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| Eddie Blair... |
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Eddie Blair was born in Scotland in June 1927. He had a local dance band background before his break came in 1951 when Johnny Dankworth invited him to replace Jimmy Deuchar in the Johnny Dankworth Seven. He was a fine trumpeter, a fluent improviser who was at home in the big bands or in the small groups. When Dankworth formed his big band in 1953 he remained until 1954 when he left to join the Ted Heath Band. He was a frequent solo player in the jazz titles and stayed with Heath from May 1954 until the summer of 1965. He was much in demand on a freelance basis as section player and soloist and his name appears in many discographies of the time. |
The discography below contains full details of the small group recordings that Eddie Blair made plus 'one off' big bands. He made a lot of records with the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra where solo opportunities were more limited and a link is given to the detail of these records. Details are also held elsewhere on the website for the many recordings he made with Ted Heath. |
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Johnny Dankworth Seven - November 8th, 1951 (Esquire) Johnny Dankworth (as), Don Rendell (ts), Eddie Blair (tp), Eddie Harvey (tb), Bill Le Sage (p), Eric Dawson (b), Eddie Taylor (d), Cleo Laine (vcl). Mr And Mississippi (vcl CL)^/Lush Life (vcl CL)^/Strictly Confidential*^/Allen's Alley*. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (^Salvo 4CD Box set - I Hear Music - A Celebration of the Life and Work of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth) December 17th, 1951 (Esquire) personnel as above. It's No Sin (vcl CL)/Wedding Of The Painted Doll/Stomping At The Savoy*/Myob*. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) March 4th, 1952 (Esquire) personnel as November 8th 1951, add Frank Holder (vcl) and Cleo Laine (vcl). I've Got You Under My Skin (vcl FH)/The Very Thought Of You (vcl CL)^/Bopscotch*/Our Delight*. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (^Salvo 4CD Box set - I Hear Music - A Celebration of the Life and Work of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth) February 10th, 1953 (Parlophone) Johnny Dankworth (as), Don Rendell (ts), Eddie Blair (tp), Eddie Harvey (tb), Bill Le Sage (p), Eric Dawson (b), Tony Kinsey (d), Frank Holder (bgo-1), Cleo Laine (voc-2). Two Ticks*/Moon Flowers(1)*/Honeysuckle Rose(2)*#/Swingin'*. (*Avid 2 CD set - Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine - Spread a Little Happiness) (#EMI 2 CD set - The Best Of Johnny Dankworth) Johnny Dankworth Seven - May 6th, 1953 (Parlophone) Personnel as February 10th, + Frank Holder (vcl), Cleo Laine (vcl). Easy Living(vcl CL)*^#/Oo-De Boop*/I Get A Kick Out Of You(vcl FH)*. (*Avid 2 CD set - Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine - Spread a Little Happiness) (^Salvo 4CD Box set - I Hear Music - A Celebration of the Life and Work of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth) (#EMI 2 CD set - The Best Of Johnny Dankworth) Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - November 12th, 1953 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - December 23rd, 1953 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - January 21st, 1954 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - April 14th, 1954 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - June 1st, 1954 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - August 9th, 1954 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - October 6th, 1954 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - November 3rd, 1954 (Parlophone) - recording details: Johnny Dankworth Ted Heath and his Music - August 21st, 1955 (Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Cleo Laine with... - December 13th, 1955 (Nixa NJE1010) Cleo Laine (vcl), Eddie Blair (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Dougie Robinson (as), Tommy Whittle (as Virgil Nameless) (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Max Harris (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Eddie Taylor (d), Johnny Dankworth (arr). Jeepers Creepers*/I'm Beginning To See The Light*/Deep In A Dream*/I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket*. (#Avid 2 CD set - Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine - Spread a Little Happiness) Johnny Keating All Stars - March 19th and 20th, 1956 (British Jazz - Oriole MG20011) Eddie Blair (tp), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Strictly For Kyx*/Good Life*. Eddie Blair (tp), Bob Efford (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Ultraviolet*. Eddie Blair (tp), Don Rendell (ts), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Eddie Blair's Picnic*. Eddie Blair, Bobby Pratt (tp), Jimmy Wilson (tb), Ian Powell (tu), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Don Rendell, Tommy Whittle (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d), Dizzy Reece (bgo-1). Gibraltar Rocks*/Piccadilly Jumps* (1). Eddie Blair (tp), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Lazy*. (*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots) Johnny Keating All Stars - April 29th and 30th, 1957 (Swinging Scots - London LTZD 15122)(JM1058) Bobby Pratt, Tommy McQuater, Eddie Blair, Duncan Campbell, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Jock Bain, Jimmy Wilson, Wally Smith, George Chisholm (tb), Burt Harden (tu), George Hunter, Ronnie Baker (as), Tommy Whittle, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Hampden Roars*/Down South Blues*/Clachnacudan Local*. Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Burt Harden (tu), George Hunter (as), Tommy Whittle, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Headin' North*/Loch Ness Monster*. Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ronnie Baker (as,cl), Tommy Whittle (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Andy Dennits (p), Alan Metcalfe (g), Jack Seymour (b), Bobby Orr (d). Thistle Swing*/Tam O'Shanter*/Kiltie*. (*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots) Melody Maker's All-Stars - October, 1957 (All the Winners - Nixa NJT509 ) Kenny Baker, Eddie Blair, Bert Courtley (tp), George Chisholm, Keith Christie, Don Lusher (tb), Joe Harriott (as), Don Rendell, Jimmy Skidmore (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Bill Le Sage (vib), Dave Lee (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Allan Ganley (d). Top score*/Mood Indigo*. (Other titles on this LP are by Kenny Baker's Half Dozen, Dill Jones Trio, Vic Ash Quintet, Don Rendell jazz Six and Cleo Laine). (*Castle 3CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) (*Vocalion CD - Presenting Kenny Graham) Ted Heath and his Music - End of December, 1957 and early January, 1958 (Our kind of jazz - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Ted Heath and his Music - June 26th, and July 3rd and 17th 1958 (Ted Heath swings in Hi-Stereo - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - February 16th, 1959 (London LL3132) Humphrey Lyttelton, Eddie Blair, Bert Courtley, Bobby Pratt (tp), John Picard, Eddie Harvey, Keith Christie (tb), Tony Coe (as,cl), Ronnie Ross (as), Jimmy Skidmore, Kathy Stobart (ts), Joe Temperley (bs), Ian Armit (p), Brian Brocklehurst (b), Eddie Taylor (d). Swingtime In The Rockies*/I Can't Get Started*/For Dancers Only*/Alligator Crawl*. (*Vocalion CD - Humphrey Lyttelton and his band - Humph dedicates) Ted Heath and his Music - February to April, 1959 (My very good friends the bandleaders - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Vic Lewis and his Group - June 24th, 1959 (Concept VL5) Eddie Blair, Les Condon (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Roy East (as), Ronnie Scott (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Bill Sutcliffe (b), Dave Pearson (d), Vic Lewis (dir). I Never Knew A Love Like This/Salt Peanuts/Mound Bayou/Little Girl/Pennsylvania Turnpike*/Stanhope Place*. (*Vocalion CD - Vic Lewis & His Big Band - Tea Break, Back Again & Jazz From Two Sides) Ted Heath and his Music - July, 1959 (Ted Heath in concert - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath The Downbeat Big Band - September 1st, 1960 (BBC "Jazz Club" Broadcast, introduced by Alan Dell) Bobby Pratt, Les Condon, Jimmy Deuchar, Eddie Blair (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Alan Branscombe (as), Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott (ts), Jackie Sharpe (bs), Terry Shannon (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Victor Feldman (d). Ah Bah Chu/East Of The Sun (inc.). In October, 2009 Gearbox Records released a limited edition vinyl 12" LP of a 1962 BBC Jazz for Moderns broadcast. This has never been available commercially before... The Tubby Hayes Band - February 21st, 1962 (Gearbox GB1502) Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), with: Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Ken