At eight o'clock tonight online radio station Coastal Sound presents Steve Walker's Big Band Bash. Trumpeter Steve has worked with just about everyone who is anyone in the music business. Now, in addition to performing and teaching, presenting the best in big band music has become a weekly (Wednesday evening) affair for the man originally from Middlesbrough.
Steve kindly emailed BSH details of the occasion when he took part in the BBC's National Big Band Competition. In 1985 Steve found himself playing in the trumpet section of the Durham Youth Jazz Orchestra. The material makes for fascinating reading. This was the era of Sheila Tracy hosting BBC Radio 2's big band broadcasts. Standing alongside Steve in the trumpet section was one Gordon Marshall. Whatever became of him? The answer: First call trumpet for Ray Chester's award-winning big band, the Customs House Big Band, the Strictly Smokin' Big Band, Gerry Richardson's Big Idea and a whole lot more!
The saxophones included Peter 'Pepe' Greenaway and David (Dave) Black; in the 'bones, David Barnes (heard many a time with the Strictly Smokin') and the rhythm section boasted Stuart Haikney, a busy working drummer to this day, alongside Marcus Brown. Pianist Marcus went on to do it all...working with Madonna, Hollywood film scores, the lot, more recently taking on the job of adjudicator alongside Mick Donnelly at the annual Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. Clearly 1985 was a very good year for the DYJO!
The Guildhall Jazz Band took part in '85. Pete Whyman on lead alto and the great Mornington Lockett on tenor in the saxophone gives an idea of the standard of the then young guns, now established figures on the scene. And in the trumpet section, Noel 'Loose Tubes' Langley!
Imagine...tough competitive action, radio airplay, Sheila Tracy presiding, Bobby Lamb presenting the Marty Paich Trophy to Adrian Drover (trombone, Guildhall Jazz Band) and Iain Ballamy shaking hands with Henry Lowther as he picked up the John Dankworth Most Promising Musician Trophy award. Yes, fascinating reading, thanks to Steve for sharing the memories. Catch Steve's Big Band Bash tonight (8:00pm) at: www.coastalsound.co.uk.
Russell
2 comments :
This was an amazing gig playing Baritone sax in DYJO. Thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsals and the recording of course. Also met up again briefly with a college friend Pete Murray who was playing keys with the the Guildhall big band.
I wonder if Steve is familiar with the work of the late Ken Rattenbury a trumpet player, pianist, composer and arranger who was born in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, and died in 2001.
He was one of best musicians in his chosen fields and yet is rarely remembered these days. Although not an out and out big band man I feel his name should not go unrecognised in Lincolnshire Jazz circles.
Post a Comment