Long-time british jazz musicians

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 03:11 AM

Sadly we've lost Humph and Campbell Burnap, among others, since this thread was started. I've seen Terry Lightfoot this year with Roy Williams (ex-Alex Welsh) both in mid 70s. Also the Big Chris Barber Band just before Pat Halcox retired. Vic Pitt, long time bassist with Chris, had also given up touring but replaced with well known veteran Brit bassist Dave Green. Strange to us that John Slaughter is now the longest serving Barber sidesman, we always think of him as the new boy, even if he's lost his bubble perm and wears glasses and sits down to play a lot of the time. Herself had quite a "thing" for him in the early 70s! (and now she has a bus pass!).

RtS

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Stringsinger
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 01:38 PM

I think that the recognition of internationally known jazz musicians from other countries
is fair. One of my favorite British musicians who has influenced the world of jazz is the
composer/songwriter and conductor Ray Noble who has penned classic jazz standards.

I think in fairness that Britain was foremost to appreciate American jazz while it was
being denigrated here in the US in the Twenties and early thirties. The skiffle movement in England brought to prominence and recognition of early African-American musicians who were forgotten in their own country.

George Shearing was an accomplished British born jazz musician. Marion McPartland born in a small English village near Windsor Castle is one of the internationally established jazz pianists as well.

How about the controversial Leonard Feather, a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer who was best known for his music journalism and other writing?

Dis Disley might have been mentioned as an exponent of Django-style "Hot Club jazz".

Jazz has transcended national boundaries and because of emissaries such as Louis Armstrong, it now belongs to the world.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 01:22 PM

Does anyone remember guitarist Terry Smith - he used to play with the morrisey Mullen band at The Bulls head Barnes - for all I know , he's still there!

And there was that black guy who hung around Camden - sax player - Dudu P'ckwana did a gig with a singer called....... Zila? Harry Beckett played with them for a while.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Dave Illingworth
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:49 PM

Sadly, Dudu Pukwana died in 1990, age 51.

As well as Zila, he was also an original member of Chris McGregor's Blue Notes and The Brotherhood of Breath. Most of the Blue Notes have passed on - I think drummer Louis Moholo and tenor man Ronnie Beer are still with us. The records (many recently reissued) still sound exciting after 40 years.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,Donna Ashman
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 05:24 PM

Yep, Micky Ashman is still playing.

Living down by the coast these days and is well.

Any more information please contact me, his daughter, as he hasn't got a clue about this internet stuff (bless him).

Have to add that it always feels quite surreal to see people asking after Dad - he is one of the the countries finest bass players and has been for the past 40 odd years, but to me (and the family) he is just Dad.

He sends his very best wishes to all who remember him or enquire after him and hopes to see you out there at some gig or another.

Cheers!

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 07:03 PM

Frank H = Diz Disley is still with us , but following MAJOR Heart surgery is no longer playing !

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 12:04 PM

Harry Beckett is still about. Dave Moses, Dave Silk, Phil Mead, paul Zec and a host of others are all drawing pesions but still flying the Jazz flag high in London and South East!!!

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 12:12 PM

Pleased to know that Diz is still with us, I am still awaiting re-payment of the two bob I loaned him in 1962 when he was sharing a flat with John Martin. I'd almost given up on getting that back.

Sorry to know that he has had to give up playing.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,Ed Jackson
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 11:09 PM

Donna,
It would be great if you could contact me ([e-mail]). I run Chris Barber's website and I'd like to do something re Micky. I met him in the early 60s when he had his own band, and he was very kind to me.
Ed Jackson

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 02:53 PM

...refresh...
Any changes since 2008?

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 04:33 AM

going to Bournemouth trad jazz club tonite!

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 05:07 AM

Have much fun, Al! Jazz seems to be still alive in UK.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 07:02 AM

I didn't see Tubby Hayes mentioned anywhere.

Saw Chris Barber last week, he's 84 and still plays a full part in the line-up. Great evening's entertainment. Recent acquisition Bert Brandsma was a highlight.

g

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 14 - 07:04 AM

Of course Tubby died long ago, so maybe why nobody mentioned him!

g

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 02:42 AM

fabulous night! A local band. The Panama Hat Jazz Band - plus local musicians. not one musician who was not fabulous. but a special mention for pianist Dave Lewin who played and sang my request Winding Boy - Jelly Roll Morton Classic.

Up to nine musiciams onstage at one point plus a vocalist. A guest appearance by a bass saxophonist!

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 03:55 AM

Good to hear that jazz is alive and well here and there, and sounds like you had a great night, Al. New Orleans in style, I would guess from the name of the band. Out of interest, what was the average audience age like? I haven't been to much jazz in the last few years but, when I did, the audience was mostly (like me) grey-haired and definitely on the pensioner age of the spectrum!

My jazz band days were back in Brighton in the late '70s/early '80s, when there was a flourishing scene down here. Our band played with a number of the people mentioned in this thread - Humph, George Chisholm and, on many occasions, Nat Gonella. Nat's brother, Peter lived in Hove and used to drive over to bring Nat over from his home in Portsmouth to hear our band at the old Adur pub in Hove lagoon - Sunday lunchtime session. Nat couldn't play trumpet then - his lip had gone - but he was still an engaging singer - and a highly rated player in his day.

The scene is not what it was, but there's a flourishing "jazz manouche" gypsy-style jazz scene here now - plenty of good, young players.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 05:51 AM

sadly i was the youngest one there. the Panamas , i am reliably informed, aren't what purists called 'real trad'. so there were a few people missing. plus it was cold cold night.

the jazz world seems to have its Jim Carrolls!

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 08:51 AM

Oh, the jazz "purists" of one persuasion or another are still alive and kicking, are they? Our band never paid any attention to all that purist crap - we just played what we liked. We'd follow a nice, old-fashioned version of "Beale Street", say, with Duke Ellington's "East St. Louis Toodle-ooh" and then perhaps a really heavy, guitar-riff based version of Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" - and then "Shake Your Money Maker" with me blasting away on blues harp with a brass line behind me!

Unlike many of the band of the period, we had a 4-piece front line - trombone, alto sax, trumpet and tenor/baritone - so we could vary the sound considerably.

Good days.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 09:33 AM

Because of still being active in 1990 and over, without a doubt Nat Gonella belongs to long-time british jazz musicians. Since today I didn't know, that he was british,Will. Thanks for mentioned him.