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Johnny Weed Pianist Johnny Weed was born in London in May, 1931. He worked, briefly, with Basil Kirchin in 1952, also with Vic Lewis before joining Tito Burns in 1954/5. He replaced Ken Moule in the successful Ken Moule Seven when Ken became disenchanted with band leading and the group was led by bass player Arthur Watts. In the period 1955 to 1956 he worked with groups led by a number of top jazz men including Vic Ash, Dizzy Reece, Joe Harriott and Phil Seamen and recorded with most of them. He emigrated to the USA in 1957 and worked with a number of big bands including Woody Herman and Tex Beneke as well as running a successful arranging business with Ronnie Roullier until 1971. He moved to Florida in 1993 and was still playing... Tito Burns and his Sextet - February 26th, 1954 (Esquire) Andy Tweed (tp), Don Savage (as), Norman Gondall (ts), Tito Burns (acc), Johnny Weed (p), Stan Wasser (b), Dougie Cooper (d). Riff Concotion (2 takes)/Midnight Sun/Pinky/Budo/Skin Deep (parts 1 and 2). Dizzy Reece Group - April 26th, 1956 (Tempo TAP9) Dizzy Reece (tp), Johnny Weed (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Chorus*/Basie Line*/Night Life (unissued)/The Gypsy (unissued). (*Jasmine CD - A New Star - Dizzy Reece) Joe Harriott Quartet - July 6th, 1956 (MGM EP615) Joe Harriott (as), Johnny Weed (p), Major Holley (b), Phil Seamen (d). Blues Original*/My Heart Belongs To Daddy*. (*Giant Steps CD - Killer Joe: Birth Of A Legend) Phil Seamen Quintet - November 10th, 1956 (Decca LK4180) (JM0657) Ken Wray (bs-tp), Johnny Weed (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Stan Wasser (b), Phil Seamen (d). Manteca Suite*. (*Vocalion CD - Third Festival of British Jazz - 1956) ...back Dick Katz Pianist Dick Katz was born in Germany in 1916 and moved to Holland in 1933. He came to England in the early 1940s and joined Carlo Krahmer in 1942 and also Harry Parry's Sextet. In 1944 he worked with Cab Kaye before service in the RAF. Katz was an adaptable musician and work followed with the Vic Lewis / Jack Parnell Jazzmen and the Lauderic Caton Trio. He also led his own trio in 1946. He worked briefly with Buddy Featherstonhaugh and then rejoined the Caribbean Trio which formed the basis of the Ray Ellington Quartet where he stayed until 1959. He then quit full time music to work in a theatrical agency eventually managing various artistes, although he still played gigs in the 1960s and even appeared in the 1959 Melody Maker readers popularity poll... First English public Jam session - November 16th, 1941 (HMV) Kenny Baker (tp), Lad Busby (tb), Carl Barriteau (cl,ldr), Buddy Featherstonhaugh (ts), Dick Katz (p), Frank Deniz (g), Tommy Bromley (b), George Firestone (d). Tea For Two (part 1)*/Tea For Two (part 2)*. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) Vic Lewis Band - September 18th, 1942 (?) Vic Lewis (tb), Peter Boutewood (cl), Dick Katz (p-1), Allan Hames (g), Joe Muslin (b), Pete Ringer (d). I Found A New Baby/I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate/London Blues(1) (all unissued). Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - February 12th, 1944 (Parlophone) Billy Riddick (tp), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sop), Derek Hawkins (cl,as), Dick Katz (p), Vic Lewis (g,vcl), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Johnny's Idea*/Mean Old Bed Bug Blues (vocal VL)*/Jazz Band Jump*/I'm Coming Virginia*^. (*Upbeat CD - Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen 1944/45 - 'Swingin' The Blues') (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) Vic Lewis Jam Session Vol-1 1944-1945 The War Years - mid February, 1944 (Harlequin) Billy Jones, Jake Coven (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Johnny Mince (cl), Joe Gudice (ts), Dick Katz (p), Vic Lewis (g,vcl), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Johnny's Idea/Wigmore Blues (vocal JL)/Ja Da/Wigmore Jump/Tea For Two/Ain't Misbehavin'/My Blue Heaven/Someday Sweetheart. Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - June 9th, 1944 (Parlophone) Billy Riddick (tp,mel), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sop), Derek Hawkins (cl,as), Dick Katz (p), Vic Lewis (g,vcl), Lou Nussbaum (b), Jack Parnell (d). Jazz Men Blues*/Ja Da (vocal VL)*/Why Begin Again*/Sugar*/I've Found A New Baby*. (*Upbeat CD - Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen 1944/45 - 'Swingin' The Blues') August 29th, 1944 (Parlophone) Personnel as June 9th, except Bert Howard (b) replaces Lou Nussbaum. That's A Plenty*/Ugly Child (vocal VL)*/Dick's Boogie*^/Mop Mop*. (*Upbeat CD - Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen 1944/45 - 'Swingin' The Blues') (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) October 24th, 1944 (Parlophone) Personnel as August 29th, except Cliff Townsend (cl,as) replaces Derek Hawkins. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (vocal VL)*/Get Happy*/Indiana*/Someday Sweetheart*. (*Upbeat CD - Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen 1944/45 - 'Swingin' The Blues') Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - December 14th, 1946 (Esquire) Johnny Dankworth (cl), Dick Katz (p), Carlo Krahmer (vib), Alan Hodgkins (g), Coleridge Goode (b). Coquette. (Unissued until 1977 - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) 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) ...back Dave Lee Pianist Dave Lee was born in London in 1930. He played piano from a very early age and after playing with local bands and service in the Army he spent some time in South Africa where he studied at the Johannesburg Conservatory of Music. On return to the UK he joined the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra for four years to 1959 when he left to form his own trio. From 1960 he wrote for films and theatre and was musical director for a number of TV shows achieving considerable success. In later years he returned to composing, arranging and conducting. From 1955 to1959 Dave Lee played on all of the recordings made by the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra. Full details of all of these records are on the Johnny Dankworth web page...> Dave Lee Trio - May 29th, 1957 (Nixa NJE1038) Dave Lee (p), Lennie Bush (b), Allan Ganley (d). On The Alamo/Excuse For The Blues/Salt Air/I Must Have That Man. 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) Dave Lee Orchestra - c1961 (A new big band from Britain, Top Rank RM336) Big band featuring Bert Courtley (tp), Tubby Hayes (ts), Dave Lee (p) + others unknown. Lover Come Back to Me/Bye Bye Blackbird/Georgia On My mind/Chloe/Piece Of Cake/You, You, You/London Derriere/Blue Denham/I Cover The Waterfront/Cheek To Cheek/Beyond The Sea. 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). ...back |