join with him to form the Festival team. The event made its mark to the extent that the Festival is being staged again this year between the 1st and 4th April. Planned to take place over four days during the Easter vacation, gigs are being staged in some of Oxford's most prestigious buildings such as the Ashmolean Museum and the Bodleian Library. This year, Paul and Max received 285 applications from bands and musicians nationally and internationally who wanted to take part, and a range of 'fringe' events are developing with the Randolph Hotel and the Oxfordshire Jazz Federation becoming involved.

One interesting event takes place on the first day of the Festival, April 1st, when 'JazzFactor' is held from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm at the SAE Institute in Oxford. SAE (Study Audio Engineering) is said to be the largest world-wide private college for Audio Engineering and Digital Film training. Along the lines of 'The X Factor' talent show, local school-aged musicians will compete for an opportunity to play at the Jazz Cellar and to record at the SAE studios.

The Jazz Cellar at the Big Bang restaurant
Photograph © Alissa Robinson

Perhaps it is not beyond the imagination to think of Inspector Morse going home, pouring a whisky, turning on his hi-fi, sitting in his armchair and rather than listening to Wagner, enjoying Art Themen?

Click here for information about the Oxford Jazz Festival which runs from 1st - 4th April 2010.

Click here for information about the Big Bang and the Jazz Cellar.

Jazz Quiz for March

Fifteen sets of two musicians each with the same first name. What are the first names?
For example:
Basie : Evans - Both have the first name 'William'
(William 'Count' Basie and William 'Bill' Evans)

EASY!?

(Have a go and then check out the 'Answers' page where you will also find some great clips).

Click here for the March Jazz Quiz.

Django, Bourne Hall Gig Club and Paul Vernon

As you will probably know, this year marks the centenary of the great gypsy jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. According to Eddie Fowler who runs the Wood Green Local Knowledge Club, Django gave a cup to the winner of a Quintet competion in 1938 at the Gig Club, Bourne Hall, Wood Green. Eddie wonders whether this could have been the Wood Green Jazz Club at the Fishmonger's Arms, 287 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HU (now a block of flats, says Eddie). Can anyone help?

Django Reinhardt (Click here to listen to Django playing 'Sweet Georgia Brown')

Eddie has a parallel interest in that he runs a website for guitarist Paul Vernon who continues the Gypsy Jazz / Manouche tradition in London. 'I would be grateful for any help the enquiry generates as this detail will soon disappear - Bourne Hall seems odd, and yet the jazz club didn't exist then as the Fishmonger's Arms. Maybe a local community hall?' Please contact us if you can help.

Sue Richardson Free Download

Last month we mentioned trumpeter Sue Richardson's tour during February, March and April at Pizza Express, Soho (Feb 22), The Old Barge, Hertford (Feb 25), Arundel Jazz Club (March 4), Underground Theatre, Eastbourne (March 5), The Bell, Clare, Suffolk (March 7), Ipswich Jazz Club (March 21), Matt and Phred's, Manchester (March 27), Ropetackle, Shoreham by Sea (April 1st) and The Brunswick Jazz Club, Hove (April 4). To celebrate the tour the band have recorded a new song. Inbetween, written by Sue, is a swinging, up tempo instrumental featuring Sue on trumpet and Andy Williams on guitar. Also playing are Neal Richardson on piano, George Trebar on double bass and Sam Glasson on drums. You can get a free download by clicking here and then right clicking the download button to 'save target as' a file in 'My Music' or elsewhere on your computer.

Jazz At The Movies

Round Midnight

When Bertrand Tavernier’s film was first screened in 1986, the New York Times said: ‘No actor could do what the great saxophonist Dexter Gordon does in Round Midnight .. (he) becomes the very embodiment of the music itself. It’s in his heavy-lidded eyes, in his hoarse, smoky voice, in the way his long, graceful fingers seem to be playing silent accompaniment to his conversation. It’s even in the way he habitually calls anyone or anything “Lady”, as in “Well, Lady Sweets, are you ready for tonight?” In that instance, he’s addressing his saxophone.’

Round Midnight is one of the classic films about jazz. Herbie Hancock won an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score, and Dexter Gordon was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The supporting cast of musicians who play throughout the film include Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, Pierre Michelot and Eric LeLann.

