Long-time british jazz musicians

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 07:30 AM

It's wonderful that Chris Barber and Pat Halcox are still out there gigging, nice to see them get a name check.

I came to the Barber band via Lonnie Donegan, a very old Ace of Clubs "Best of Barber" album I bought for 10 bob, and my mate Rod who was heavily into Barber's guitarist's playing (can't remember the chap's name - any ideas? It was around 1970). Barber's drummer at the time was Graham Burbage who had a touch of Ginger Baker about him (oh my God).

We used to go and see the band at the Dancing Slipper in West Bridgford - the audience was split between middle aged traddies and the younger element like us (sounds familiar). The older people did NOT like the guitarist. I remember the band had a sort of folk jazz fusion piece in a distinctly Balkan time signature on the setlist. It used to annoy the old chaps every time - "look, there he goes, turning up that **** amplifier again, why can't they do High Society instead". In fact they used to do High Society AS WELL, plus a lot of other New Orleans stuff, but there are hidebound folks in every musical area I guess.

I think Barber STILL doesn't get the credit he deserves. After all he has a good claim to have started skiffle in the UK amongst other things!

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 07:27 AM

In Britain there is any number of professional and semi-professional jazz musicians, who go back as far as the early 1950s and who are still very active.

Here's a list of some of the bands who have residencies in North West England.

Forest Jazz Band
Harlem Hot Stompers
Jazz Rag
John Hallam Jazztet
Mad Ed's Hot Five
Mike Carnie & His Jazz Allstars
Quayside Hot Stompers
Rioters Dixieland Jazz Band
Roy Potts 5 & A Penny
Roy Potts Five & A Penny
Sun Street Stompers
The Black Horse Jazz Band and Guests
The Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra
The Chicago Teddybears Society Jazz Band
The Dixie Kings
The Downtown Dixielanders
The High Society Jazz Band
The High Society Jazz Band
The Jazz Aces
The Merseysippi Jazz Band
The Original Panama Jazz Band
The Parade Jazz Band
The Peninsula Jazzmen
The River City Jazz Band
The Salt City Jazz Band
The Savoy Jazzmen
The Spirit of New Orleans Band
The Tame Valley Stompers
The Tuxedo Jazz Band
The Wabash Jazzmen
The Wirrorleans Jazz Band
Tony Davis Band
Wall City Jazz Band
Wyre Levee Stompers

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:24 AM

Charlie Watts started out on the British Jazz scene

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:16 AM

Humph still playing well at 85 (on trumpet and clarinet), Dankworths are both 80. Kenny Ball still playing (his hair looks at leats 20 years younger)and Terry Lightfoot, too. I still manage to see Barber and Lyttelton at least once a year and have booked to see Lightfoot in 2008.

RtS

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:47 PM

Annie Hawkins

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:23 PM

I saw nothing. Carry on.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:21 PM

1/The great bassist Peter IND.(Not sure if he's still going, hope so)See MySpace...

2/The awesome percussionist, Pete Lockett, who has been playing a long time, but of a younger generation. And more of a force in world music/Jazz. Not to be missed. See YouTube...

bob

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:20 PM

Just try to accept it, Greg.

What about the other 2 of the great 3 B's: Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball (apart from Chris Barber)? They aren't active anymore?

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: greg stephens
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:09 PM

Leadbelly is German? Blimey, all these years....

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:04 PM

M. Ted: My thread does not imply unimportness of jazz where it really comes from. But please accept the restriction I try to make.
By the way, I'm german. I think you have noticed this because of my comparatively poor english.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:02 PM

Humph must be the winner in this! And, more parochially, Bournemouth/Poole's Gerry Brown who's been playing trumpet and leading the Mission Hall Jazzmen (among other names) for as long as Barber et al. I remember a young Pat Halcox sitting in with Gerry's band in the late 50s.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:49 PM

Humphrey Lyttleton.Digby Fairweather.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: fat B****rd
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:49 PM

Never forget Humph !! ISIRTA Humphrey Lyttleton.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:48 PM

No worries. As an American, it will take me some time to get over the fact that American jazz isn't as important a British Jazz, but I believe I'll live.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:47 PM

try acker bilk,johnny dankworth, kenny ball,and Nat Peck[EX GLENN MILLER BAND].

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:31 PM

Because this is of special interest to me, M. Ted. Sorry for this restriction. Don't want to discriminate other countries, but even this limited approach will/might provide some interesting results if Mudcatters agree in taking part in this thread.

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:20 PM

Why limit the discussion to British jazz musicians?

Subject: RE: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: David C. Carter
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:12 PM

I believe Stan Tracey is still doing it.
I'm sort of out of touch over here with the British jazz scene.

David

Subject: Long-time british jazz musicians
From: Leadbelly
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 01:53 PM

Because of a new record by Chris Barber's Jazz Band I realized the long time he and his trumpet player Pat Halcox managed to stay active and successful for decades.
Seems so that both of them share the honour of being the longest-time british jazz musicians as to trombone resp. trumpet. That's true?

Do you know other veterans still playing? Please think of all istruments used in popular british jazz.