Alan Glen retires at 87!

North east piano legend Alan Glen has, after much deliberation, announced that, at the age of 87, he has retired from public performance. At the recent Dave Weisser Memorial/Tribute concert at the Globe where Alan was, in most people's eyes and ears, the star of the show he found the aftermath of playing a hard swinging half hour set had taken a severe toll on his hands, fingers and wrists hence his decision.

Although deeply immersed in bebop, hard-bop and beyond, Alan never nailed his flag to a particular mast. At one time he was considered to be at the forefront of the local contemporary scene via his sessions at the Cooperage and the pub on Sheriff Hill (the Three Tuns) as well as the Bluebell in Jesmond yet he could still pull out the Bud Powell numbers when he did guests spots at the Chilli.

Alan knew exactly which musicians he felt comfortable with: drummers such as David Carnegie, Sid White (a.k.a. Paul Wight), bassists, Ray Truscott, Laurence Blackadder, John Pope, Andy Champion and, of course, the late Bill Nicholson on tenor sax.

We at BSH were ultra privileged to have an exclusive interview with Alan which can be read HERE.

So, the bad news is that we won't hear him again on stage but, the good news is that he will still be playing for himself, and Sue, within the confines of their home. We wish him a happy retirement Lance