tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post6692469945465530408..comments2024-03-27T22:41:44.357+00:00Comments on bebop spoken here: Remembering Nigel StangerLancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04494856116843281101noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-39340685769416219462023-06-16T09:26:55.130+01:002023-06-16T09:26:55.130+01:00Nigel and I were both on the committee of the Oxfo...Nigel and I were both on the committee of the Oxford University Jazz Club, and colluded with my strike to get the entire Johnny Dankworth Big Band to a session at Carfax Assembly rooms.. where we had dancing and a great time.. I was monitoring incoming and outgoing attendees to keep to the (substantial) rooms people limits.. sadly word got the Proctors (The OU Uni Police) and they shut me down Marcus Wigannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-13658583249533669392009-08-12T16:01:54.158+01:002009-08-12T16:01:54.158+01:00I also have fond memories of Nigel playing at the ...I also have fond memories of Nigel playing at the Corner House in Newcastle on a Sunday night in the 1980's with Little Mo's band and guests such as Jimmy Witherspoon and of coure his own band the Nigel Stanner quartet. Chas Chandler was a close friend of Nigels would often attend. A very sad loss and a genuine guy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05579709491745976702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-86112235552930070002009-07-22T15:04:49.872+01:002009-07-22T15:04:49.872+01:00The Nigel Stanger tributes made for very interesti...The Nigel Stanger tributes made for very interesting reading indeed...yes, he was a remarkable player right enough.<br />Re-Gosforth Hotel line-up, I believe the late John Pearce was the pianist and often it was Gerry Richardson on bass (but possibly not always..memory blurs) Graham Sheppard (whatever happened to him?) often played baritone sax too.<br />Re-Savannah Syncopators UK premiere of &#Chris Yatesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-16363722173593492982009-07-20T14:06:15.482+01:002009-07-20T14:06:15.482+01:00The 'American sounding guy' was actually D...The 'American sounding guy' was actually Dave Weisser, formerly of Connecticut. Dave can be heard singing and playing trumpet with his musical associates on Wednesday nights at The Chillingham pub on Chillingham Rd., in Heaton, Newcastle circa 8:00 pm.Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494856116843281101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-55013147225328698792009-07-19T23:47:43.157+01:002009-07-19T23:47:43.157+01:00Wow, all these comments on Sunday sessions at N/c ...Wow, all these comments on Sunday sessions at N/c Uni Theater really take me back, though the great music has lived on in my head ever since. I was the one on the door collecting the cash (and hiding it from any passing coppers). What a line up Andy had in that band, Sting, John Hedley, Gerry Richardson, Ronnie Pearson (also sadly now lost to us) and of course Nigel who always gave a stunning Paul Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10080143596318004910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-69010434151248460132009-06-30T06:34:06.208+01:002009-06-30T06:34:06.208+01:00I met Nigel at Oxford University in 1963, just aft...I met Nigel at Oxford University in 1963, just after he had made the decision to leave a struggling unknown band "The Animals" and take up his Oxford place. Within a year the band was at No 1 & Nigel & I watched The Animals front for Chuck Berry at the Hammersmith Odeon. It must have been bitter-sweet for him.<br /><br />I looked for him on-line this morning because yesterday I Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13483750272022792278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-61583293958336200662009-05-18T10:59:00.000+01:002009-05-18T10:59:00.000+01:00I first met Nigel around 1974 - I was about 21 and...I first met Nigel around 1974 - I was about 21 and full of myself, and was astonished when I heard Nigel show HOW the alto could be played. A defining moment in a way for me - since then I've tended to stick to tenor and only use the alto for big band and dance work, or "pretty" playing! He was always kind and supportive, as was Germaine who I was lucky enough to play alongside several times (I Steve Andrewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-27369441924465225862009-05-02T06:49:00.000+01:002009-05-02T06:49:00.000+01:00Thanks James also for bringing to mind Dave Brown ...Thanks James also for bringing to mind Dave Brown who was with us in San Sebastian with the Newcastle Big Band.<br />I remember him saying "Anyone got the latest Test Score?"<br />Nigel replied, "We're in Spain, they don't play cricket."