Hughie Aitchison (tpt); Ronnie McLean (tmb); Brian Clark (alt/clt); Roy Willis (gtr); Dave Swan (bs); Marshall Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance).
We move on to 1979 and the Saratoga Jazzmen. This was a band led by Peter Gascoigne of Vieux Carré Jazzmen fame - presumably our man was depping that night. However, before going into I've Found a New Baby. Hughie gives a short interview talking about his influences - Spanier, naturally, but also of the Ellingtonian influence in the form of Cootie and Ray Nance. Indeed, Hughie went on to become a walking encyclopedia of things Ellington.
Another interview follows, this time with Ronnie McLean (pictured). McLean had lost a tooth whilst eating a corned beef sandwich and, incredibly, received a lot of publicity in the local media. I was working alongside Hughie and Ronnie in a Newcastle music shop at the time and I'm sure the publicity did the music store some good - if not the sandwich shop!
Hughie Aitchison (tpt); Ronnie McLean (tmb); Trevor Johnson (clt); Brian Fisher (pno); Dougie Richardson (bs); Marshall Walker (dms).
Royal Garden Blues followed in the Spanier tradition and it grieves me to realise that all of these guys are now gone. Marshall Walker, often referred to as 'The Smiling MW' because he rarely did, was a drummer I worked with for many years. Behind his dour exterior, he had a rare sense of humour. Greatly missed.
Lance.
There will be more to follow.
In the meantime, those wishing to receive a free copy of this historical item contact Colin Aitchison, - tynesidejazztrumpetplayer@
2 comments :
Listen to Fisher's piano comping behind the solos. He couldn't play a solo worth a light - no right hand technique at all - but he always found the right, interesting chords and put them in just the right places behind the soloist. Spare, rhythmic and musical - modern pianists take note.........
What we used to call "arranger's piano".
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