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| Kenny Graham... |
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Born in Ealing on July 19th, 1924 Kenny played his first professional job at the age of 16 on alto saxophone before switching to tenor just before he went into the army when 17. Played in a number of dance bands throughout the 1940s including Johnny Claes Claepigeons (1942), the Feldman Club band (1947), Nat Gonella (1948), Victor Feldman's Sextet (1949), and Harry Klein's Quintet (early 1950) before forming his own original group, Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists in April 1950. In 1942 he had volunteered for the army and spent three and a half years out of music. Along with Ronnie Scott, Johnny Dankworth and Denis Rose he was, as a tenor saxist, composer and arranger, a genuine, often overlooked pioneer of the modern jazz movement in Britain. He truly was a pioneer, although Dizzy Gillespie had used Afro Cuban rhythm to colour his big band modern jazz arrangements and Machito and others had combined their purely Latin bands with modern jazz soloists Kenny Graham was the only musician to convincingly fuse Afro-Cuban rhythms with modern jazz in a small group context. After a spell with the Ambrose band, the one with the contingent of modernists, Kenny took the plunge and formed his own group the Afro-Cubists in April 1950 which he led for two years. The band was an artistic success and a lot of fun but the public did not take to it and it was a financial disaster disbanding after two years when trumpeter Jo Hunter and drummer Dicky DeVere quit. Kenny then played for five months 1952/3 on baritone sax with Jack Parnell, occasionally. reforming the Afro-Cubists, with widely differing line ups, for recording sessions or the odd live date. He was much in demand as a powerful swinging tenor player and played with a variety of mainly dance bands. From 1955 he concentrated on writing to the exclusion of tenor playing and wrote many arrangements for Ted Heath and Humphrey Lyttelton as well as acting as musical director at recording sessions and providing backing for many on record. Kenny's tenor playing matured over the years into a post-Lester style - as a person he was completely dedicated to his strong belief in how jazz should sound. whatever the reasons he drifted into what he called musical labouring and for the last thirty years of life he was virtually inactive on the jazz scene. He died in London mid-February 1997. |
 Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists... How did the band come about? In his early dance band days, as first tenor, Kenny had little chance to blow jazz, so when most of the band left the stand for the then obligatory Latin American dance sequence, he would stay on, quietly blowing some jazz to the accompaniment of the bangers and shakers of the rhythm section and it seemed to fit! So Kenny took the plunge and formed his own group the Afro-Cubists who made their debut at Sutton in Surrey in April 1950. It was an amalgam of bebop, African and Cuban rhythms and super-modern harmonies. The next two years produced "unique exciting jazz, breadline money, a pile of debts and a load of fun". The jazz personnel remained constant until the final months when Jo Hunter and Dickie Devere left for financial betterment. Kenny implied that there was a reticence among musicians to join such a rhythm heavy outfit so the acquisition of unknowns was not entirely accidental. Without Kenny's determination the band would not have survived two months, let alone two years, but by March 1952 disaster stared him in the face and he disbanded. He reformed periodically for dates with Esquire, a few club engagements and a broadcast, but never again as a regular unit. During the band's short life it notched up a few firsts - they were the opening attraction at Studio 51 which remained the mecca of British modernism, rivalled two years later by Jazz at The Flamingo whose opening attraction was a later version of the Afro-Cubists. They were the first group to broadcast on the BBC's Jazz For Moderns. |
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An ongoing tragedy is that not a single recording of the original Afro-Cubists is currently available on CD. Only one recording date, made with a studio band that was nothing like the original group line up is currently available. In the period from February 1951 to September 1955 Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists recorded some 54 titles for Esquire records of which only six from 1951 were ever re-issued in a long discontinued 4 CD set (Bebop in Britain). Sixteen titles, (up to 5/2/53), were issued on an LP issued by Esquire in the 1970s in the Treasure Chest re-issue series. This is titled "Mango Walk - Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists Volume One". Volume Two included his Caribbean Suite.... Kenny Graham - Britain's jazz original... Nat Gonella and his Georgians - July 22nd, 1946 (Decca RFL12) Nat Gonella, Monty Montgomery, Bruts Gonella, Fred Dinning (tp), Frank Osbourne (tb), Bertie King, Sandy Herd (as), Ronnie West, Kenny Graham (as,ts) Al Dallaway (p,arr), Roy Plummer (g), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Murder. Harry Hayes And His Orchestra - c1947 (HMV) Big band including: Harry Hayes (as), Kenny Graham (ts), Tommy Pollard (p). Four titles (details not known). Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - February 10th, 1951 (Esquire) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Jack Honeybourne (p), Roy Plummer (g), Cliff Ball (b), Dickie Devere (d) + maracas, conga and bongo. Mango Walk*#/Pina Colada*#. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (#Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s) Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - June 4th, 1951 (Esquire) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Ralph Dollimore (p), Roy Plummer (g), Cliff Ball (b), Dickie Devere (d) + maracas & conga. Chloe*/Over The Rainbow*/Skylon*/Dome Of Discovery*. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) Ronnie Scott & Kenny Graham - December 3rd, 1951 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Kenny Graham (ts), Victor Feldman (vib), Ralph Sharon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d), plus other rhythm. Not So Fast#+/Battle Royal*^#+/Fast+/Twin Beds+. (^Ember CD - Ronnie Scott Legacy) (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (#Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s) (+Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - February 13th, 1952 (Esquire) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Ralph Dollimore (p), Roy Plummer (g), Stan Wasser (b), Don Lawson (d) + maracas, conga and bongo. Mike Fright/Pip Squeak/Kenny's Jig/Cuban Canon. Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - October 8th, 1952 (Esquire) Terry Brown (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Ralph Dollimore (p), Bruce Swain (b), Dicky Devere (d) + maracas, conga and bongo. Boom/Barbados/All The King's Horses/Peanut Vendor. Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - February 5th, 1953 (Esquire) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham , Derek Humble, Joe Temperley, Bertie King (ts), Oscar Birch (bs), Ralph Dollimore (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d) + conga. I'll Remember April/Jump For Joe (two takes)/A Night In Tunisia (two takes)/Take The 'A' Train (three takes). Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - April 29th, 1953 (Esquire 20-012) (JMC2) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham, Norman Fantham, Eddie Mordue, Wally Moffatt (ts), Oscar Birch (bs), Ralph Dollimore (p), Joe Muddel (b), Phil Seamen (d) + maracas and conga. Afro-Kadabra (parts 1 and 2)/Flamingo/Keni B'sindika. On Esquire LP 20-023, (titled Caribbean Suite), the eight movements of Graham's 'Caribbean Suite' are linked together by Dennis Preston's narration, which was dubbed on later. Recording details as below: Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - October 23rd* and 27th, 1953 (*Esquire 20-023) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham, Joe Temperley, Norman Fantham, Eddie Mordue (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Dill Jones (p), Roy Plummer (g)*, Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d), Judy Johnson (voc), + maracas. Beguine*/Tempo Medio Lento*/Saga Boy*/Bongo Chant*#/Mango Walk/Dance Of The Zombies/Wha' Happin' Sah?/Haitian Ritual#. (#SWP Records CD - The Late, Great Phil Seamen) Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - April 27th, 1954 (Esquire) Dizzy Reece (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Joe Harriott (as), Eddie Mordue (bs), Freddy Logan (b), Ginger Johnson (d). The Continental/Cottontail/Fascinating Rhythm/Blues In The Night. Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - August 23rd, 1954 (Esquire) Kenny Graham (ts), Dave Goldberg (g), Arthur Watts (b), Phil Seamen (d), + conga. Good Bait/Bike Up The Strand. Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - December 3rd, 1954 (Esquire) Kenny Graham (ts), Dave Goldberg (g), Freddy Logan (b), + maracas and conga. Jeepers Creepers/Sunday, Monday or Always/The Nearness Of You/Lover Come Back To Me. Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - May 6th, 1955 (Esquire EP83*) (JMC17*/25^) Leo Wright (tp), Kenny Graham, Eddie Mordue, Pete King, Alan Rowe (ts), Bill Andrews (bs), Lennie Metcalfe (p), Victor Feldman (vib,conga), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d). Caravan*/Kings Cross Climax*/When Your Lover Has Gone^/When A Bodgie Meets A Widgie^. Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - September 8th, 1955 (Esquire 20-064) (JMC18) Kenny Graham (ts), Victor Feldman (vib,conga,p,d), Ray Dempsey (g), Eric Peter (b), Phil Seamen (d,vib), + maracas and conga. Mogambo/Keep Happy/Algo Bueno/SOS. Ronnie Scott/Tony Crombie Orchestra - February 18th, 1956 (Decca LF1261...10" LP) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Kenny Graham (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Les Condon (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Stan Tracey (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Basie Talks*/It Might As Well Be Spring*/Drop Me Off At Harlem/Ting-A-Ling/Straight Life/Flying Home. (*Ember CD - Ronnie Scott Legacy) Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - May 25th, 1956 (Tenorama - Nixa NJL4) Kenny Graham (ts), Jack Ellory (f), Major Holley (b), Phil Seamen (d), + maracas and bongo. Poinciana*/Teddy Boy*. (*Vocalion CD - Presenting Kenny Graham) From the 2nd to 11th July, 1956 MGM recorded an LP(C764) comprising Kenny Graham's ''Moondog suite'' and "Suncat suite". In the listing below titles marked * are from the "Suncat suite", all others are from the "Moondog suite". Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - July 2nd, 1956 (MGM C764) Kenny Graham (ts), Danny Moss (b-cl), Jack Ellory (f), Stan Tracey (cel), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d), Don Lawson (perc), Yolanda (voc), + maracas. Lullaby. Stan Tracey (vib), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d), Don Lawson (perc), Yolanda (voc), + maracas. Tropical Sun*. Kenny Graham (ts), Danny Moss (b-cl), Stan Tracey (acc), Martin Slavin (vib), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d), Don Lawson (perc). Sunday*. July 3rd, 1956 (MGM C764) Kenny Graham (ts), Stan Tracey (vib), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d), Don Lawson (perc). One Four*. (#SWP Records CD - The Late, Great Phil Seamen) Kenny Graham (ts), Danny Moss (b-cl), Jack Ellory (fl), Stan Tracey (or Martin Slavin) (vib), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d), Don Lawson (perc). 2 West 42nd Street. Kenny Graham (ts), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen, Don Lawson (perc). Two Four/Three Four/Four Four/Five Four*. (#SWP Records CD - The Late, Great Phil Seamen) July 4th, 1956 (MGM C764) Kenny Graham (ts), Danny Moss (b-cl), Jack Ellory (fl), Sammy Stokes (b), Don Lawson, Eddie Taylor (perc). Fog On The Hudson. Kenny Graham (ts), Danny Moss (b-cl), Jack Ellory (fl), Stan Tracey (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Don Lawson, Eddie Taylor (perc). Sunbeam*. Kenny Graham (ts), Danny Moss (b-cl), Jack Ellory (fl), Stan Tracey (vib,p), Martin Slavin (xyl), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen, Don Lawson, Eddie Taylor (perc). Sunstroke*. July 11th, 1956 (MGM C764) Vic Ash (cl), Danny Moss (b-cl), Jack Ellory (fl), Ivor Slaney (oboe), Stan Tracey (vib, cel), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen, Don Lawson, (perc), Yolanda (voc) + marimba. Chant/Utsu/Sunrise*/Sunset*. Bertie King Jazz Group - September 20th, 1956 (Nixa NJT506) Kenny Baker (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Bertie King (as), Kenny Graham (ts), Cliff Townsend (bs), Derek Smith (p), Cedric West (g), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Blue Interlude*/Skip It*/Lazy Afternoon*. (*Vocalion CD - Kenny Baker & The Jazz Today Unit - Operation Jam Session) Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - January 14th, 1957 (Presenting Kenny Graham - Nixa NJL12) (JM0258) Jo Hunter (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Laddie Busby, George Chisholm (tb), Kenny Graham (ts), Cliff Townsend (bs), Stan Tracey (p,vib), Sammy Stokes (b), Jack McHardie (cga). Cuban Fantasy*/Rockin' In Rhythm*/Monkey Business*/I Dreamt I Dwelt In Harlem*. (*Castle 3CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) (*Vocalion CD - Presenting Kenny Graham) February 5th, 1957 (Nixa NJL12) (JM0258) Personnel as January 14th. Tuxedo Junction*/Swallowin' The Blues*/Don't Get Around Much Anymore*/Times A Wastin'*/Bongo Chant*. (*Castle 3CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) (*Vocalion CD - Presenting Kenny Graham) Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - February 25th, 1957 (Presenting Kenny Graham - Nixa NJL12) (JM0258) Jo Hunter (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Laddie Busby, George Chisholm (tb), Kenny Graham (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Dick Katz (vln), Eddie Thompson (p,org), Sammy Stokes (b), Frank Holder (cga). Olwen's Dream*/I'll Get By*^. (^Castle 3CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) (*Vocalion CD - Presenting Kenny Graham) |
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