I was lucky enough to be on it and can give some info. When I first got started playing jazz I got a regular gig at The Golden Lion, Winlaton Mill with Clem Avery's reformed jazzmen but also he took me weekly to The Mainstreet Jazzmen session on Tuesdays at C House, Heaton. The usual line up was Joe McMullen tpt/leader, Jimmy Ruddick alto/clt, Ronnie McLean tbn, Norman Rudd pno, Clem Avery fender bass and Bill Calboutin dms (not sure of spelling). I used to sit behind Norman and he helped me with the chords. Norman was a very kind man and very supportive.
The line up was a bit variable - I think sometimes Stan Martin played and possibly Gordon Solomon on tbn. Well - sometimes they had a guest musician - Dick Wellstood 29/1/80, Wild Bill Davison 27/11/79, Peanuts Hucko 11/12/79 - on this occasion Ralph Sutton. All were JNE promotions. Ralph was a lovely man and a great player. It was 17th June 1980. I have a poster and will get it scanned and send it to you. Ralph joined the band but when it came to his trio spot I retired to the bar. I remember looking forward and seeing Clem beckoning me forward. Apparently Ralph had said "does the guitar player not think he is in the rhythm section?" So I went up and joined the trio. It was a thrilling experience for me as you can imagine and one I'll never forget. Never thought I'd hear a recording of it.
Roly.(Lance):In this solo version of A Good Man is Hard to Find from the same concert the spoken introduction is by the late Chris Yates.
2 comments :
And on this night it was Dad on valve-trombone as Ronnie must have been still looking for his lost tooth!
Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong
Ronnie McLean lost a tooth after biting into a ham sandwich!. This achieved some publicity in the local press and it is believed the sandwich and the tooth are now preserved, under tight security, in a local history museum. I'm half expecting them to appear on ebay or at a Deli near you!!
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