The story, ‘inspired by incidents in the lives of Bud Powell and Francis Paudras’ is set in Paris in 1959. Jazz saxophonist Dale Turner arrives from New York where he is welcomed by one of his great admirers, Francis Borier. Francis, a struggling graphic designer, is not well off, but is determined to support Dale, borrowing money to rent an apartment and striving to keep the musician from his self-destructive drinking. The commitment and encouragement Dale receives from Francis gives the ageing saxophone player inspiration for a while until the time comes when he is to return to New York.

Dexter Gordon died in 1990, four years after the film was released.

Dexter Gordon

Click here for the trailer.

You can also check out more extracts from the film YouTube - click here. Clicking on the 'more information' link on the right of the picture gives a great deal more information about the movie too.

This atmospheric film, which does not have an extensive storyline, somehow manages to capture a convincing sense of time, place and the people who played, listened to and appreciated jazz in Paris at the end of the 1950s.

As the publicity for the film summarised: ‘ Inside the Blue Note nightclub one night in 1959 Paris, an aged, ailing jazzman coaxes an eloquent wail from his tenor sax. Outside, a young Parisian too broke to buy a glass of wine strains to hear those notes. Soon they will form a friendship that sparks a final burst of genius.’

The DVD of Round Midnight is currently available from Amazon from £16.71 (click here) where you can also read three customer reviews.

The Princess and the Frog

Currently in cinemas, Ron Clements's 2009 Disney animated film 'The Princess and the Frog' is billed as: 'A fairy tale set in Jazz Age-era New Orleans and centered on young Princess Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on an adventure through the bayous of Louisiana.' The film has many jazz references but is not a 'true' jazz film in the way others are that we have featured. Perhaps what it does achieve is the opportunity to introduce jazz and New Orleans gently to an under 10 year old audience.

The wicked voodoo man, Dr Facilier (the Shadow Man), looking a little like Cab Calloway, fixes itso that a prince becomes a frog. When the frog is kissed by Tania, instead of him becoming a prince again, she also becomes a frog. Together they set off into the bayou in search of Mama Odie who hopefully can change them back again. Along the way they meet a trumpet playing alligator named Louis and a firefly called Ray (Louis' trumpet is played by Terence Blanchard). The music is by Randy Newman, so expect some good songs. The movie has been nominated for three Oscars (For two songs under 'Best Achievement in Music' and for 'Best Animated Feature Film'). Click here for the sequence with Louis the Alligator and click here for the trailer. Find a child to take you to see it.

Movie DVDs

It is important when buying pre-recorded DVDs of movies to check on the Region of the DVD recording and which DVDs your DVD player will play. Europe usually supports Region 2 players and the USA Region 1. Unless your DVD player will play Region 1, or is a multi-regional player, you may end up buying an import that you are unable to watch.

So far movies that we have featured are currently available as Region 2, but we notice that some really good jazz films are available at the moment as Region 1 imports. That is a shame as it restricts the number of great jazz films people are able to see, but presumably this is a decision by the distribution companies based on economics. Some Region 1 films that are only available as Region 1 DVDs are occasionally shown on UK television, so it is worth keeping an eye open for them and recording them if you have a video or DVD recorder.

That Track

Potato Head Blues - Louis Armstrong

Mr Potato Head, the toy invented by George Lerner in America and marketed by Hasbro since 1952 has a plastic 'potato head' to which you can attach all the bits and pieces - ears, eyes, nose .... It has the distinction of being the first toy advertised on television.

We'd be very surprised, however, if the 'potato head' idea didn't come to children long before that, with kids either cutting out eyes, nose and mouth from a potato, or sticking things in the potato to make its ears and nose. We haven't been able to find out whether that has anything to do with the origin for Louis Armstrong's tune, but presumably in his time, the potatoes would have been Sweet Potatoes and they would have had much longer, sadder, 'bluer' faces.

Whatever the origin, Potato Head Blues is a jazz classic. On May 10th, 1927, Louis added tuba and drums to the Hot Five, and the Hot Seven recorded five sessions and twelve sides of great music for Okeh Records in Chicago. The line up: Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Johnny Dodds, Lil Armstrong, Johnny St Cyr, Pete Biggs and Baby Dodds. One commentator says that apparently Louis' playing was so powerful he had to stand out in the hallway while the rest of the band were in the studio.

