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| Johnny Keating / Tommy Watt... |
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Johnny Keating was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1927 and started his professional career as a trombonist and arranger. Having moved down to London he worked with Tommy Sampson in the late 1940s, and then early in the 1950s with the Squadronaires who were then broadcasting regularly on the BBC. He arranged for both bands and in 1950 joined Vic Lewis as lead trombonist for two years before landing a job with Ted Heath as a trombonist. Heath had heard the Squadronaires on the radio and had taken note of the trombone feature that Keating had played. Through 1952/53 Keating was employed as a trombonist but wrote several original compositions for the band during this time. Don Lusher's arrival put paid to Keating's aspirations as a trombone player for Ted Heath and he left to take up arranging again working for Ambrose and Geraldo. When Reg Owen, Heath's chief arranger, left in 1954 Keating was invited to fill that role, and he stayed, with just a few short breaks, until the early 1970s before he became the in-house arranger for Decca Records. In the mid 1950s Keating made two records featuring his own arrangements and premiere British jazz musicians of the time (details below) recorded in different combinations. In 1964 he made an album entitles Swing revisited that featured tenor sax player Tubby Hayes. He died in London on 28th May, 2015 after a long period of illness. The discography below contains full details of the jazz recordings that Johnny Keating made as leader, mostly featuring his arrangement. He made big band records, as a musician, with the the Vic Lewis Orchestra and with Ted Heath. |
Tommy Watt was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1925. following an early spell with Carl Barriteau he served in the RAF during World War II. Following the war he worked as pianist, arranger and composer with a number of top dance bands including Harry Roy, Paul Fenoulhet and Ken Mackintosh until in 1955 he formed his own band that broadcast regularly on the BBC. He then freelanced, including theatre work, until in 1960 he took over the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra, based in Manchester.He became a BBC staff writer but returned to bandleading at the Dorchester Hotel in 1970, a short lived venture. He was never a jazz musician but in the late 1950s and early 1960s he recorded a number of big band swing albums with an all star jazz leaning personnel. The highlights of the albums are the solo efforts of Tubby Hayes, Bert Courtley, Ronnie Ross and George Chisholm. He continued to work as a freelance pianist and arranger but drifted out of music to become a successful interior decorator. He died in Bristol in 2006. Discography... |
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This album was titled as "No.1 in an International Jazz series by Oriole records. Nearly all the musicians were drawn from the current Ted Heath band plus others with recent associations with the band. Only George Chisholm who plays on one title only and Bill Le Sage never had been connected with Heath. The players were split into various combinations and all the conducting and arrangements were by Johnny Keating, Heath's chief arranger at the time... Johnny Keating All Stars - March 19th and 20th, 1956 (British Jazz - Oriole MG20011) Eddie Blair (tp), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Strictly For Kyx*/Good Life*. Don Lusher, George Chisholm, Maurice Pratt, Keith Christie (tb), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Quads Talk*. Don Lusher, George Chisholm, Maurice Pratt, Keith Christie (tb), Don Rendell (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Fair Diana*. Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Impromptu*. Eddie Blair (tp), Bob Efford (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Ultraviolet*. Eddie Blair (tp), Don Rendell (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Eddie Blair's Picnic*. Eddie Blair, Bobby Pratt (tp), Jimmy Wilson (tb), Ian Powell (tu), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Don Rendell, Tommy Whittle (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d), Dizzy Reece (bgo-1). Gibraltar Rocks*/Piccadilly Jumps* (1). Eddie Blair (tp), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Lazy*. Don Rendell, Tommy Whittle (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Last Resort*. Jimmy Faulds (f,oboe), Henry Mackenzie (cl), Danny Moss (b-cl), Ian Saunders (EngHrn), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Snowface*. (*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots) (*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks) Keating's second album was a series of groups varying in size from a sextet to a big band. Musicians for this album were selected on the odd basis that they had to be genuine Scotsmen! Again, all the arrangements were by Keating... Johnny Keating All Stars - April 29th and 30th, 1957 (Swinging Scots - London LTZD 15122)(JM1058) Bobby Pratt, Tommy McQuater, Eddie Blair, Duncan Campbell, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Jock Bain, Jimmy Wilson, Wally Smith, George Chisholm (tb), Burt Harden (tu), George Hunter, Ronnie Baker (as), Tommy Whittle, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Hampden Roars*/Down South Blues*/Clachnacudan Canal*. Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Burt Harden (tu), George Hunter (as), Tommy Whittle, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Headin' North*/Loch Ness Monster*. Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ronnie Baker (as,cl), Tommy Whittle (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Thistle Swing*/Tam O'Shanter*/Kiltie*. Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Double Scotch*. (*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots) (*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks) Keating's third album saw the band augmented by a french horn section and again a number of star jazz musicians were used. Again, all the arrangements were by Keating... Johnny Keating & his Band - 1964 (Swing revisited - London SP44034) Bert Courtley, Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar, Stan Reynolds (tp), Keith Christie, Johnny Edwards, Maurice Pratt (tb), Maurice Gee (b-tb), Jim Buck, Ian Beers, Brian Brett, Charles Blomfield (fhrn), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sop), Roy Willox (as,f), Duncan Lamont (ts,cl), Tubby Hayes (ts,f), Dan Halliwell (bs,as), Reg Guest (p), Jim Sullivan (g), Freddy Logan (b), Ronnie Verrell (d), Barry Morgan (cga). Night Train*/When The Saints Go Marching In*/The Stripper*/What'd I Say*/Li'l Darlin'*/Opus One*/I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo*/Tuxedo Junction*/Oh, Lonesome Me*/Headin' North*/Hallelujah Gathering*/One O'clock Jump* . (*Vocalion CD - Swing revisited) Tommy Watt discography... Tommy Watt and his Orchestra - 1956 (?Parlophone) Unknown personnel... Who Done It*/The Tender Trap*. (*Vocalion CD - Watts Cooking) Tommy Watt and his Orchestra - 1957 (Parlophone) Unknown personnel... The Little Hut*/Overdrive*/Grasshopper Jump*/Holiday For Trombones*. (*Vocalion CD - Watts Cooking) Tommy Watt and his Orchestra - 1958 (It might as well be spring - Parlophone PMC1068) Stan Roderick, Tommy McQuater, Bert Courtley, Albert Hall (tp), George Chisholm, Jock Bain, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Irvine (tb), Johnny Scott, Peter Edge, George Hunter, Bob Efford, Ronnie Ross (reeds), Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), Tommy Watt (p,arr), Ike Isaacs (g), Joe Muddel (b), Phil Seamen (d), Tommy Blades (perc). Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey#/Easy Street#/Going To The Country Fair#/Beaulieu Beef#^/Poor Little Rich Girl#/Medley* (Lullaby Of The Leaves/It Might As Well Be Spring/September Song)/I'll String Along With You#/The Moon Was Yellow#^/The Piper's Son#/Scooter Brain#/Vibe Rations#^/Five foot Two, Eyes Of Blue#/Medley* (My Heart Stood Still/Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/My Heart Belong to Daddy)/Rock Bottom#. (#EMI Gold CD - the best of Tommy Watt) (*Vocalion CD - Watts Cooking) (^Jasmine CD -Tubby Hayes - London Pride) Tommy Watt and his Orchestra - June 1st and 2nd, 1959 (Watts Cooking - Parlophone PMC1107) Stan Roderick, Tommy McQuater, Bert Courtley, Albert Hall (tp), George Chisholm, Jock Bain, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Irvine (tb), Jim Powell (tuba), Jim Buck Sr., S.Saville, R.Young, (frhrn), Johnny Scott, George Hunter, Bob Efford, Ronnie Ross (reeds), Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), Tommy Watt (p,arr), Artur Watts (b), Phil Seamen (d), Tommy Blades (perc). An Apple For The Teacher*#/Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries*#/Crumpets For The Count*#/Embargo On Escargot*#^/Little Jack Horner*#/Sugar Mixture*/I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket*#/Black Coffee*#^/Honeybun*#/Sugar*#. (#EMI Gold CD - the best of Tommy Watt) (*Vocalion CD - Watts Cooking) (^Jasmine CD -Tubby Hayes - London Pride) Tommy Watt and his Orchestra - July 8th, 1959 (Watts Cooking - Parlophone PMC1107) Bobby Pratt, Bert Courtley, Bert Ezzard, Albert Hall (tp), George Chisholm, Maurice Pratt, Jock Bain, Jack Thirlwell (tb), Johnny Scott, Keith Bird, Bob Efford, Tubby Hayes, Don Honeywell (reeds), Tommy Watt (p,arr), Artur Watts (b), Phil Seamen (d), Dennis McCarthy (perc). Small Fry*#/If I Knew You Were Coming*#/Victoria Plums*#. (#EMI Gold CD - the best of Tommy Watt) (*Vocalion CD - Watts Cooking) Forty Two Big Band - spring, 1963 (Columbia) Bobby Pratt, Bert Courtley, Derrick Abbott, Les Condon (tp), Keith Christie, Gib Wallace, Bobby Lamb, Bill Geldard (tb), Johnny Scott (as), Tommy Whittle, Eddie Mordue, Bobby Wellins (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Tommy Watt (p,ldr), Malcolm Cecil (b), Bobby Orr (d). Woodchoppers Ball/Tuxedo Junction/St. Louis Blues/C Jam Blues. |
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