Despite pubs closing at the rate of 24 a week and price rises for everything the local jazz venues seem to be surviving thanks to loyal support and despite the Government’s efforts to scupper the entertainment industry with unfair escalating tax on petrol and increases on alcohol when pubs are struggling.
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FOR SALE On sale (see the For Sale page) are some of my collection of saxophones and woodwinds. For anyone who wants to start playing an instrument there are inexpensive guaranteed flutes and clarinets that are good enough to play professionally from £50 as well as specialist collectors items including a silver plated Vintage Selmer “Sterling” Silver Metal Clarinet.
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JAZZ PILGRIMS Check out Burt Butler's website www.jazzpilgrims.co.uk for his Hall of Fame with sound bites of musicians past and present.
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IQ SCORES
Two men were in a bar and one said I've had my IQ checked and it was 180. The other replied, that's a coincidence, so is mine. What do you do for a living? I am a brain surgeon was the response. What a surprise replied the second man, so am I. A man further along the bar asked his neighbour did you hear that. My IQ is only 52. The other man said, that is a coincidence, so is mine - what make of drum kit do you play?
JAZZ PIANIST
Two ladies walking along a footpath saw a frog. One of the ladies picked up the frog who said "If you give me a kiss I'll turn into a fantastic jazz pianist". She put the frog into her pocket. The other lady asked "Why didn't you kiss him?" "Because" she replied, "I can make more money out of a talking frog"!
WHEN JAZZ PLAYERS EARNED MORE THAN SINGERS
The payroll for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra's appearance at the Mosque Theatre, Newark, New Jersey for the last week in January 1928 shows how values have changed. Star jazz players and arrangers commanded the top salaries while mere vocalists were considered relatively unskilled. The payroll included 300 dollars each for Bix Beiderbecke (cornet) and Jimmy Dorsey (sax); 375 dollars for the arranger Ferde Grofe; but only 150 dollars for Bing Crosby. The orchestra carried two banjo players earning 300 dollars and 200 dollars. No wonder Bix Beiderbecke had a drink problem!
SAXOPHONE ENTERPRISE
The lift was out of order at Covent Garden tube station. As I descended the spiral stairs a beautiful saxophone sound floated up. When I reached the bottom the sound stopped and an angry London Transport official was berating the busker. Several people intervened "leave him alone", "the music was cheering us up." The official asked "Did you walk down?", "Yes" I replied. "You know why" he said, "this is the lift attendant. He has been warned twice about putting the lift out of action and busking. Now he is for the sack" I hope he made it as a sax player!
A TV SESSION WITH BOBBY BREEN
TV South had an evening local news programme and every month or so the producer used to feature a jazz spot. Their small studio in Dover only had two cameras so one was used for close ups and the other moved around taking long shots from different angles. West Indian singer Bobby Breen was the guest. Bobby who had a lisp chose to sing "Route Thixty Thix" and "Like Thomeone in Luth". After a talk through in the pub which lasted from eleven to three we returned to record the two songs and interview in one continuous take ready for unedited transmission at six. The first take was too long. The second take was fine but unuseable because in the interview Bobby was asked to what he owed his success and answered "draft Guinneth". The next take was great. Everyone played well and in my four bar solo break everything came off better than intended. Unfortunately the distance cameraman slipped on a cable and came up with a shot of Bobby Breen's boots. By this time we were running short of film and time. The final take was relatively tame as everybody played safe. But an enduring memory is Bobby singing "Lately I find mythelth gathing at thtarth, hearing guitarth like thomone in luth".