Hi Lance,
Thanks for your message about the death of Brian as I hadn't heard the news. I will be delighted to add to your blog. Brian was one my oldest friends from the jazz scene, dating back to 1957 when he & I joined the new Mighty Joe Young band & it's sad to think that the only surviving members, apart from myself are Joe, Jackie Denton & possibly Leo Harwood who I met at the Swanage Festival in 1999--- he was living in Bournemouth & in good health at that time. Brian Clark, Hughie Aitchison, Ronnie McLean,Trevor Johnson & J.B. Walters have all since been long gone.Brian, at that time, was a very enthusiastic bassist who was a cut above the trad. "slappers" that I had previously worked with & he was also very knowledgeable about obscure tunes & chord changes. He also played some minimal piano, being the only pianist that I know who played with 8 fingers ON the keys & both thumbs UNDER the keyboard. He had no piano technique but was unique.But his greatest contribution to the band was the fact that he was in the motor car business & he was always able to provide transport for the band for "away" gigs. As an ex RAF pilot, he never flew the band anywhere, but he once drove me down to Sutton Bank & took me up in a glider, an experience that I will never forget.He was, of course, responsible for looking after the late Peter Jacobson, in his early career & they remained in contact right up to Peter's death. Brian used to ring Anne & I regularly,keeping us informed of his health & Peter's musical progress & occasionally boring us silly with news of Ellington & Strayhorn recordings, who were the love of his life, almost to the exclusion of all other jazz music.Just before we came to France, it was obvious that his health was failing -- he had had several "blackouts" & he was becoming very deaf, to the point where it was difficult to hold a two way conversation with him. Brian was a genuine "character" who didn't need to work at it He was always a kind & generous man & good friend to me & he will be remembered with affection by all those who were part of that very vibrant period of jazz in Newcastle.Kind regards ----- Bill Harper
PS: This post had been added to the main body (See Archive 25/5/08)
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