This morning I was rearranging some vintage 78rpms into a semblance of alphabetical order. Next to Fats Waller was a record on the Lyragon* label by Jumping Sam Walker - Girl of my Dreams/Makin' Whoopee. Recorded in 1953 I played it, partially out of interest and partially for nostalgic reasons which I won't go into here although the titles may give you a clue.
Dizzy Reece played trumpet on the Crombie tracks which were recorded in 1954. A year later drummer Crombie played piano with the Dizzy Reece Quintet again with Sammy on tenor. There was a further session with Dizzy in 1957. Norman Stenfalt played piano on this one. Listen to Sweet and Lovely.
I only heard Sammy live on one occasion which was with the Crombie Band at Newcastle City Hall circa 1954/5. I remember there were two tenor players in the band - Joe Temperley and Sammy - Sammy was the exuberant one!
Unlike so many of his contemporaries, he didn't just run the changes but made every note count which, I guess, was why I was able to sing along with Girl of my Dreams all those years later.
Sam Walker died in 1986 aged 62. I'd love to hear from anyone else who remembers him and his later career.
Lance
*Lyragon was an offshoot of Polygon. The label released 34 singles and 2 10" LPs. Most of them are, although not exclusively, West Indian/calypso based - Lord Kitchener etc. Sam Walker plays on several. The 2 LPs are by Ralph Sharon - later to be Tony Bennett's accompanist .
For a full listing of Lyragon and other vintage jazz/dance band items visit Michael Thomas' splendid website.
1 comment :
Think I've got some photos somewhere.
He sounds (tonally) like Harold Land on the Dizzy Reece 'New Star' date.
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