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| The drummers... |
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"There are extreme physical demands made on certain players. The drummer sits, unsupported on a backless stool, leaning slightly forward to command all the drums and cymbals of his equipment. He strikes something with each
stick continuously throughout each number, while beating the bass drum with one foot pedal, and working the high-hat cymbals with another. Some drummers, like Eric Delaney, who played with Geraldo before forming his own band, had two bass drum pedals, with which they could perform miracles of bass drum technique. | The unusual position, coupled with the continuous arm movement, copious perspiration, the atmospheric conditions in the dance halls veering from below freezing to solar heat, caused many drummers to have agonising back problems in later life." Ron Simmonds (trumpet player) Norman Burns, Phil Seamen, Bill Eyden, Tony Kinsey, Allan Ganley Laurie Morgan, Basil Kirchin and Dickie Devere have individual web pages...  |
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Included below: Leon Roy, Lennie Breslaw, Frank Holder, Martin Drew, Jackie Dougan, Spike Wells, Trevor Tomkins, Teddy Pope, Ray Ellington, Kenny Harris, Eric Delaney... Others...(Bobby Orr, Eddie Taylor, Ronnie Stephenson, Kenny Clare) Leon Roy born c1927 Leon Roy is best remembered for the big band he formed in 1949. Based on the style and arrangements of the Dizzy Gillespie big bebop band it was the only big band on the London bebop scene and played at a number of jazz venues in central London. The band had a short lived but memorable residency at The Paramount in London's Tottenham Court Road. The band policy of playing only bebop led to commercial disaster and they never recorded but they achieved legendary status on the bebop scene which is not surprising when you hear that the trumpet section at one time comprised Jimmy Deuchar, Hank Shaw, Dizzy Reece, and a long forgotten Pete Pitterson, and the sax section often included Vic Ash and a very young Tubby Hayes. Note from Wally Wrightman: "Leon Roy led a quintet at the The Bebop Shop at the Rose and Crown, Tottenham. The club ran for some three years from 1947 - 1950. The quintet included, besides Leon on drums, his brother Jimmy Wallis (bass), Lennie Metcalfe (piano), Buddy Kaye (accordian), and Arthur Golding (guitar)". He then worked briefly with Edmundo Ros and in 1951/2 with Ralph Sharon, with whom he recorded several times, and Carl Barriteau. He was in Canada and the US during 1953/4 before returning to London. After repeated visits to the US he settled there permanently. at the end of the 1960s. He died in 1993. more... ...back Lennie Breslaw  born in Whitechapel, London in 1930 drummer Lennie Breslaw worked in the late 1940s, mainly in pubs, with Denis Rose and Stan Tracey's Malfi Trio when Stan was playing accordian. Worked for some time with Tracey before his first name bands work with Harry Parry and Ralph Sharon in 1951. The Parry band at the time included Jimmy Skidmore. He was with Ken Moule 1954-55 and then, for a spell in 1955, with Tubby Hayes' exciting eight piece band, before a personal disagreement between them led to his departure. Then toured in Europe with Dizzy Reece, Stu Hamer and others. He spent nine months in India with Harry South and Dick Morrissey in 1961 and through the 1960s and 1970s worked with many different bands. Led his own trio for four years at The Venus Room in Soho and then with the Vic Ash-Harry Klein Jazz Five. Freelanced in London from 1976 through the 1990s occasionally doubling on piano, working with Ian and Stu Hamer, Les Condon, Bobby Wellins and Annie Ross amongst others.see also the following discographies: Tubby Hayes, Ken Moule. ...back Frank Holder Still performing in 2007 at the age of 82 Frank Holder, born in Bridgetown, Guyana, was an integral part of the original Johnny Dankworth Seven when it was formed in 1950. He was featured on bongos and conga drum in the Latin American numbers, adding a 'flamboyance' to the group's presentation as well as being the band vocalist. When the Seven enlarged to a big band in the mid 1950s he stayed with them and later worked with Joe Harriott. He was well into bebop when his chance came with Johnny Dankworth and liked to improvise using his voice as an instrument. He remained with Dankworth for 11 years with the Seven and the big band. He worked at jazz venues Club XI, Feldman's and the Marquee among others. With the decline of interest in jazz in the 1970s he went into cabaret and has worked ever since, mainly