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| Melody Makers readers polls (British section)... |
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| Melody Maker, the weekly trade paper for the popular music industry and jazz scene, used to run an annual readers poll where readers were invited to vote for their favourite jazz musicians. I am not sure whether the votes were for the best or the one you happened to like the most but the results were always interesting for one reason or another. The lists included both trad jazz musicians and the modern musicians. Below are the results for the years 1957 (published 19/10/57), 1958 (published 3/1/59) and 1959 (published 23/1/60) when modern jazz still had a healthy following. These are the results from the British section, there is another web page featuring British musicians in the world-wide section. I have listed the first three under each heading plus any other modern jazz musicians included in the voting... | ||
Musician of the Year 1. Johnny Dankworth (2631 votes) 2. Humphrey Lyttelton (1128) 3. Ted Heath (678) 4. Don Rendell (567) 6. Kenny Baker (111) 7. Tubby Hayes (99) 8. Dill Jones (89) 13. Dizzy Reece (54) 16. Joe Harriott (39) 17. Tony Kinsey (37) |
Musician of the Year 1. Johnny Dankworth (36.7%) 2. Humphrey Lyttelton (28.3) 3. Ronnie Ross (10.5) 4. Ted Heath (6.7) 5. Tubby Hayes (5.1) 9. Kenny Baker (1.0) 10. Ken Moule (0.9) 12= Dill Jones (0.4) Allan Ganley (0.4) |
Musician of the Year 1. Johnny Dankworth (40.9%) 2. Ronnie Ross (14.5) 3. Humphrey Lyttelton (10.0) 5. Joe Harriott (5.9) 6. Tubby Hayes (4.6) 7. Ted Heath (2.1) 11. Ronnie Scott (1.0) 13. Tony Kinsey (0.6) |
| Johnny Dankworth was the outstanding figure over this period due largely to the success of his big band. What is surprising is the comparatively low ratings given to Tubby Hayes over these years, and the success of Ronnie Ross who was playing with the Jazzmakers, a group he co-led with Allan Ganley. He also appeared in the ever popular groups led by Tony Kinsey... | ||
Big band 1. Johnny Dankworth (5829 votes) 2. Ted Heath (2185) 3. Oscar Rabin (236) 4. Vic Lewis (96) 5. Kenny Baker's dozen (59) 8. Jack Parnell (34) |
Big band 1. Johnny Dankworth (58.5%) 2. Ted Heath (29.4) 3. Humphrey Lyttelton (5.3) 4. Kenny Baker's dozen (2.5) 7. Vic Lewis (0.5) |
Big band 1. Johnny Dankworth (79.1%) 2. Ted Heath (16.3) 3. Humphrey Lyttelton (2.5) 4. Downbeat Big Band (1.1) |
| Johnny Dankworth steadily increased his percentage over the four year period, mostly at the expense of Ted Heath. Nobody else really got a look in although the Downbeat Big Band was an unexpected entry in 1960... | ||
Small combo 1. Tony Kinsey (1291 votes) 2. Humphrey Lyttelton (1044) 3. Don Rendell (840) 4. Jazz Couriers (654) 11. Tommy Whittle (70) 13. Allan Ganley (48) |
Small combo 1. Jazz Couriers (33.4%) 2. Humphrey Lyttelton (20.1) 3. Chris Barber (8.9) 5. Tony Kinsey (6.7) 6. Jazzmakers (5.9) 9. Eddie Thompson (1.6) 12. Johnny Dankworth Seven (1.3) 14. Don Rendell (0.8) |
