BSH: Your name also crops up in Bill Birch’s Keeper of the Flame – a book that gives an accurate, historical perspective of the Manchester jazz scene in the post war years – would you agree?
Mike: I can’t recall when I first met Bill Birch. It was during the time when he was contacting jazz fans and trying to get his idea of a book covering the Manchester Jazz Scene become a reality. He decided to self-publish the project and he asked for an upfront payment of £20 from interested parties to get things rolling. I was one who thought it was worth a gamble and paid him the required £20. I was a bit sceptical at first but on meeting Bill I realised that he knew what he was doing and I’m so glad the book was well received upon completion.
I felt very lucky to be asked by Bill to attend the book launch at the Cinnamon Club in Bowdon, Cheshire and to appear on stage as part of a band comprising Iain Dixon alto, Mark Chandler trumpet or flugel, Pete McGuire valve trombone, Jack Massarik guitar, Frank Toms and Les Chisnall alternating on piano, Dave Green bass, Caroline Bowden drums and myself on tenor sax. William Ellis took some great photos of the band and I often wonder if anyone recorded this lineup.
The book had the great title Keeper Of The Flame and is a pretty accurate report of the modern jazz scene in Manchester 1946-1972 and the photos bring back so many memories I get a big thrill just looking at them. One error I should mention was on page 228 the photo was one of many I gave Bill that I took at the Lower Turks Head on a 35mm Kodak Retinette camera . The drummer in the photo, Bob Phelan, died much too young of a brain related illness and the only one still alive is Wally Davies who re-located to Glasgow but I’m not sure if he is still active as a musician. I think 400 was the original print run of Keeper of the Flame and if you can find one buy it you will find it a great insight into the Manchester modern jazz scene with plenty of photos and not a banjo to be seen.
No comments :
Post a Comment