in Europe. He re-appeared in the recording studios in 2006 with a nunber of CDs for the Mainstem label that are still in print (2015). He died in November, 2017 aged 92. Frank Holder - 2006 (The Artistry of Frank Holder - Maistem MSTCD0037) Frank Holder (vcl,perc) acc by Stan Robinson (ts), Duncan Lamont (ts,fl), Geoff Castle, David Hartley (p), Mark Ridout (g), Malcolm Creese (b), Mark Fletcher, Martin Drew (d) (coll personnel). (18 titles). (Mainstem CD - The Artistry of Frank Holder) Frank Holder - May - September, 2006 (I Love Being Here - Maistem MSTCD0044) Frank Holder (vcl) acc by Martin Shaw (tp,flhrn), Dave O'Higgins (ts), Malcolm Edmonstone (p), Jim Mullen (g), Peter Fisher (vln), Alec Dankworth (b), Les Cirkel (d) (coll personnel). (14 titles). (Mainstem CD - I Love Being Here) Frank Holder - 2006 - 2008 (Ballads, Blues and Bop - Maistem) Frank Holder (vcl) acc by similar personnel to above. (?? titles). (Mainstem CD - Ballads, Blues and Bop) ...back |
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Sunday, December 12, at 7.15 p.m. LONDON COLISEUM " Drummers Delight " THE KIRCHIN BAND (Basil & Ivor) _________________________________ THE TONY CROMBIE ORCHESTRA _________________________________ NORMAN BURNS & HIS BAND _________________________________ THE TONY KINSEY TRIO with JOE HARRIOTT _________________________________ Compere: MICHAEL BLACK |
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advertisements from the Melody Maker c1954/55
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" CLUB BASIE " Tavistock Restaurant 18, Charing Cross Road, W.C.2 (next Leicester square Station) Well we made it! 1,387 members after only one week (Ronnie Scott did appear despite other club adverts!). If you missed it last week come this - but COME EARLY! Presenting this Saturday at the GREATEST LUXURY JAZZ CLUB IN THE WORLD Fabulous PHIL SEAMEN QUINTET starring Joe Harriott, Dave Goldberg, Major Holley, Johnny Weed Plus our sensational rocking outfit starring NAT GONELLA, Keith Christie, Harry Klein, Keith Bird, Dill Jones, Lennie Bush, Kenny Graham, Martin Aston. |
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Martin Drew 
Martin drew was born in Northampton in 1944. After working locally he turned professional at the age of seventeen at the Paloma club in London and subsequently worked in the trios of Eddie Thompson, and Bill Le Sage. In 1974 he started a thirty year association with Oscar Peterson that took him all over the world working with many stars including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Stan Getz, Benny Goodman and many, many others. He worked with Ronnie Scott from the mid 1970s until Scott's death. He was a member of the Tony Lee Trio for many years and worked with the Bebop Preservation Society through the 1970s. In between he found time to organise his own groups. He continued to work, freelancing, accompanying visiting jazz stars, and giving tuition until his death on July 29th, 2010. He recorded prolifically and the recordings listed below are a small selection of the many important UK jazz records he played on. Red Rodney with the Bebop Peservation Society - January 20th/21st, 1975 (Spotlite SPJLP7) Hank Shaw, Red Rodney (tp), Peter King (as), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Spike Heatley (b), Martin Drew (d). Blue'n Boogie/Seven Dials/If You Could See Me Now (HS out)/Merry-go-round/March Of Ides/Sid's Delight/ Esmereldas/Tenderley (HS, PK out). The Bebop Peservation Society - May 19th, 1975 (Spotlite 500 - Pied Piper of Hamelin Suite) Hank Shaw (tp), Peter King (as), Bill Le Sage (p,el-p), Spike Heatley (b), Martin Drew (d). Hamelin/Council Cakewalk/Rats/Pied Piper/Mayor's Got The Blues/Little Boy Lost/Town Band Birthday. Tony Lee Trio - July 1st, 1975 (My one and only love - MBC Studios MBC200) Tony Lee (p), Tony Archer (b), Martin Drew (d). Isn't It Romantic/John Brown's Body/My One And Only Love/My Funny Valentine/Blues For M.D./Li'l Darlin'/Wave/You Are My Heart's Delight. Tony Lee Trio - March 2nd, 1976 (British Jazz Artists Vol 1 - Lee Lambert LYN3416) Tony Lee (p), Tony Archer (b), Martin Drew (d). Blues For H.L/Misty/Emily/Once In A While/Teach Me Tonight/Blue Bossa/I Can't Get Started/Perdido. Tommy Whittle Quartet - 1977 (Jam 648 - Why Not?) Tommy Whittle (ts), Tony Lee (p), Tony Archer (b), Martin Drew (d). Jingles/Why Not/But Beautiful/Know It All/Emily/Bullseye/Watch What Happens/Funk In A Deep Freeze. Ronnie Scott Quintet - October 18th, 1977 (Pye NSPL 18542 - Serious Gold) Ronnie Scott (ts,sop), John Taylor (keyb), Louis Stewart (g), Ron Mathewson (b), Martin Drew (d). Invitation/Lazy Afternoon/Forty Colours/Hey-Oke Suite Ballad/Send In The Clowns/Interfusion. Martin Drew and his Band - November, 1977 (Lee Lambert LAM003) Brian Smith (ts,sop), John Taylor (p), Bill Le Sage (vib), Ron Mathewson (b), Martin Drew (d), Chris Fletcher (perc). No More Blues/Re-rev/A Child Is Born/Strut Your Stuff/Another Star/Steelbender/Easy Life/Sound Down. ...back Jackie Dougan 
