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| Danny Moss... |
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Tenor sax player Danny Moss was born in Redhill, Surrey in 1927. Started playing the clarinet at the age of thirteen and at sixteen was working on tenor and clarinet. He served in RAF band from 1945 to 1948, then worked briefly with Vic Lewis before joining Tommy Sampson in1949. He was then with Oscar Rabin from 1950 to 1951 before joining Ted Heath for three years from 1952. After working with Geraldo 1955 to 1956 he joined the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra from March 1957 to December 1961 where he was the featured tenor player. After Dankworth he moved out of big band work to get more solo space and played in the mainstream bands of Humphrey Lyttelton, Alex Welsh, Sandy Brown and Freddy Randall. From 1964 he worked as a freelance soloist and gradually moved into studio work although he liked to keep his weekends free for jazz work. He guested with all types of groups and was active in jazz education. He moved permanently to Perth, Western Australia in 1989 but continued to return to Europe for festivals such as Nice, Montreux and Berlin. He was in demand around the world and played at the Newport and Rhode Island festivals in the US as well as visiting West Africa, Canada, the Far East, South America and Australia. Danny Moss was impossible to pigeon hole into any particular type of jazz. He skirted the British bebop scene and throughout his career showed little inclination to lead his own group. He toured and played with a wide variety of musicians including pianist Ralph Sutton, Wild Bill Davison, Peanuts Hucko and Stan Tracey. After he moved to Australia he was a regular performer at Australian trumpeter Bob Barnard's Jazz Parties and recorded for the German record company Nagel-Heyer. He always had a prediliction for pretty tunes, he rarely recorded jazz compositions, and played with a breathy style and a strong vibrato that came through particularly well on ballads that he played with a strong hint of Coleman Hawkins. He loved to play tenor / piano duets and recorded in this format with Eddie Thompson, Brian Lemon and Stan Tracey. |
 Danny Moss Danny married singer Jeanie Lamb in January 1964 and later recorded with her. He was awarded the MBE in 1990. He died in Perth on May 30th, 2008 after a two year battle with cancer. |
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Ted Heath and his Music - August 21st, 1955 (Decca) - Ted Heath Johnny Keating All Stars - March 19th and 20th, 1956 (British Jazz - Oriole MG20011) Jimmy Faulds (f,oboe), Henry Mackenzie (cl), Danny Moss (b-cl), Ian Saunders (EngHrn), Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Snowface*. (*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots) 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". Danny Moss played played bass clarinet on a number of the movements 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. 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), 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. 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*. From March 1957 until December 1961 Danny Moss played tenor sax and clarinet in the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra. He took part in a number of recording sessions between May 1957 and 1961. He returned for occasional dates in 1963 and 1964. Full details of all these recordings can be seen on the Johnny Dankworth web page... Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - October 9th, 1962 (Late Night Final - Columbia 33SX 1484) Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,tenor-hrn), Danny Moss (ts,b-cl), Joe Temperley (bs,b-cl), Ian Armit (p), Pete Blannin (b), Eddie Taylor (d). Stompy Jones/Mood Indigo/Hornerama/The African Wife/Portugese Folk Song/Noddy In Jazzland/Late Night Final/One For Buck/Jeep's Blues. Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - July 5th, 1963 (Me and Buck - World Record Club T324) Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,tenor-hrn), Buck Clayton (tp), Danny Moss (ts), Joe Temperley (bs), Ian Armit (p), Pete Blannin (b), Eddie Taylor (d). Tam/Stardust (HL,JT out)/Humph And Me (DM,JT out)/Fondu Head/Sentimental Journey/Me And Buck (DM,JT out)/Autumn Leaves (HL,JT out)/Cotton Tail. Although the album below is listed in Lords Jazz discography it is believed to be an album of so called mood music. It is probably the first LP under the name of Danny Moss and unfortunately is now very difficult to find... Danny Moss + strings - c1966 (Like someone in love - Columbia SX6117) Les Condon (flhrn), Danny Moss (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Carr (d) + unknown strings. Unlisted titles. In the late 1960s Danny Moss was often to be heard at the "Fox and Hounds" pub in Haywards Heath, Sussex, playing with the Fourteen-Foot Band. The band made a live recording for Doug Dobell's 77 label and was later released on CD. Not all titles appear on the LP... Danny Moss, Jack Jacobs and the Fourteen Foot Band - October 23rd, 1968 (77 LEU12/33) Ted Ambrose (tp,vcl), Mike Collier (tb), Jack Jacobs (as), Danny Moss (ts), Terry Whitney (p), Alan Kennington (b), Derek Middleton (d). The Good Life (2 takes)*/Special Delivery Stomp*/I Want A Little Girl*/I Want To Be Happy*/Solitude*/Blue Lou (2 takes)*/Squatty Roo*/Stardust (2 takes)*/You Can Depend On Me*/Shine*/Black Butterfly (2 takes)*/Foxy (2 takes)*. (*Progressive CD - The Good Life) Kenny Baker's All Stars - December 9th, 1974 (77 S56) Kenny Baker (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Tommy Whittle, Danny Moss (ts), Tony Lee (p), Tony Archer (b), Bill Eyden (d). Sweet Sue*/Out Of Nowhere*/Three Little Words* (DL,DM out)/It Don't Mean A Thing* (DL,DM out). (*Progressive CD - Kenny Baker's All Stars & The Dick Morrissey Quartet) Eddie Thompson and Danny Moss - 1976 (Misty...and Moody - One-Up/EMI OU2116) Danny Moss (ts), Eddie Thompson (p,el-p) . These Foolish Things/you Go To My Head/Buff's Blues/Passing Strangers/Autumn In New York/Blue And Sentimental/The Midnight Sun/Misty. Ted Heath Band - 1977 (The Ted Heath Band in concert - Decca) - Ted Heath Danny Moss Quintet - October 15th, 1979 (Straighten up and fly right - Flyright FLY209) Geoff Simkins (as), Danny Moss (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Len Skeat (b), Derek Hogg (d). If Dreams Come True/Then I'll Be Tired Of You/I'm Beginning To See The Light/Got The World On A String/Don't be That Way/The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise/Royal Garden Blues/Don't Blame Me/Fine And Dandy/Weaver Of Dreams/Candy. Danny Moss with Geoff Simkins - April 15th, 1981 (Struttin' and Stompin' - Flyright FLY218) Geoff Simkins (as), Danny Moss (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Len Skeat (b), Derek Hogg (d). Street Of Dreams/Just You, Just Me/You've Changed/Jones/In A Mellotone. June 22nd, 1981 (Struttin' and Stompin' - Flyright FLY218) Personnel as April 15th. Struttin' With Some Barbecue/It's Allright With Me/Careless Love/Stompin' At The Savoy/I Want To Be Happy. In 1985 Danny Moss with Brian Lemon gave a live performance at University College, Oxford. This was recorded and issued on a CD on the Macjazz label. I have no further details... The recording detailed below was made in Hamburg for a German record company and is available in CD format in the UK... Danny Moss Quartet - November 7th, 1994 (Weaver of dreams - Nagel Heyer) Danny Moss (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Len Skeat (b), Derek Hogg (d). 9.20 Special*/This Heart Of Mine*/Then I'll Be Tired Of You*/Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me*/Smoke Gets In Your Eyes*/A Gal In Calico*/In A Mellotone*/My Romance*/Fine And Dandy*/Weaver Of Dreams*/I'm Glad There Is You*/Poor Butterfly*/There's No You*/Blue Lou*. (*Nagel Heyer CD - Weaver of Dreams) The recording detailed below was recorded live in the intimate surroundings of the Jazz Room in Perth, Western Australia in early 2003. The CD was sold only at Danny Moss gigs in Australia... Danny Moss Quartet - early 2003 (Blues & Ballads) Danny Moss (ts), Matt Jodrell (p), Danny Moss Jr. (b), Federico Duende (tracks 1-4) / Michael Perkins (d). Jones/Weaver Of Dreams/Feather Merchant/I Should Care/Too Late Now/After Supper/Just In Time/Blue Monk. During the late 1990s and 2000s Danny Moss continued to record, often for the German Nagel Heyer label. I do not have details but brief information is given below for anybody wishing to obtain these CDs... Danny Moss meets Buddhas Gamblers 1996 (A Swingin' affair- Nagel Heyer CD) Danny Moss Quartet 1998 (Keeper of the flame - Nagel Heyer CD) Danny Moss / Roy Williams Quintet 1998 (Steamers! - Nagel Heyer CD) Danny Moss and others... 1999 (Highlights of Bob Barnard's Jazz Party - NIF NUF CD) Danny Moss 2000 (Returns to Bob Barnard's Jazz Party - NIF NUF CD) Danny Moss Quintet with Roy Williams 2000 (Steampower - Nagel Heyer CD) Stan Tracey with Danny Moss 2003 (Just you, Just me - Avid CD) Danny Moss 2003 (Swings again at Bob Barnard's Jazz Party - NIF NUF CD) Danny Moss 2004 (Fine and dandy at Bob Barnard's Jazz Party - NIF NUF CD) Danny Moss and others... 2005 (Easy to remember - NIF NUF CD) Danny Moss 2006 (At Bob Barnard's Jazz Party - NIF NUF CD) |
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