Maurice Summerfield

I had intended to say a few words about Maurice Summerfield who I knew well during my 30 years in the Music Trade.

However, I think the following press release that came out in May this year when Maurice was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (HonARAM) encapsulates his many achievements...

"The Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music in London recently elected UK Music Industry veteran Maurice Summerfield an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (HonARAM).

Lord Burns, Chairman of the Academy’s Governing Body, presented Maurice with his HonARAM certificate on Tuesday 11th May 2010, at an informal celebration in the Royal Academy’s Duke’s Hall, London.

For many years Maurice actively promoted concerts and clinics in the UK by many famous jazz guitarists including Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow, Charlie Byrd, Martin Taylor, Ike Isaacs and by guitarists from other fields of music including classical, flamenco, ragtime and blues.

Maurice Summerfield is the author of three critically acclaimed books The Jazz Guitar - Its Evolution, Players & Personalities Since 1900, first published in the United Kingdom in 1978, and now in its fourth edition, The Classical Guitar - Its Evolution, Players & Personalities Since 1800, first published in the United Kingdom in 1982, and now in its fifth edition, and Barney Kessel – A Jazz Legend published in October 2008.

Maurice introduced Joe Pass to the Ibanez guitar company, and also provided them with basic plans and ideas for a Joe Pass guitar. Joe and Maurice had worked out the special features of this guitar in 1978 when Joe was playing at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London. This guitar eventually became Ibanez’s very successful Joe Pass JP 20 model.

Maurice also had the Ibanez company consider a Barney Kessel model. Three prototype guitars were produced to Barney’s specifications, and Barney really liked the third one. He used it on a European concert tour in 1979. However, in the end, no agreement was finalised and the guitar was never commercially produced.

In 1974 Maurice introduced a line of replica Maccaferri/Selmer guitars called the CSL Gypsy. Maurice met Mario Maccaferri for the first time in New York later that year and a close friendship of almost 20 years began. During this time Mario worked together with Maurice on some other Maccaferri models."

Also, on 11 November 2009, at the Drapers Hall in the City of London, UK music industry veteran Maurice was installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians (Musicians Livery Company) at a meeting of the Court of the Company. On the same evening a banquet to celebrate the installation was held for liverymen and their guests at the Drapers Hall.

Principal Guests were guitarist John Williams and his wife Dr Kathy Panama, famed record producer Trevor Horn, US music publisher William Bay, author and music scholar Graham Wade and CEO of the UK Music Industries Association Paul McManus. The other guests included jazz guitarist Martin Taylor and composer Stephen Dodgson.

The Eden Stell Guitar Duo played a concert at the end of the dinner in which they gave the world premiere of Latin Serenade for the City of London - a work composed by the Argentinian composer Jorge Morel. The composer has dedicated this work to the Musicians Company on the occasion of Maurice Summerfield's installation as Master of the Company.

(Photo of the event: Left to Right - Dr Kathy Panama, John Williams, Maurice Summerfield, and Pat Summerfield..)

Lance.