They weren't related although I'm sure Tubby dropped by Harry's place to have his tenor de-elasticated from time to time. Without saxophone players and postmen the elastic band industry would have collapsed years ago.
I mention Harry Hayes as, in the process of bringing some form of system to my CD/LP/Tape/78/etc collection, I discovered I had a couple of CDs by Harry Hayes and his Band.
I'd forgotten just what a delightful band this was. Recorded either side of D-Day and beyond, this was a band reminiscent of an Ellington or a Benny Carter small group and, indeed, Hayes' alto is not too far removed from Benny Carter himself.
The sidemen are also big hitters of the time - Kenny Baker, George Shearing, Tommy Whittle, George Chisholm, Aubrey Franks, Norman Stenfalt - to mention but a few.
The music straddles that period before Bop had fully crossed the pond or the revivalists had begun to wave their banjos.
It's the kind of band I'd like to hear today.
The discs were issued on Hayes' own label so I don't know if they're still available.
Listen to Drop Me Off at Harlem and you may want to find out more - or even start a band!
Lance.
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Harry was at Tubby's funeral. One master British jazz saxophonist paying tribute to another...
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