Small combo 1. Humphrey Lyttelton (18.8%) 2. Jazzmakers (14.3) 3. Jazz Committee (10.6) 5. Joe Harriott (8.4) 6. Tony Kinsey (7.7) 7. Tubby Hayes (3.2) 11. Jazz Couriers (2.2) 15. Johnny Dankworth Seven (1.8) 18. Eddie Thompson (1.1) 19. Vic Ash (0.7) |
| Little remembered group like the Jazzmakers and Jazz Committee had a strong following as did the Johnny Dankworth Seven. The Jazz Couriers appeared in the results throughout their two year existence, although by 1960 they were no more. Although not a modern jazz musician the perrenial popularity of Humphrey Lyttelton is clearly illustrated... | ||
Trumpet 1. Kenny Baker (1589 votes) 2. Humphrey Lyttelton (1459) 3. Dizzy Reece (821) 4. Jimmy Deuchar (530) 5. Bobby Pratt (318) 6. Dickie Hawdon (225) 7. Bert Courtley (175) 8. Eddie Blair (163) |
Trumpet 1. Kenny Baker (25.2%) 2. Humphrey Lyttelton (18.2) 3. Bert Courtley (12.6) 4. Dizzy Reece (11.0) 5. Jimmy Deuchar (7.8) 7. Dickie Hawdon (3.9) 8. Bobby Pratt (2.1) 11. Eddie Blair (1.4) 16. Hank Shaw (0.5) |
Trumpet 1. Humphrey Lyttelton (24.3%) 2. Kenny Baker (16.9) 3. Bert Courtley (14.8) 4. Dizzy Reece (8.7) 5. Hank Shaw (5.3) 7. Dickie Hawdon (3.5) 8. Eddie Blair (3.0) 11. Bobby Pratt (2.4) 13. Les Condon (1.2) 15. Stu Hamer (1.0) 16. Leon Calvert (0.9) |
| If you ignore Kenny Baker and Humphrey Lyttelton the modernists outscored the trad men in this trumpet section and the big band trumpeters such as Bobby Pratt and Eddie Blair, both with the Ted Heath band, and Dickie Hawdon with Dankworth were also popular... | ||
Trombone 1. George Chisholm (2482 votes) 2. Keith Christie (1681) 3. Don Lusher (1248) 6. Eddie Harvey (341) 7. Laurie Monk (272) 8. Ken Wray (162) |
Trombone 1. George Chisholm (33.9%) 2. Keith Christie (22.3) 3. Chris Barber (14.1) 4. Don Lusher (8.2) 7. Ken Wray (3.6) 8. Eddie Harvey (3.3) 9. Laurie Monk (1.6) |
Trombone 1. George Chisholm (30.9%) 2. Keith Christie (22.2) 3. Chris Barber (12.7) 5= Don Lusher (5.9) 5= Ken Wray (5.9) 7. Laurie Monk (3.4) 9. Eddie Harvey (2.3) |
| Little change in fortunes over the years. George Chisholm, a musician who fitted seamlessly into any kind of jazz situation, was clearly the nations favourite. Keith Christie clearly had his admirers but never got near to winning... | ||
Clarinet 1. Vic Ash (3006 votes) 5. Henry Mackenzie (593) 9. Keith Bird (74) 11= Carl Barriteau (34) |
Clarinet 1. Vic Ash (27.9%) 7. Henry Mackenzie (3.4) 13= Keith Bird (0.5) 13= Carl Barriteau (0.5) |
Clarinet 1. Vic Ash (24.2%) 5. Henry Mackenzie (6.3) |
| A category that belonged to the trad jazz players. Only Vic Ash and Henry Mackenzie, from the Ted Heath band, registered among the modern men. (In this section I have not listed the first three as in other categories)... | ||
Alto sax 1. Johnny Dankworth (3175 votes) 2. Bruce Turner (1846) 3. Joe Harriott (1604) 5. Derek Humble (288) 6. Les Gilbert (89) 7= Ronnie Chamberlain (75) 7= Ronnie Ross (75) 11. Bertie King (32) |
Alto sax 1. Johnny Dankworth (62.8%) 2. Bruce Turner (14.6) 3. Joe Harriott (10.2) 5. Ronnie Ross (2.6) 6. Derek Humble (1.1) |
Alto sax 1. Joe Harriott (38.0%) 2. Johnny Dankworth (32.7) 3. Bruce Turner (17.1) 5.Alan Branscombe (2.0) |