With a 32-bar form chord structure, Potato Head Blues is not strictly a blues - but who cares? Listen to Johnny Dodds' clarinet and the inspired stop-time solo by Louis in the last half of the recording.

In the film 'Manhatten' Woody Allen as Isaac Davis lists the things that he thinks make life worth living:
"Well, all right, why is life worth living? That's a very good question. Well, there are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. Uh, like what? Okay. Um, for me... oh, I would say... what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing... and Willie Mays, and... the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony, and... Louis Armstrong's recording of 'Potato Head Blues'... Swedish movies, naturally... 'Sentimental Education' by Flaubert... Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra... those incredible apples and pears by Cezanne... the crabs at Sam Wo's... Tracy's face..."

Nuff said. To listen to the brilliant Potato Head Blues and for more information and comment click here.

UK Jazz Festivals

Click here for information about Jazz Festivals in the UK during 2010. Some Festivals still have to confirm details of their programme and we shall give further information when we have it. If you know of a Festival that we have missed out, please contact us, if possible giving us a website reference for the event.

There are events in March in Keswick, Gateshead and Pakefield near Lowestoft, and in April in Oxford, Harlow, Cheltenham and Clitheroe.

Video Of The Month

Tubby Hayes and Jimmy Deuchar -
Suddenly Last Tuesday / Young and Foolish

How lucky we are that some great performances have been preserved on video. This month we have selected the Tubby Hayes Big Band with Jimmy Deuchar soloing from a televised Jazz 625 recording from 1964. A number of pieces from this programme are available from the following link, but we have picked out two. Suddenly Last Summer (click here), a Jimmy Giuffre number that belts along at a cracking pace with boggling solos from Tubby (tenor sax) and Jimmy Deucher (trumpet). The second piece is a gentler Young and Foolish (click here) with Deuchar on mellophone and Tubby on flute and vibes. We believe that the band also includes Ian Hamer and Les Condon (trumpets), Keith Christie and Ken Wray (trombones), Terry Shannon (piano), Freddie Logan (bass) and Allan Ganley (drums). The pieces are introduced by a young Humphrey Lyttelton sporting a wonderful quiff!

We think you will enjoy these.

Will There Be Jazz In Heaven?

A jazz pianist is knocked down by a car and killed. Arriving at Heaven’s gate he is greeted by St. Peter.
“Where am I?” says the pianist.
“You’re in Heaven” replies St. Peter.
“Heaven….I don’t believe it!” says the pianist.
St. Peter goes on to explain that the pianist is indeed in Heaven and that he has nothing to worry about but must answer a few question before being allocated his area of residence.
“What did you do in civvie street?” asks St. Peter.
“I was a jazz pianist” replies the man.
“Well you’re in luck,” says St. Peter. “Because as this is Heaven, you can play with all the other musicians who are here. Look over there, there’s Louis with the Duke and the Count. Over on the other bandstand you can see Jelly Roll, Bird, Bix, Johnny Dodds, Art Blakey…….they’re all here. They have jam sessions every night, all the pianos are tuned to concert pitch and the sound system is perfect. If you want to get high, you don’t have to smoke an African Woodbine, you just think high and you become as stoned as you want to be. The audiences are the most appreciative and knowledgeable you’ll have ever come across….they only clap a solo if it warrants it. You can play with whoever you want and you’ll have the best musical experience of your life….after all, this is Heaven”.
The pianist is knocked out with all this information and while trying to take it all in, asks, “That’s wonderful, is God a jazz fan?”
“Yes indeed, a fanatic but there is only one problem……he’s got this girlfriend who’s a singer……..

(With thanks again to Alvin Roy. The pictures come from an American website, the Rose of Sharon Shop, that sells ceramic angels with all kinds of instruments, including an angel with a saxophone and another with a banjo. Sadly at present there seems to be a problem with their internet link!).