Jackie Dougan was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1930. After work in Scotland with Duncan Lamont's band and others Dougan moved to London in 1956 working with Buddy Featherstonhaugh. In 1957 he worked with Tommy Whittle including a US tour and from 1957 to 1959 was with the BBC Show Band. He was with the Jazz Committee for a year from spring 1959 then with the Ronnie Ross-Bert Courtley Jazztet until 1961. During 1961 he played in the Ronnie Scott Quintet and also with Harry South before joining the Stan Tracey Trio from 1962. He worked with other Tracey groups through to 1966. Much freelance work followed until in June 1968 he emigrated to Australia. In Australia he worked with Lew Campbell, Don Burrows and others as well as undertaking a lot of freelance work. He died in a car accident in New South Wales, Australia in early 1973.
...back Spike Wells Spike Wells was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent in January, 1946. He played in University jazz groups while at Oxford University. In May, 1969 he began recording with the Tubby Hayes Orchestra and in August of the same year he recorded as a member of Tubby's Quartet. In 1970 he worked with Anita O'Day and Ian Hamer among others. In the mid 1970s he began working with Bobby Wellins and through the '70s into the 1980's was often with Peter King and Mick Pyne. He recorded with Alan Barnes in 2005 and 2007 and with Don Weller. He continued to work with Bobby Wellins and to record with him into the late 2000s. For details of his recorded work the discographies of Tubby Hayes, Peter King and Bobby Wellins, from 1969, contain the bulk of his recorded material. He combined his jazz gigs with his work as a solicitor and later took holy orders while continuing to play gigs. The Tubby Hayes Big Band - Live at The Torrington Arms, London, May 8th, 1969 (Rumpus - Savage Solweig SS003) Greg Bowen, Ian Hamer, Les Condon, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Keith Christie, David Horler, Bill Geldard (tb), Peter King (as), Tubby Hayes, Brian Smith (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Louis Stewart (g), Ron Mathewson (b), Spike Wells (d). Song For A Sad Lady*/Dear Johnny B*/March Brown*/Rumpus*/You Know I Care*/Seven Steps To Heaven*/The Inner Splurge*. ("Savage Solweig CD - The Tubby Hayes Big Band - Rumpus) Tubby Hayes Quartet - August 6th, 1969 Tubby Hayes (ts,), Mike Pyne (p), Ron Mathewson (b), Spike Wells (d). Where Am I Going*/Mainly For The Don*/Grits, Beans And Greens*. (*Harlequin CD - Live1969) Peter King Quartet - January 29th, 1983 (East 34th Street - Spotlite SPJ524) Peter King (as), John Horler (p), Dave Green (b), Spike Wells (d). Reverse Thrust*/East 34th Street*/3/4 Peace*/Evan's Song*/Solitaire*/Warm Breeze*. (*Spotlite CD - East 34th Street) Bobby Wellins Quartet - summer, 2005 live at the Appleby Jazz Festival (When the sun comes out - Trio) Bobby Wellins (ts), Mark Edwards (p), Andy Cleyndert (b), Spike Wells (d). Festival Blues*/Monk's Mood*/Mad About the Boy*/When You Wish Upon A Star*/Fascinating Rhythm*/When the Sun Comes Out*/Dizzy's Blues*. (*Trio CD - When the sun comes out) ...back Trevor Tomkins Born in London in 1941 he studied at the Guildhall School of Music joining Don Rendell in 1962, subsequently working in the Don Rendell - Ian Carr Quintet until 1969. Then worked with prominent musicians including Frank Ricotti, Rendell again and Michael Garrick. During the 1970s and '80s with Mike Westbrook, Dick Morrissey, Kenny Wheeler and Tony Coe amongst others. He was a popular choice for visiting musicians including Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods and Lee Konitz. From the 1980s he has led his own groups and worked as a busy freelance. He has recorded extensively with Don Rendell, Michael Garrick, with Ian Carr's Nucleus, Neil Ardley and other avant-garde musicians. ...back Teddy (Terence) Pope 
Teddy Pope was born in 1933 and started his pro career at the age of 21 in 1954 after completing his National