| Joe Harriottt finally made a breakthrough with the British modern jazz fan in 1960 when he swept past serial section winner Johnny Dankworth... | ||
Tenor sax 1. Don Rendell (3203 votes) 2. Jimmy Skidmore (1219) 3. Tubby Hayes (959) 4. Tommy Whittle (773) 5. Ronnie Scott (761) 8. Bob Efford (75) 9= Keith Bird (54) 11. Duncan Lamont (34) |
Tenor sax 1. Tubby Hayes (23.8%) 2. Jimmy Skidmore (20.7) 3. Don Rendell (19.8) 4. Ronnie Scott (17.3) 5. Tommy Whittle (6.2) 7. Art Ellefson (2.0) 9. Bob Efford (1.5) 10= Ronnie Ross (0.9) 10=Kathy Stobart (0.9) |
Tenor sax 1. Tubby Hayes (33.1%) 2. Don Rendell (22.7) 3. Jimmy Skidmore (13.9) 4. Ronnie Scott (11.9) 5. Art Ellefson (6.0) 7. Bob Efford (2.3) 8. Tommy Whittle (1.4) 9. Ronnie Ross (1.3) |
| Tubby Hayes increased his share of the poll every year. Jimmy Skidmore, one of the older players remained popular... | ||
Baritone sax 1. Harry Klein (2385 votes) 2. Ronnie Ross (2281) 3. Buddy Featherstonhaugh (253) 4. Tubby Hayes (165) 5. Ken Kiddier (125) 6. Don Honeywell (78) 7= Benny Green (54) 7= Alex Leslie (54) |
Baritone sax 1. Ronnie Ross (74.8%) 2. Harry Klein (14.8) 3. Joe Temperley (7.0) 4= Tubby Hayes (0.8) 4= Benny Green (0.8) 6. Buddy Featherstonhaugh (0.6) |
Baritone sax 1. Ronnie Ross (85.0%) 2. Joe Temperley (6.7) 3. Harry Klein (4.5) 4. Tubby Hayes (1.7) |
| Over the four year period Ronnie Ross established himself as the leading baritone sax player, in the view of the voting readers. His progress came at the expense of Harry Klein who had a pedigree going back to Club Eleven... | ||
Flute |
Flute |
Flute 1. Johnny Scott (77.5%) 2. Tubby Hayes (16.7) 3. Phil Goody (4.2) |
| This category was not included in the 1957 or 1959 poll... | ||
Piano 1. Dill Jones (3941 votes) 2. Eddie Thompson (1564) 3. Frank Horrox (542) 4. Dave Lee (383) 5. Ken Moule (291) 6. Alan Clare (212) 9. Bill Le Sage (68) 11. Stan Tracey (50) 12= Terry Shannon (43) |
Piano 1. Dill Jones (34.2%) 2. Lennie Felix (13.6) 3. Dave Lee (13.2) 4. Stan Tracey (12.1) 5. Eddie Thompson (6.7) 6. Alan Clare (4.4) 8= Bill Le Sage (1.8) 8= Ken Moule (1.8) 10. Terry Shannon (1.3) 11. Norman Stenfalt (1.2) |
Piano 1. Dill Jones (22.8%) 2. Eddie Thompson (13.4) 3. Stan Tracey (12.6) 4. Dave Lee (12.5) 5. Lennie Felix (8.9) 6. Alan Clare (3.7) 7. Terry Shannon (3.0) 12= Bill Le Sage (1.8) |
| We forget now just how popular Dill Jones was at this time. He played in any type of jazz setting and eventually emigrated to the US. Eddie Thompson, Alan Clare and Dave Lee, who played with Johnny Dankworth, appeared consistently and it is possible to follow the emerging popularity of Stan Tracey... | ||
Vibes 1. Bill Le Sage (3335 votes) 2. Martin Slavin (561) 3. Tubby Hayes (428) 4. Roy Marsh (153) 5. Reg Wale (62) |
Vibes 1. Bill Le Sage (62.1) 2. Tubby Hayes (24.8) 3. Stan Tracey (6.5) 4. Lennie Best (2.8) 5. Martin Slavin (1.6) 6. Roy Marsh (0.8) 7. Reg Wale (0.6) |
Vibes 1. Bill Le Sage (58.7) 2. Tubby Hayes (26.1) 3. Stan Tracey (8.1) 4. Reg Wale (2.2) 5. Lennie Best (2.1) 6. Martin Slavin (1.4) 7. Roy Marsh (0.8) |
