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| British modern jazz - from the 1940s through to mid 1960s... |
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British modern jazz began in the early 1940s and by 1948/49 our bebop had begun in the London clubs as an imitation of the American bebop developed by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and others. It proved difficult for many musicians and the public to get to grips with and soon moved into a less frenetic 'post bop' phase that lasted for fifteen years or more and, at its peak of popularity, attracted a good following... This website contains discographies for the major musicians and one of the main aims of this website is to indicate where the music of the period can be found now on CD. A number of companies have re-issued some of this classic jazz, notably Jasmine (Tempo, Vogue and others), Ember, and Vocalion (Decca). Several smaller companies have issued a number of old Esquire recordings but a large chunk of Esquire mid 1950s recording back catalogue remains unissued in CD format. The site will contain biographical details of the pioneer musicians as well as others who came to prominence in the 1950s...Tony Hall writing in 1960 said that he has spoken to many musicians, asking for the names of those who played the most important roles in the development of British bebop. Five names figured on everybody's list: trumpeter/pianist Denis Rose (top of everybody's list), guitarists Pete Chilver and Dave Goldberg, pianist Ralph Sharon, and pianist/drummer/leader Tony Crombie... Recording opportunities were few and far between for jazz musicians in the 1950s. Fans with money to buy jazz records chose American music. Only small independent labels such as Esquire, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and Tempo in the mid and later 1950s were issuing records of the British jazz. By the mid 1950s only Tempo were recording significantly and they went out of business in 1960. The website was created in 2005 and is updated and expanded regularly. I regard the website as a tribute to the music and musicians of a somewhat forgotten period of British jazz. With the exception of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott the musicians have faded from the memory of many who enjoyed the music live. If you can add information or photographs or correct anything on the website please contact me (David Taylor). 
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Updated November 20th, 2009 Sad to record the recent death of Geoff Taylor at the age of eighty. Playing alto sax he was one of our first modern jazz musicians, recording with the Melody Maker's New Stars and his own Geoff Taylor Sextet in the early 1950s, and later working with other star names. Drummer Phil Seamen has many fans around the world. I have updated his website page to include details of the new compilation CD The Late Great Phil Seamen released recently. It contains samples of his work with bands of varying sizes and styles from 1953 to 1971. In 1988 trumpeter Digby Fairweather founded the National Jazz Archive and in November they are holding a special event to celebrate their 21st Anniversary... details...    Pages on this website are updated regularly when new information becomes available or new CDs are issued. Any information on these topics is always welcome... |