Yes Lance, you're absolutely right. Peanuts Hucko played for Jazz North East with the Mainstreet Jazzmen as did Wild Bill Davison, Dick Wellstood and Ralph Sutton.
You're right again, not only were McPartland (pictured left) and Cheatham supported by the Saratoga Jazzmen, but the Saratoga also backed Al Casey, Snub Mosley and Don Ewell.
Now... Others who played for JNE at Corner Ho. in the 1980s are...wait for it... Benny Waters (w. Savannah Syncopators), Kenny Davern, Bobby Shew, Lew Tabackin, Charles McPherson, Oliver Jones, Al Haig, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, James Moody, Charlie Rouse, Slim Gaillard, Mark Murphy, Bobby Watson, Phil Wilson, Art Hodes, Ted Curson and Teddy Edwards.
Most of those were with a local trio, but there were a few occasions when a USA soloist toured with a full UK band. These included Sal Nistico w. Stan Tracey Quartet, Jimmy Knepper w, Bobby Wellins Quartet, Red Rodney w. Peter King Quartet and Bobby Watson w. 'The Young Lions' (effectively the Guy Barker Quartet). In the early 90s,there was Jack Walrath w. Spirit Level, Gene Harris and Ray Bryant who all played for JNE at the Corner Ho. and later in the 90s the phenomenal Jessica Williams made her first Tyneside appearance also at the Corner House.
This 'Golden Age' was partly made possible by the factor of the Corner House having a superb piano - a top of the range Yamaha upright. It wasn't there all the time (poor Stan Tracey had to play a bad piano once - remember his album entitled 'Hello Old Adversary', referring to pianos encountered?)
Those were the days right enough!
Chris Y.
PS: The Steve Grossman gig at Corner Ho. on Feb 19 could be a one off return to those halcyon days.
2 comments :
Thanks Chris. I remember one night I was on the door and attempted to charge Stan Tracey entrance to his own gig!
We had a laugh about it.
I loaned Herb Ellis my Polytone amp and ferried him to/from the Central Station for that C/H gig. I think he was travel weary as he was rather reserved and didn't say much at all. But when I got him on to the train heading home he opened up and started to give me all sorts of tips, re. Van Eps String Dampers etc etc - I was extremely lucky to get off the train as the doors were closing otherwise I was on my way to London with him. I got quite a fright! He played great though. Swung like the clappers.
Roly
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