Bob Efford...
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Bob Efford jazz discography...
Born in south east London in 1928 Bob Efford played piano as a child, trumpet and clarinet before switching to the saxophone. Played professionally from the age of nineteen and came to London in 1947 with the band of Les Ayling who were on the Mecca ballroom circuit. Johnny Dankworth was also in the band and they started to get into the mainstream London jazz scene. In 1949 Efford joined Vic Lewis's Music For Moderns Concert Orchestra for a couple of years before working with a string of top name bands including Phil Tate, Jack Nathan, and Geraldo in 1953. His skill on all the reed instruments led to extensive session work during the mid to late 1950s until he joined the Tony Kinsey Quintet in early 1957. In 1958 he joined Ted Heath in time for the band's American tour that started with an appearance at Carnegie Hall.
In his own words he "drifted out of the Heath band in the early 1960s to concentrate on studio work. All the Heath guys were being called for studio work and I just did less and less with Ted and more and more in the studios."
Bob Efford 1969 He returned to the London studios more or less full time until in 1976, following a holiday on the West Coast, he and his wife took the decision to move to California. After a difficult time in which he became known as a baritone sax player he began to play in some well known bands such as Bob Florence, Ray Anthony and Bill Holman. He gradually became a sought after Hollywood studio musician due to his ability to play every woodwind instrument including oboe, bassoon and cor anglais and all their variants. As studio work declined in the 1990s he did more writing although he still worked with many different lineups.

The jazz listing below includes a number of big band sessions where Efford was not a featured soloist and links are given to where the details of these sessions are held on the website. The Ted Heath dates are those with jazz content recorded before 1960...

Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - January 31st, 1950 (probably BBC broadcast) - recording details: Vic Lewis
Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - February 16th, 1950 (probably BBC broadcast) - recording details: Vic Lewis
Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - April 24th, 1950 (Parlophone) - recording details: Vic Lewis
Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - May 26th, 1950 (Parlophone) - recording details: Vic Lewis

Johnny Keating All Stars - March 19th and 20th, 1956 (British Jazz - Oriole MG20011)
Eddie Blair (tp), Bob Efford (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d).
Ultraviolet*.
(*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots)

Discographical detail below is not listed in Lord's Jazz Discography and has been taken from Jazz Journal which published the results of work undertaken by Bernard Shirley, Tony Middleton and Pete Lay. The information on the label is incomplete and misleading....
Bix Curtis Jazz Group - July 28th, 1956 (Jazz from Club Basie - World Record Club R46)
Vic Ash (cl), Bob Efford (ts), Dill Jones (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tommy Jones (d).
Crazy Rhythm.

Tony Kinsey Quintet - May 16th, 1957 (Decca LK4027)
Joe Harriott (as), Bob Efford (ts), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Pete Blannin (b), Tony Kinsey (d).
Hi-ya*/Fishin' The Blues*/I'm Beginning To See The Light*/Mystery Of The Marie Celeste*/Pict's Lament*/Just Goofin'*#.
(*Vocalion CD - Introducing Tony Kinsey Quintet/Jazz At The Flamingo)
(*Acrobat 6CD set - The Tony Kinsey Collection 1953 - 1961)
(#Giant Steps 2CD set - Soho After Dark 'London's '50s Modern Jazz Scene')

Tony Kinsey Quintet - October 7th, 1957 (Decca )
Les Condon (tp), Bob Efford (ts), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Pete Blannin (b), Tony Kinsey (d).
Blue Eyes*/The Midgets*.
(*Acrobat 6CD set - The Tony Kinsey Collection 1953 - 1961)

Tony Kinsey Quintet - December 6th, 1957 (Decca DFE6461)
personnel as October 7th.
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face*/Would'nt It Be Luverley*/I Could Have Danced All Night*.
(*Acrobat 6CD set - The Tony Kinsey Collection 1953 - 1961)

Tony Kinsey Quintet - December 30th, 1957 (Decca DFE6461)
Les Condon (tp), Bob Efford (ts), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Kinsey (d).
On The Street Where You Live*/Show Me*/Get Me To the Church On Time*.
(*Acrobat 6CD set - The Tony Kinsey Collection 1953 - 1961)

Ken Moule's Music - January 28th/February 4th, 1958 (Decca LK4261)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dickie Hawdon (ten-h), Johnny Scott, Roy Willox(or Derek Grossmith) (f), Dougie Robinson (as), Bob Efford (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bob Edwards (tu), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Messin' About In Boats*/Mr.Toad*/Mouse Carol*/Wind In The Willows*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Alan Clare Trio + others - February 4th/5th, 1958 (Decca LK4260)
Bob Efford (ts), Alan Clare (p), Lennie Bush (b), Eddie Taylor (d).
Morning Fun*.
(*Vocalion CD - The Alan Clare Trio - Jazz Around The Clock)

Ken Moule's Music - February 11th/13th, 1958 (Decca LK4261)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dougie Robinson (as), Bob Efford, Art Ellefson(or Johnny Scott) (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
The Boy Friend*/Fishin' The Blues*/Will O'-The Wisp*/Poor Arthur*/Blue Grass*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Tony Kinsey Quintet - March, 1958 (Decca LK4274)
Les Condon (tp), Bob Efford (ts,b-cl), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Dave Willis (b), Tony Kinsey (d).
Three Modes*/Satin Doll*/Autumn In Cuba*/Twinkletoes*/I Didn't Know What Time It Was*/Cool Me Madam*/Hallelujah*/Time Gentlemen Please*.
(*Vocalion CD - How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying/Time Gentlemen Please)
(*Acrobat 6CD set - The Tony Kinsey Collection 1953 - 1961)