Compact Disc of the Month

Dave Kikoski Trio - Live At Smalls

Jon Turner at Broad Street Jazz record shop says: 'This is a great live recording from a New York club - Small's Jazz Club in Greenwich Village - in November 2008.' With Dave Kikoski (piano), Hans Glawischnig (bass) and Obed Calvair (drums).

Click here to sample some of the tracks, and click here for a video of Dave and others playing in Spain in 2002.

'Dave Kikoski Trio - Live at Smalls' is available at £13.99 (UK postage included) from Broad Street Jazz, 11 Broad Street, Bath, BA1 5LJ.

Vinyl Album of the Month

The Red Garland Trio - Groovy

This 180 gram limited edition classic LP, a 'high definition premium virgin pressing for super fidelity', was originally recorded im Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957. Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor (drums) play Jam Blues, Gone Again, Will You Still Be Mine?, Willow Weep For Me, What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry and Hey Now. This was the third album with Red Garland as leader after the 1956 debut album A Garland of Red and Red Garland's Piano (1957). Writing in Downbeat, Ralph J. Gleason said: "More and more young pianists are listening to Garland. I hope they continue. He has brought back some long absent elements to jazz piano, made them acceptable to the ultra-modernists, and proved over again the sublime virtue of swing and a solid, deep groove." Click here to sample the tracks.

'The Red Garland Trio - Groovy' LP is available at £14.99 (plus postage) from Broad Street Jazz, 11 Broad Street, Bath, BA1 5LJ.

Ten New Releases and Re-Issues for March

For the March selection of ten new releases and re-issues recommended by Broad Street Jazz record shop in Bath click here. This month's selection includes albums by the Dave Holland Octet, Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Grace Kelly and Lee Konitz, George Russell, Thelonius Monk, and Dave Brubeck.

The above albums are recommended by Jon Turner of Broad Street Jazz in Bath. Contact Jon for more information or to go on the shop's mailing list click here.

Linley Weir

Singer Linley Weir has a new Quartet album out under the title 'Desires'. The tracks include six originals written by Linley with Sal Burgess as well as standards like 'Softly As In A Morning Sunrise' and Lennon and McCartney's 'I Saw Him Standing There'. The Quartet comprises Linley with Danny Keane (piano/Fender Rhodes), Tom Fly (bass) and Brian Hedemann (drums). Born in London to a tongan Mother and Scottish father Linley says: 'I learnt to play piano aged ten, went to Leeds College of Music and graduated in 1997. I was very fortunate and lucky enough to have great teachers like Angela Elliot, Nikki Iles, Pete Churchill, Anita Wardell, Tina May plus many more. After leaving I spent 5 years on the international circuit playing and singing, it was musically educational and a great experience living in different cultures. I teach in London and perform on the circuit mostly jazz but also soul and funk. I am excited about my new album because it's the first time I've recorded.' You can listen to tracks from the new album if you click here , and to find out more about Linley, go to her website at www.linleyweir.com. Linley recently played the Jazz Cellar at Oxford's Big Bang restaurant (see 'Out Clubbing' above) where Max Mason said; 'She was fantastic. Really great voice and super presence.'

Pete Neighbour

Clarinettist Pete Neighbour spent most of his playing career based in London with British jazz musicians such as Johnny Parker and Ron Rubin and with touring Americans. He has since moved to South Carolina from where he does headline guest entertainer work playing a swing era based clarinet show on cruise ships. Pete has a new album out called 'It's Alright With Me' where his fine clarinet tone is supported by Bert Ligon (piano and guitar), Reggie Sullivan (bass) and Jim Hall (drums). Pete says: 'This album is an unapologetic nod in the direction of Benny Goodman; most of the selections are immediately associated with him. Many great clarinet players have influenced, and continue to influence me, but Benny was there (almost) at the very beginning ...' The nine tracks are well-known standards that include I've Got The World On A String, More Than You Know, How Long Has This Been Going On, Flying Home and of course the title track. Click here for more about Pete, and click here for a review of the album which is available through Pete's website www.peteneighbour.com.

Play Jazz Weekend in Wiltshire

Players of all experience and ages are welcome at two days of structured workshops at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon in May. On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th May there is a chance to improvise, groove and perform in small groups led by experienced professional jazz musicians and teachers including Huw Warren (piano), Andy Panayi (saxophones and flute) and Craig Crofton (tenor sax). The cost is £95, or concessions at £69 for students and unwaged people. For more information go to: www.playjazzweekend.co.uk.

