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| Bobby Pratt... |
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Trumpet player Bobby Pratt was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in January, 1927. He was a professional musician from the age of sixteen and had a year with Ken Mackintosh, from March 1948, before joining Ted Heath in 1949 and staying with him until November 1960. He was a mainstay of the Heath trumpet section, both as lead and featured soloist and his high note trumpet duets with Bert Ezzard became highlights of the band's appearances. |
When he left Ted Heath in 1960 to become freelance he was in demand for jazz big band work and played in the big bands of Humphrey Lyttelton and Eddie Harvey and was also a member of the Downbeat Big Band, Tubby Hayes' Big Band, Tommy Watt and Jack Parnell. He took his own life in June, 1968 at the early age of forty one... |
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Ted Heath and his Music - 1949 (Decca) Ted Heath Ted Heath and his Music - 1950 to 1959 (Decca) Ted Heath Tommy Whittle Septet - October 23rd, 1951 (Melodisc) Bobby Pratt (tp), Roy Willox (as), Tommy Whittle (ts), George Hunter (bs), Frank Horrox (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Wit's End*/Portland Place*/Sam's Say*/Night And Day*. (*Jasmine CD - Bop-in' Britain Vol 1) The Kirchin Band - December 8th, 1954 (Decca DFE6237) Murray Campbell, Frank Donlan, Stan Palmer, Norman Baron, Bobby Pratt* (tp), Brian Hayden (as), Norman Hunt, John Xerri, (ts), George Robinson (bs), Johnny Patrick (p), Ronnie Seabrook (b), Basil Kirchin (d), Johnny Grant (vcl), Ivor Kirchin (dir). Mambo Nothing/Minor Mambo*/Lover Come Back To Me (vcl JG)/Mother Goose Jumps (vcl JG). The Kirchin Band - January 18th, 1955 (Parlophone R3985) Murray Campbell, Frank Donlan, Stan Palmer, Norman Baron, Bobby Pratt (tp), Brian Hayden (as), Norman Hunt, John Xerri, (ts), George Robinson (bs), Johnny Patrick (p), Ronnie Seabrook (b), Basil Kirchin (d), Ivor Kirchin (dir). Lester Leaps The Mambo*/Lanigiro*. (*Vocalion CD - The Kirchin Band - Gotta Be This Or That) The Kirchin Band - March 1st, 1955 (Parlophone R4018/R4010) Trevor Lanigan, Frank Donlan, Stan Palmer, Norman Baron, Bobby Pratt (or Stan Reynolds) (tp), Brian Hayden (as), Norman Hunt, John Xerri (ts), George Robinson (bs), Johnny Patrick (p), Ronnie Seabrook (b), Basil Kirchin (d), Ivor Kirchin (dir). Bandbox*/Tweedle Dee*. (*Vocalion CD - The Kirchin Band - Gotta Be This Or That) March 14th, 1955 (Parlophone R4018/R4010) Personnel as March 1st except add Johnny Grant (vcl). (Oh Baby) Beedleumbo (vcl JG)*/Mambo Rock (vcl JG)*. (*Vocalion CD - The Kirchin Band - Gotta Be This Or That) Vic Feldman Big Band - December 12th, 1956 (Tempo TAP12) Bobby Pratt, Jimmy Deuchar, Dizzy Reece (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Ronny Scott, Tubby Hayes (ts), Joe Temperley (bs), John Burden (french horn), Jim Powell (tuba), Norman Stenfalt (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). (Pete King (bs) replaces Joe Temperley on "Karen"). Blues In Two Modes*^/Jennie*/One Momentum*/Karen*^. (*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 2) (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Tubby Hayes - The Little Giant) Johnny Keating All Stars - April 29th and 30th, 1957 (Swinging Scots - London LTZD 15122) Johnny Keating Kenny Baker's Dozen - May 1st, 1958 (Nixa) Kenny Baker, Jimmy Watson, Bobby Pratt, Pete Winslow, Bert Courtley (tp), Don Lusher, Maurice Pratt, Ken Goldie, Jackie Armstrong (tb), Jack Lewellyn, Chick Lavelle (g), Jack Fallon (b), Phil Seamen (d). Bakerloo Non-stop* (Other titles on this LP by others). (*Castle 3CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) 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) The Downbeat Big Band - September 1st, 1960 (BBC "Jazz Club" Broadcast, introduced by Alan Dell) details Tubby Hayes And His Orchestra - March 28th, 1961 (Fontana TFL5142) (JM0861) Tubby Hayes (ts), Bobby Pratt, Stan Roderick, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Don Lusher, Jimmy Wilson, Keith Christie, Ray Premru (tb), Alfie Rees (tu), Johnny Scott (pic), Terry Shannon (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Bill Eyden (d). Love Walked In*/Tubbsville*/Cherokee*. (*Impressed-Repressed CD - Tubbs) Tubby Hayes Orchestra - June 8th, 1961 (BBC "Jazz Club" Broadcast. Programme introduced by Alan Dell) details 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. Johnny Keating & his Band - 1964 (Swing revisited - London SP44034) Johnny Keating |
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