<br />Dave replied with, "Ok - anyone got the Bull Results"!Lancenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-38570906493401139392009-05-01T23:42:00.000+01:002009-05-01T23:42:00.000+01:00I first met Nigel when he joined my year in the Sc...I first met Nigel when he joined my year in the School of Architecture. He was soon an augmentation of the Dave Brown Quartet, in which I played the bass, to Quintet (or even sextet when he blew alto and tenor at the same time). He gave the band a completely new dimension. We drove all the way to San Sebastian in 1969 with Andy Hudson as roadie. Six of us plus luggage, drums, bass and saxes inJames Cairdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-53268538288018210872009-03-23T10:04:00.000+00:002009-03-23T10:04:00.000+00:00Trumpet player was Peter Volpe now resident in Fra...Trumpet player was Peter Volpe now resident in France. He's on the big band reunion photo next to Cormac - in those days he had more hair - didn't we all?<BR/>Pete has promised to add to these comments but his 'MySpace' doesn't seem to like us!<BR/>He's playing really well these days going by some tracks on 'MySpace' - I'll try adding them again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-73378809897808545642009-03-23T09:49:00.000+00:002009-03-23T09:49:00.000+00:00Mentioning The Gosforth Hotel - I remember some se...Mentioning The Gosforth Hotel - I remember some sessions there - a quintet with Cormack Loane alto, a fine trumpeter plus R/Secn. It was a quintet playing all the bebop heads - Anthropology, Confirmation, Donna Lee etc.<BR/>Anyone remember these and who the others were?<BR/>RolyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-75264982106103987172009-03-22T12:06:00.000+00:002009-03-22T12:06:00.000+00:00Hi Lance,Apart from Nigel playing with the Newcast...Hi Lance,<BR/><BR/>Apart from Nigel playing with the Newcastle Big Band, and blowing up a storm, I do remember hearing recordings of a session at the Gosforth Hotel (Pub) On Gosforth High Street, that had my father, Nigel, Grahame Shephard (Clarinet & Tenor) & Don Eddy on drums, can not remember who the bass or piano was, but these live recordings sounded great, what a shame they have Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-32806267737611939712009-03-18T11:25:00.000+00:002009-03-18T11:25:00.000+00:00Very many happy memories of the Sunday lunch time ...Very many happy memories of the Sunday lunch time big band sessions. <BR/>I can remember my oldest son aged then about 3 rendered speechless at the volume of sound. His Dad contributing to the volume..;o)<BR/><BR/>RIP Nigel.<BR/><BR/>Hilary Gilby.Hilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09957294544351129658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-25966344069121807632009-03-16T17:12:00.000+00:002009-03-16T17:12:00.000+00:00Hi LanceI remember on a Sunday lunchtime in the ba...Hi Lance<BR/><BR/>I remember on a Sunday lunchtime in the bar of the University Theatre hearing Nigel Stanger play Hammond organ every bit as well as he played alto.It must have been a Last Exit session with Nigel sitting in.<BR/><BR/>A great talent.<BR/><BR/>Roly mentions another alto player.Was it Cormac Loane ? I think he went to London.What ever happened to him ?<BR/><BR/>RussellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-28027924984677069332009-03-16T09:10:00.000+00:002009-03-16T09:10:00.000+00:00So many emotions from one saxophone! Nigel could c...So many emotions from one saxophone! Nigel could conjure up all of them in one solo. He could effortlessly change from phrases which left you feeling really sad to red hot exciting passages that had your hair standing up. I've never heard anyone else do that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-13732901057407516082009-03-15T16:31:00.000+00:002009-03-15T16:31:00.000+00:00It's hard to believe that the Big Band last roared...It's hard to believe that the Big Band last roared regularly in Yes! the 70's.<BR/><BR/>Nigel was not just the powerful and innovative player that Lance describes and honours, but was much more of a renaissance man.<BR/>A good deal of the arrangements and a not insignificant part of the humour which was the hallmark of those Sundays emanated from Nigel's stage whispered asides.<BR/>I remember himAndyHudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425841361588411633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2890708154880054256.post-11179727987377731732009-03-15T12:27:00.000+00:002009-03-15T12:27:00.000+00:00Yes - fond memories of those marvellous Sunday lun...Yes - fond memories of those marvellous Sunday lunch big band sessions at the Ncle Uni Playhouse foyer. It used to be heaving - packed out. Sting on bass, Nigel, another fine alto player (Cormack Loame was it?), animated Andy Hudson at piano and conducting things. John Hedley playing bursts of Nola. Plus a plethora of local players. <BR/>Heady days. Am I getting nostalgic in my old age? I fear soAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com