In the 1960s, 1970s the jazz spot to be seen in in Newcastle was the New Orleans Club on Forth Banks - just a short walk from the current hive of jazz activities, the Globe.
The club, as the name implies was, originally, a trad jazz fortress. However, more modern bands eventually stormed the parapets and the venue became home to all forms of jazz as was current at the time.
Mighty Joe Young had a modern bop-orientated band, the Newcastle Big Band was conceived there and I also recall hearing Ronnie Scott with the Pete Jacobson Trio.
The whole shebang was run by a jazz loving Pole called Jurek.
Jurek who? That is the jackpot question, Everyone remembers him but, although I have had a few approximate guesses, I have yet to find anyone who can actually recall his surname.
Can you? Lance
6 comments :
Hi Lance
It was I am fairly certain something like Jakinski....I have a story to tell if you want it
Regards
Bill
Yes Bill, I know a few who have said "it was something like ...!"
I was looking for something more exact. Nevertheless, I'd love to hear your story.
Definitely Jurek RACZYNSKI
Brian is correct. Jurek Rasynski. Not sure of the spelling though. Then there was young Jurek his son.
Solly did a great impression of Jurek but that is for the bar not BSH like many of the yet untold tales of the bands. Jurek was at the centre of things at Melbourne St. and at Forth Banks and I have a memento
given by him as a wedding present on behalf of the N.O club some 58 years ago.
Bixie
Further thoughts on Jurek. He had a tough time at first living at the Polish hotel on Elswick Road and running a fish and chip shop up at the west end before taking the job of running Melbourne Street. I can still hear his accent describing characters as "worrrky tickets" and " I see Cheek in cloob ". Following the demise of Forth Banks life turned a happy corner for Jurek. He met and married a Polish lady named Danousha and moved to a posh estate near Chester-le-St. Then a further deserved stroke of luck came along in his appointment as technical translator to an English Company dealing with a company in Poland. A genuine guy. well remembered.
Bixie
Hi Derrick, I can still remember when we both constructed a Ladies Powder Room in the New Orleans Club on Forth Banks, to enable the ladies to check their make up before entering the Jazz Area. Regards Jurek.
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