Hughie Aitchison – A Tyneside Jazz Trumpet Player

(Review by Russell)

This new CD release is essential listening for anyone with an interest in the history of the Tyneside jazz scene. In due course an informed commentary will, no doubt, be posted by the editor of Bebop Spoken Here. This posting simply serves to flag up the very existence of these recordings made between 1950 - 1983. The focus is on bandleader, trumpeter and trombonist Hughie Aitchison. A hugely respected figure on the scene, Mr Aitchison can be heard in a variety of combos: Stan Wilde and the Wild Cats recorded at Durham Jazz Club in 1950; a Northern Sound Services studio recording with the Bernicia Jazz Band; a 1979 Saratoga Jazzmen session from the Corner House; The High Point Hotel All Stars from 1983.

The cast list contains many familiar names, some deserving of the tag ‘legendary’, some unquestionably influential in the development of post-war jazz in the region. The venues and recording studios may have gone, so too the musicians heard on this recording, what does remain, however, is the music, recorded and preserved either by chance or by design.

Hughie Aitchison’s son, ex-pat trumpet player Colin, is the man responsible for this CD project. The quality of the recordings is variable – this is to be expected given the vintage of these tracks and the circumstances in which they were recorded. The quality of the musicianship shines through with the individual sound of some of the musicians readily identifiable. Franco Valussi, musician, and Steve James of RTHK Radio Hong Kong, provided invaluable assistance to Aitchison in the making of this CD.

Russell.

Hughie Aitchison (trumpet & trombone), Peter Gascoigne (trumpet & vocals), Fred Rowe (trumpet & cornet); Steve Andrews (clarinet & tenor saxophone),Trevor Johnson (clarinet), Stan Martin (clarinet), Bill Smith (clarinet), Alan Shipley (clarinet); Martin Simon (tenor saxophone), Brian Clark (alto saxophone & clarinet), Jimmy Ruddick (alto saxophone); Ronnie Allen (trombone), Nick Downing (trombone), Ronnie McLean (trombone), Ted Reynolds (trombone), Gordon Solomon (trombone); George Brewis (piano), Brian Fisher (piano), Arthur Robson (piano), Norman Rudd (piano), Howard Swanson (piano), Stan Wilde (piano);  Alan Brown (guitar), Eric Gamblin (guitar), Brian Sibbald (guitar), Roly Veitch (guitar), Billy Waugh (guitar), Roy Willis (guitar); Clem Avery (bass), Ian Heslop (bass), Ray Jobling (bass), George Johnson (bass), Bill Jones (bass), Dougie Richardson (bass), Alan Rudd (bass), Dave Swan (bass); Billy Calboutin (drums), Paul Erwin (drums), Ian Forbes (drums), Eddie Jedsop (drums), Gordon Prudham (drums), Ken Redman (drums), Marshall Walker (drums), Joe Ward (drums); Frank Wappat? (vocals)