| There are several people listed here that I never heard live and cannot trace on record. I would appreciate information on the jazz careers of Reg Wale, Lennie Best and Roy Marsh... | ||
Bass 1. Johnny Hawksworth (2972 votes) 2. Lennie Bush (2479) 3. Sammy Stokes (1171) 5. Eric Dawson (195) 7. Malcolm Cecil (103) 8. Pete Blannin (95) 9= Bill Sutcliffe (82) 11. Arthur Watts (61) 12. Joe Muddel (57) 14. Kenny Napper (41) |
Bass 1. Johnny Hawksworth (37.2%) 2. Lennie Bush (28.3) 3. Kenny Napper (8.9) 5. Arthur Watts (3.5) 7= Eric Dawson (2.0) 10. Phil Bates (0.9) 11= Sammy Stokes (0.7) 11= Coleridge Goode (0.7) 11= Bill Sutcliffe (0.7) 15= Pete Blannin (0.5) 15= Joe Muddel (0.5) |
Bass 1. Johnny Hawksworth (34.5%) 2. Lennie Bush (15.3) 3. Kenny Napper (11.2) 4. Eric Dawson (4.5) 5. Coleridge Goode (4.0) 8. Spike Heatley (3.0) 11. Pete Blannin (2.3) 12. Jeff Clyne (2.2) 13. Arthur Watts (1.6) 14. Stan Wasser (1.4) 15. Jack Fallon (1.1) 17. Joe Muddel (0.9) |
| The big band players, Hawksworth (Heath) and Dawson (Dankworth), made an obvious impression on the voters. Of the small group bass players Lennie Bush and Kenny Napper were consistently highly regarded by the fans as well as other musicians... | ||
Drums 1. Allan Ganley (1984 votes) 2. Phil Seamen (1868) 3. Tony Kinsey (1614) 4. Ronnie Verrell (801) 5. Kenny Clare (607) 7. Jack Parnell (300) 8. Eddie Taylor (208) 10. Bill Eyden (79) 12= Basil Kirchin (51) |
Drums 1. Allan Ganley (35.4%) 2. Tony Kinsey (17.6) 3. Ronnie Verrell (9.0) 4. Eddie Taylor (7.1) 5. Kenny Clare (6.9) 7. Phil Seamen (6.7) 8. Jack Parnell (2.1) 11. Bill Eyden (0.8) 13. Bobby Orr (0.6) |
Drums 1. Allan Ganley (24.9%) 2. Tony Kinsey (19.0) 3. Phil Seamen (13.0) 4. Kenny Clare (9.4) 5. Eddie Taylor (7.0) 6. Ronnie Verrell (4.1) 8. Jack Parnell (3.1) 10. Jackie Dougan (1.8) 12= Bobby Orr (1.6) 14. Tony Crombie (1.4) |
| Small group drummers Allan Ganley, Phil Seamen and Tony Kinsey were well to the fore over the period. Tony Crombie, one of the bebop pioneers in Britain, getting just one belated listing in 1960 at number 14... | ||
Guitar 1. Ken Sykora (1923 votes) 2. Dave Goldberg (1234) 5. Ivor Mairants (410) 6. Ike Isaacs (324) 10. Cedric West (40) 11. Roy Plummer (31) |
Guitar 1. Ken Sykora (49.4%) 4. Dave Goldberg (6.7) 5. Ike Isaacs (6.4) 6= Ivor Mairants (4.2) 10. Roy Plummer (0.7) |
Guitar 1. Dave Goldberg (28.0%) 3. Ken Sykora (22.5) 4. Ike Isaacs (6.8) 8. Ivor Mairants(2.2) |
| Only the modern type guitarists have been shown here. Bert Weedon and Diz Disley featured regularly in the results but cannot really be regarded as modern jazz musicians... | ||
| Sections not detailed include composer and arranger - won by Johnny Dankworth in all three years, male singer, female singer, vocal group, miscellaneous instrument and, in 1959 only, New Star. Some of the voters must have been new to the jazz scene because the 'New Star' list included Stan Tracey (4th), Joe Harriott (6th) and, incredibly, Hank Shaw (10th). Hank, of course was a veteran of the early days of bebop at Club Eleven in 1948 and had featured in Ronnie Scott's various bands throughout the first half of the 1950s! There is a direct link to these details on the Links... page | ||