service in 1953. He worked in pubs and clubs around London including a spell for a year at the Hilton, in Park Lane, approximately a year and a half at the Rhinegold Club in the west end and a period at Isows restaurant (Jack of Clubs). He also played in various cabaret clubs around London - in those days there were many - and he was also getting the odd jazz gigs at various venues.His main jazz gig was at The Lilliput Hall, Bermondsey SE1, and he was there for two years before emigrating to Canada to try and make a career in music there but was unable to get into the AFM which was the same union as USA because you had to reside in the country for a year. He ended up taking a day job but returned to the UK after 18 months to take up the chair at the Lilliput for anther two years. In the early 1960s he joined the New Don Rendell Quintet, (The Roarin' Band), and remained with them for two years. Then he was with the Ronnie Ross / Bill Le Sage Quintet for nine months and following that had spells with the Jimmy Skidmore and Tommy Whitle bands, and continued to freelance until about 1967. In 1967 he went into the pub trade as a tenant and continued to be involved with jazz, featuring jazz In nearly all of his pubs - about five altogether. He gave up the pub trade in 1987 to return to playing drums again, which he still does to this day at the age of 89 (in 2022) and joined Spike Heatley on his trip to the UK in 2011. He continues to play at his local jazz club in Folkestone. His long time friend Spike Heatley adds: "He`s a very fine player, in fact, I did a concert with him in May of this year when I was doing my annual tour in UK and he`s still playing great. He played with every top player of the time at the Lilliput Hall, Jamaica Rd, Bermondsey. This pub was owned by Bert Anabel (not sure of the spelling) ex pianist with Carl Barriteau, and he worked in a TV series with pianist Roger Webb and Kenny Baldock on bass for quite some time and was/is respected by all the players he`s worked with". The BBC recording detailed below was made at a BBC studio in 1962 but was not released on record. In June, 2010 Gearbox Records issued a limited edition 10" EP titled Manumission... The Don Rendell Quintet - 1962 (Unissued) Don Rendell (ts), Graham Bond (as), John Burch (p), Tony Archer (b), Ted Pope (d). Bring Back The Burch/Manumission/Frankinsense. ...back Ray Ellington Ray Ellington was born in London in 1916 and left school at fourteen taking up drums while working as a cabinet maker. In the 1930s he worked at various London night clubs and worked with the Gerry Moore Quartet before a spell of three years from 1937 to 1940 with Harry Roy. In 1940 he joined the RAF and served until 1945. After the war he formed a quartet that included Dick Katz (piano), Lauderic Caton (guitar), Coleridge Goode (bass) while he drummed and handled the vocals. From January, 1948 to November, 1949 the Ray Elligton Quartet recorded regularly for Parlophone including some jazz titles such as "The be-bop", "China bop" and "Dick's boogie". By mid 1949 Laurie Deniz had replaced Lauderic Caton and in January, 1950 they switched record labels to Decca and continued to record until 1952. Not all the records could be described as jazz, most of them have vocals by Ellington who was often accompanied by a vocal trio composed of the group. He died in London during February, 1985 ...back Kenny Harris 
His first professional job after coming out of the Royal Air Force, was in 1950 when he began almost two years of playing drums on the transatlantic liners Queen Mary and Mauretania. On returning to London, he played in jazz clubs, mostly at the Studio 51, with Britain's best musicians. He then joined the Ralph Sharon Sextet, with whom he recorded and broadcast on the BBC.He emigrated to New York in 1955 and began playing again with Ralph Sharon (who had also moved to New York). Then he worked with Paul Bley, Sonny Stitt, Gene Harris, Bobby Scott, Sam Most and Art Mooney's band. Among the venues he played were The Embers, Basin Street East, The Hickory House, Cafe Bohemia, Arthur's Tavern, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Delmonico's and the Arcadia Ballroom all in New York; The Town Tavern, Toronto; Club 12, Detroit; and the Commodore Perry Hotel, Toledo. He has recorded with the Ralph Sharon Sextet, Bobby Scott, Gene Harris Trio (2 albums), Joe Wylie Trio, British Jazz Trio, Milt Robinson's Jazz Quintet. Numerous recordings while in New York as a session player at RCA, Capitol and Atlantic records and played on two movie soundtracks. Kenny has written two books "First Call Drummer Don Lamond" is a biography of the drummer, with whom Kenny took lessons, who had worked in the bands of Benny Goodman, Harry James, Woody Herman, Count Basie and on hundreds of recordings as a studio musician. The second book is "Geraldo's Navy". 