Wray (v-tb), Johnny Scott, Bob Efford, Vic Ash, Harry Klein (reeds), Alan Civil (frh), David Snell (harp), Gordon Beck (p), Freddy Logan (b), Allan Ganley (d). Take Your Partners For The Blues/Peace/Souriya/Down In The Village/Early Morning Afterthoughts. Ted Heath and his Music - May, 1963 (Satin Saxes and Bouncing Brass - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Ted Heath and his Music - October 24th, 1964 recorded at Kingsway Hall (Palladium revisited - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Johnny Keating & his Band - 1964 (Swing revisited - London SP44034) Bert Courtley, Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar, Stan Reynolds (tp), Keith Christie, Johnny Edwards, Maurice Pratt (tb), Maurice Gee (b-tb), Jim Buck, Ian Beers, Brian Brett, Charles Blomfield (fhrn), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sop), Roy Willox (as,f), Duncan Lamont (ts,cl), Tubby Hayes (ts,f), Dan Halliwell (bs,as), Reg Guest (p), Jim Sullivan (g), Freddy Logan (b), Ronnie Verrell (d), Barry Morgan (cga). Night Train*/When The Saints Go Marching In*/The Stripper*/What'd I Say*/Li'l Darlin'*/Opus One*/I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo*/Tuxedo Junction*/Oh, Lonesome Me*/Headin' North*/Hallelujah Gathering*/One O'clock Jump* . (*Vocalion CD - Swing revisited) Joe Harriott / John Mayer Double Quintet - October 10th, 1965 (Indo Jazz Suite - Columbia SCX/SX6025) Eddie Blair (tp,flhrn), Chris Taylor (fl), Joe Harriott (as), Pat Smythe (p), John Mayer (vln,harpsichord), Diwan Motihar (sitar), Rick Laird (b), Allan Ganley (d), + tambura + tabla. Overture/Contrasts/Raga Megha/Raga Gaud-Saranga. Dave Lee and his Orchestra - c1965 (Jazz improvisations of our man Crichton - Colpix PXL 550) Eddie Blair (tp,fl-hrn), Kenny Wheeler (tp,t-hrn), Keith Christie (tb), Alf Rees (tu), Roy Willox (as,f), Tubby Hayes (ts,f,vib), Ronnie Ross (bs,b-cl), Dave Lee (p), Spike Heatley (b), Kenny Clare, Ronnie Stephenson (d). Manners Maketh Man/Let's Find An Island/Our Kind Of People/Yesterday's World/Little Darling/I Tried/I Never Looked For You/Oh! For A Husband/My Time Will Come/Were I As Good (Tommy Whittle replaces Hayes on this title only). Stan Tracey Big Band - March 8th/9th, 1966 (Alice in Jazzland - Columbia SX6051, SXC6051) - recording details: Stan Tracey Kenny Clare / Ronnie Stephenson Big Band - July 6th, 1966 (Drum spectacular - Columbia TWO146) Kenny Baker, Eddie Blair, Stan Roderick, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Keith Christie, Don Lusher, Johnny Marshall (tb), Jackie Armstrong (b-tb), Douggie Robinson, Roy Willox (as), Tony Coe, Tubby Hayes (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Freddy Logan (b), Kenny Clare, Ronnie Stephenson (d). The Hawk Talks/Topsy/Dual Carriageway/Afro Charlie. George Chisholm and the Magnificent Seven - c1967 (The Magnificent Seven - Columbia SCX6195) Eddie Blair (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Roy Willox (as), Keith Bird (ts), Tony Coe (ts,bs), Max Harris (p), Lennie Bush (b), Bobby Orr (d). It's The Talk Of The Town/Point Left Right/It's The Bluest Kind Of Blues/Avroma/Dear Old Southland/Seven Up/Three Four Aft/Tic Tac/The Midnight Sun Will Never Set/I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance../You Turned The Tables On Me. Ted Heath and his Music - September 27th and 28th, 1967 (Swing is King - Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Acker Bilk and the Stan Tracey Big Brass - January, 1968 (Blue Acker - Columbia TWO230) - recording details: Stan Tracey Ted Heath and his Music - May 30th and 31st, 1968 (Swing is King Volume 2- Decca) - recording details: Ted Heath Stan Tracey Big Brass - August 20th and 21st, 1968 (We Love You Madly - Columbia S(C)X 6320) - recording details: Stan Tracey Alan Branscombe & Friends - November 7th/8th, 1968 (Swingin' on the sound stage- vol 1 Esquire S332) Eddie Blair (tp), Alan Branscombe (as-1), Duncan Lamont (as), Dick Abel (g), Joe Muddel (b), Chris Karan (d). Tangerine/Close Your Eyes (1). Alan Branscombe & Friends - November 7th/8th, 1968 (Swingin' on the sound stage- vol 2 Esquire S342) Eddie Blair (tp), Duncan Lamont (ts), Alan Branscombe (p,vib), Ian McPherson (harpsichord - 1), Dick Abel (g), Joe Muddel (b), Chris Karan (d). Wondering If Ever (1)/I Hadn't Anyone Till You/I'll Remember April/Quiet Nights/My Funny Valentine. The Don Lusher Big Band - October 18th and 19th, 1979 (Don Lusher Big Band - Chandos BBR1006) Don Lusher |
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