Ted Heath and his Music - June 26th, and July 3rd and 17th 1958 (Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath
Ted Heath and his Music - February to April, 1959 (Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath
Ted Heath and his Music - July, 1959 (Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath
Tubby Hayes Big Band - BBC broadcast December 13th, 1961 (IAJRC) - recording details: Tubby Hayes

In October, 2009 Gearbox Records released a limited edition vinyl 12" LP of a 1962 BBC Jazz for Moderns broadcast. This has never been available commercially before...
The Tubby Hayes Band - February 21st, 1962 (Gearbox GB1502)
Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), with: Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Ken Wray (v-tb), Johnny Scott, Bob Efford, Vic Ash, Harry Klein (reeds), Alan Civil (frh), David Snell (harp), Gordon Beck (p), Freddy Logan (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Take Your Partners For The Blues/Peace/Souriya/Down In The Village/Early Morning Afterthoughts.

The Ray Premru Group - May 10th, 1962 (Conversations - Columbia 33SX1452)
Ray Premru (bs-tp), Eddie Blair (tp), Bob Efford (b-cl,ts,oboe), Kenny Napper (b), Kenny Clare (d).
Conversations: Small Talk/Slow Talk/Folk Talk.

Johnny Hawksworth Trio - May, 1963 (Accustomed To My Bass - Columbia 33SX1654)
Bob Efford (ts),Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d).
It's You Or No One.

Ted Heath and his Music - May, 1963 (Satin Saxes and Bouncing Brass - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath
Ted Heath and his Music - October 24th, 1964 recorded at Kingsway Hall (Palladium revisited - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath
Harry South Big Band - January 26th, 1966 (Mercury) - recording details: Harry South
Tubby Hayes and his Orchestra - May 10th and 12th, 1966 (Fontana) - recording details: Tubby Hayes
Tubby Hayes and his Orchestra - May 13th, 1966 (Fontana) - recording details: Tubby Hayes

From Mark Harrington: "Just wanted to add the Shake Keane album 'That's The Noise' on UK Decca Ace of Clubs ACL or SCL 1219, I have the latter which is the stereo one. Bob Efford is part of the trumpet/flugelhorn led quintet where he plays oboe & tenor with Olaf Vas Flute, Pat Smythe piano (replaced by Stan Tracey to three tracks) , Coleridge Goode bass, and Bobby Orr drums. It mixes 60's rock and pop with a Joe Harriot tune and two Keane originals. The producer, Rodger Bain adds a psychedelic poem as sleeve notes, and the album title comes from the end of the first line. A lovely album."
Shake Keane and his Orchestra - early March,1966 (That's the Noise - Ace of Clubs ACL1219)
Shake Keane (flhrn) acc by (see above).

Joe Harriott - 1967 (Personal Portrait - Columbia SCX/SX6249)
Kenny Baker (tp,flhrn), Ray Premru (tb,b-tp), Mo Miller (fhr), Bob Efford (b-cl,cl,fl), Joe Harriott (as), Stan Tracey (p), Lennie Bush (b), Bobby Orr (d), Monty Babson (bgo), David Mack (arr).
Saga/Now's The Time/Darn That Dream.

Ted Heath and his Music - September 27th and 28th, 1967 (Swing is King - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath
Ted Heath and his Music - May 30th and 31st, 1968 (Swing is King Volume 2- Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath

Terry Smith - August 22nd,1968 (Fall out - Philips SBL7871)
Terry Smith (g) acc by: Kenny Wheeler, Greg Bowen, Les Condon (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Ray Warleigh (f,as), Bob Efford (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Gordon Beck (p), Jim Lawless (vib), Ron Mathewson (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d), Denis Lopez (perc), Jimmy Deuchar (arr).
My Man's Gone Now*/I Love You*/Harry's Theme*/Early Morning Groove*/Fall Out*.
(*Sunbeam CD - Fall out)

Terry Smith - October 28th,1968 (Fall out - Philips SBL7871)
Kenny Wheeler (tp,flhrn), Tony Fisher, Derek Watkins (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Roy Willox, Ray Warleigh (f,as), Bob Efford (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Jim Lawless (vib), Terry Smith (g), Ron Mathewson (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d), Peter Aherne (perc), Harry South (arr).
Morning Minor*/The Look Of Love*/Windows Of The World*.
(*Sunbeam CD - Fall out)

Alan Branscombe & Friends - November 7th/8th, 1968 (Swingin' on the sound stage- vol 1 Esquire S332)
Stan Roderick (tp), Duncan Lamont (as), Bob Efford (ts), Alan Branscombe (vib-1,p), Ian McPherson (p-1), Dick Abel (g), Joe Muddel (b), Chris Karan (d).
Rose Room (1)/Out Of Nowhere.
Duncan Lamont (as), Bob Efford (ts), Alan Branscombe (vib-1,p), Joe Muddel (b), Chris Karan (d).
The Blues For Alan.
Kenny Wheeler (tp), Duncan Lamont (as,ts), Bob Efford (ts-1), Alan Branscombe (p), Dick Abel (g), Joe Muddel (b), Chris Karan (d).
For Pete's Sake (1)/On The Alamo.

Bob Leaper Big Band - 1970 (Try This One For Size - Pye NSLP18339)
Big band including: Leon Calvert, Tony Fisher, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Tony Coe, Bob Efford, Ronnie Scott (saxes), Bob Leaper (arr).
The Other Man's Grass/Don't Sleep In The Subway/Joanna/Too Much Too Soon/Call Me/Downtown/If You Ever Leave Me/Beautiful In The Rain/Where Are You Now?/Who Am I?.


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