Jazz Journal International magazine featured Kenny on the front cover of their November 2004 issue with three pages of text and photos, and was the subject of a half hour television "Treasures" program produced by the Bermuda Government in 2009.Ralph Sharon Sextet - November 2nd, 1952 (Lyragon) Tommy Whittle (ts), Alan Graham (vib), Ralph Sharon (p), Ike Isaacs (g), Joe Muddel (b), Kenny Harris (d). Love Walked In/Room 504/Deep Purple/We'll Gather Lilacs. November 11th, 1952 (Lyragon AF-1) As November 2nd, except Jimmy Skidmore (ts) replaces Whittle . As Time Goes By/She's Funny That Way/I'm Shooting High (JS out)/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good. In 1958 Kenny recorded in New York for Jubilee label with the Gene Harris Trio comprising Gene Harris (p), Ben Tucker (b) and Kenny Harris (d). The album was released in 1959 with the title Genie In My Soul. The album was not released in the UK... In New York in 1961 he recorded for the Japanese Expert/Norma label. The record was also issued by the Ember label as by the British Jazz Trio. The record was not released in the UK but two titles appear on a UK compilation CD issued in 2009... British Jazz Trio - c1961 (Expert/Norma (Jap)) Derek Smith (p), John Drew (b), Kenny Harris (d). White Cliffs Of Dover/Ilkley MoorBah'tat*/London Pride/Charlie Is My Darling*+. (*Fantastic Voyage 2 CD set - Ember Jazz - The Flamingo Connection) (+Acrobat CD - British Modern Jazz Singles, EP tracks & Rarities 1960 - 62) Sometime in 1965 Kenny recorded with Joe Wylie for the Bermuda based Edmar Records label. The album, titled Swing Softly - The Music of Arthur Schwartz featured Joe Wylie (p), Walter Russell (b) and Kenny Harris (d). It was not released in the UK... British Jazz Trio - c2000 (Starbird Records) Kate Williams (p), Malcolm Creese (b), Kenny Harris (d). Add Jo Plumb (fl-1) Voyage/Everybody's Song But My Own/A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square/Photograph/(1)Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano Trio. 
...back Eric Delaney Drummer and band leader Eric Delaney was born in London in 1924. His war time appearances alongside George Shearing with the Bert Ambrose Octet led to a seven year spell from 1947 to 1954 with Geraldo, where his powerful drumming brought him to the attention of dancers nationwide. He formed his first band in 1954 and as recently as 2007 he was still in action with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. (Email received from Eddie Sammons in July, 2006 re Eric Delaney): Many people overlook Eric's jazz background. Largely his own fault of course as he chose the showbiz path. It is worth remembering him back in the 1940s when he worked with George Shearing (pre war) and I have one private recording of that. Then post war he worked again with George and Stephane Grappelli. Not to be overlooked is his time with Geraldo and The Squads. He drove both bands with some great big band arrangements. At this time too he had his own bop group with Dougie Robinson and Jack Dawkes among others. He also shared drum honours with Phil Seamen on record, radio and film in the Kenny Baker Dozen. He also made a few all-star jazz records (and TV) with Humphrey Lyttelton and the then current modern jazzers. His big band was commercial as they all were. But there was quite a lot of jazz played including some BBC Jazz Club broadcasts (I have them). When he had his small band, jazz was never far away. Witness some of the broadcasts he did playing works by Ellington, Basie and Horace Silver. When abroad he played with Clark Terry and Sarah Vaughan. In his later years he could be seen at the Cork Jazz Festival 1992 in a magnificent jazz performance and of course there were the Giants of Britsh Jazz tours with Ball, Baker, Lightfoot, Bilk, Lusher etc. and the Wigan Jazz festival gigs and the Youth Big band plus Stan Grieg's London Big Band. He still plays with Kenny Ball but is mainly linked to the new RAF Squadronaires. I hope to get a biography of Eric into print soon also a discography/filmography so it could be self defeating to give out more info beforehand. I'm sure you'll understand. The Delaney discographies in Lord and Br++++k (The belgian guy) are inaccurate to say the least. ps Jim Skidmore is featured on Eric' Mercury disc THE MAN I LOVE Hall/Courtley on SWEET GEORGIA BROWN (The book The Magnificent Eric Delaney was first published in 2007. In October, 2010 a larger, revised and updated edition was published. and is available through all good booksellers, Amazon worldwide or direct from Upfront Publishing Ltd. Graphic House. 1 First Drove, Fengate, Peterborough PE1 5BJ.) More drummers... |