New London Jazz Venue

Jazz At The Hamlet kicks off in March at Dulwich Hamlet Football Club, Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, Dog Kennel Hill, London SE22 8BD.

In March: 17th - Brass Impact Big Band; 24th - Peter King with trio; 31st - Brass Impact with special guest Mark Nightingale.

In April: 7th - Dave O'Higgins with trio; 14th - Brass Impact Big Band; 21st - Derek Nash with Sax Appeal; 28th - Brass Impact Big Band.

Gigs are from 8.30 pm to 11.00 pm and entrance is £8.00 / £6.00 concessions.

The nearest british rail station is East Dulwich, and the telephone contact number: 0207 2748707

Departure Lounge

Information has arrived about the following musicians who have passed through the 'Departure Lounge' since our last update. Click on their names for their obituaries:

Sir John Dankworth - Renowned UK saxophonist, composer and bandleader who was in the vanguard of those bringing modern jazz to Britain. He formed the Johnny Dankworth Seven in 1940 and then various other bands through which passed many top jazz musicians. He gave up the band in 1960 to concentrate of composing and to act as musical director for his wife, vocalist Cleo Laine. They have a son Alec who is a leading bass player and a daughter Jacqui who is an eminent vocalist. Click here for a look back at his career.

Robin Gardner - UK Trombonist. Mel Henry remembers Robin who passed through the Departure Lounge in January. 'He was a good friend, a wonderful guy, and much loved in the West London jazz scene. He was the son of Freddie Gardner, one of the finest English sax players pre-war. Robin was given a rousing send-off at the Bull's Head on Thursday 28th January with lots of music from mates of the Sound of Seventeen big band (he led the trombone section). I vaguely remember playing with a four-man trombone front line (all considerably better than me) at the end - Robin would have been proud.' (We have not been able to find an obituary link for Robin).

Doug Murray - Pianist and trombonist from Ireland who initially played with the Ulster Rhythm Kings before coming to East London where he played with Bob Whetstone's band. Friend of Sandy Brown and Al Fairweather who helped him find his way round the London jazz scene in the 1960s. He played for many years in North London pubs with people like Wally Fawkes, Ian Christie, Colin Smith and Cambell Burnap, and was pianist for Mike Daniels Delta Jazz Band.

Forum

Wood Green Jazz Club

Ron Prentice (double bass and bass guitar) writes: "I saw your web site and was most interested to read about Wood Green Jazz Club at the Fishmongers Arms. I started my career in music at that club when at the age of 19 I joined The Wood Green Stompers. I was 19 and Terry was 17, I well remember backing Big Bill Broonzy sometime in the early 50s. I left Terry to join Eric Silk and after a year or so gave up jazz to earn more money in dance bands. As a young semi- pro I used to work at Woodall House in Lordship Lane. I still play a mixture of music including some jazz. If you would like to see my web site look me up on Ron Prentice musician." Ron who now lives in Somerset has worked with the Exe City Big Band (based at Exeter College) and still plays on cruise ships. He is off again in April with Bill Geldard, Roy Willcox, Tommy Whittle and Tony Fisher. Ron also works with pianist Elizabeth Hayley and often meets up with Mike Cotton.

Awards and Charts

Drummer, broadcaster and writer Tony Augarde has raised good points about two articles we included last month. We encouraged you to make a nomination by voting for people you thought should be considered for the APPJAG Jazz Awards. Tony points out the difference between the two words 'nominate' and 'vote'. Voting would suggest that the number of votes cast leads to the democratic choice of a winner. For some awards, such as this one, people are 'nominated' but the choice of winners is decided first through a shortlisting by a panel and then finally by the APPJAG who choose the people they wish to award.

We also wrote of Graham Collier's concerns about how critics select 'Albums of the Year' charts, where Graham claimed that: 'What seems to happen is that record companies send review copies to many individual critics (rather than the magazines they write for), knowing that in most cases they won’t get an actual review, in print or on the web, but that the reviewer – who may well enjoy the CD - will need them to refer to when he is asked for his end of year choices."

Tony argues that: 'Jazz top tens are no more to be taken seriously than TV lists of "The 100 Greatest Horror Films/Comedians/Catch-phrases/Makes of cheese." Reviewers cannot be expected to have heard ALL the albums released in a year, so inevitably they choose mainly from those they have been sent to review or that they have bought (or those recorded by their chums!).'

Photographic Memory

Last month Sandy Pringle sent us this picture of Sid Phillips playing at Aberdeen's Beach Ballroom in the 1950s. Isador Simon 'Sid' Phillips was born in London in 1907. He played and arranged for Bert Ambrose's Orchestra, formed his own quartet in 1946 and led a band from 1949 that included at various times George Shearing, Colin Bailey, Tommy Whittle and Kenny Ball. Sid died in 1973. We linked to a video (Click here) of Sid Phillips and his band playing 'I Found A New Baby' in 1955 and said: 'Kenny Ball is the trumpet player on the video but who are the others?'

Dave Keir writes: 'I did a short spell with the Sid Phillips band during Kenny Ball's time and if I remember correctly, the trombonist before me was Norman Cave and the two sax players were Cyril Glover (alto sax) and George Bayton (tenor). Alma Cogan was the female vocalist and her husband of the time was on drums, but I do not remember the names of the rhythm section players.'

Gerry Salisbury concurs: 'The trombone player in the video clip with Kenny is Norman Cave. He played with Freddy Randall and there was an argument with the result that every member of the band left en masse and Norman formed a band with myself playing Freddy's part. I did two weeks at the Theatre Royal, Dublin with that band. The other picture at the Beach Ballroom has another old mate of mine on trumpet, Alan Whickham, and I would love to know if he is still with us, we had a mutual admiration for each other . He was a very loud player and liked a little drink and when he was on form he was unbeatable - and before I forget it, he played with Joe Daniels Hotshots.'

Norman Simpson adds: 'On the identity of the musos on Sid Phillips's "I've Found A New Baby" .. if the recording date is indeed 1955, the front line is: Kenny Ball, Norman Cave (trombone) - after his first spell with Sid, Kenny joined Norman Cave's band, but Kenny rejoined Sid in November '54 taking Cave with him, and both were with Sid throught 1955 - Cy Glover (alto sax), Frank Freeman (tenor sax) - both reed players were with Sid for most of 1955. The rhythm section are, like all good rhythm sections, invisible.'

So, there we have it - except for a difference of opinion as to whether it was George Bayton or Frank Freeman on tenor sax.

Stewart Carter

In October, Steve Fletcher asked whether anyone knew of a fine trumpet player named Stewart Carter who ran a band in the Ponders End district of North London in the early 1950s. 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.

Forum Articles

There is now a wide variety of interesting jazz articles on our Forum page. Click here to see the index.

Profiles

There are now links to a number of musicians' profiles that we have put together on this site as well as other people who are included on the Who's Who page.

Click on the person's name to read their profile:
Yazz Ahmed : Norrie Anderson : Zem Audu : James Gardiner-Bateman : Bill Bramwell : Willie Burns : Bryan Corbett : Bob Craig : Roy Crimmins : George Crockett : Terry Cryer: Kit Downes : Stu Eaton : Belle Gonzales : Lew Hooper : Rowan Hudson : Dizzy Jackson : Iestyn Jones : Dave Keir : Alan Littlejohns : Tony Milliner : Corey Mwamba : Johnny Parker : Dave Paxton : John Randall : Alex Revell : Sue Richardson : Matana Roberts : Alvin Roy : Ron Rubin : Gerry Salisbury : Mo Umansky : Felix Weldon : Ruby Wood :

Let us know if you would like us to add a profile.

Items carried over from February

The following item appeared on the February What's New page but may still be of interest to readers:

The Class of 2010

Each year, Jazzwise magazine asks a number of people 'in the industry' to suggest musicians to look out for in the year ahead. It is great for the music that the list for 2010 is quite long, and we shall try to look at one or two of them in more detail on this site in the coming months. Click here for the 2010 list of recommendations and why not set yourself the challenge of listening to two of them during the year?