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| Spike Robinson... |
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Henry "Spike" Robinson was born at Kenosha, Wisconsin in January 1930. He studied the clarinet as a child and began playing in local bands at the age of 14, lying about his age in order to join the Musicians' Union. He took up the alto saxophone shortly afterwards, having heard Charlie Parker. "It was great then, in the war period," he later said, "You could work all night long". Work dried up with the end of the war and he joined the US Navy as a musician. In 1949 he was posted to London and soon made contact with the London jazz scene and began playing regularly with Ronnie Scott, John Dankworth and other young British bebop pioneers. At this time he was playing alto sax in a style heavily influenced by Charlie Parker. He appeared as a soloist at suburban clubs, made some recordings for the Esquire label with prominent boppers including Victor Feldman, and started to acquire the status of an underground jazz celebrity. He was even booked as guest soloist in one of Ted Heath's Sunday night "Swing Sessions" at the London Palladium. Technically he was not allowed to play in the UK and following a complaint from the Musicians' Union he was posted to Italy for the rest of his service. After the war he more or less gave up on music and went into industry. After a brief spell in 1964, attempting to run a jazz club, it took him four years to pay off the debts. He returned to industry, settling into a management post with the Honeywell Corporation in Denver although he continued to play in the local jazz scene. In 1981 with the encouragement of Victor Feldman he made a determined attempt to get back into music full time and arranged to record an album in Los Angeles, at his own expense, and with well-known names among the accompanists. The resulting record, released in 1994, Spike Robinson Plays Harry Warren, brought his name before a wider jazz audience. At first he managed to combine music and engineering, but eventually took early retirement and became a full-time travelling jazz soloist. By now he had switched to tenor sax, with a style now a compound of Stan Getz, Brew Moore and Zoot Sims. He was now aged 55 and his style found a ready audience with jazz lovers of all ages....continued right |
 At first he divided his time fairly evenly between America and Europe, and in 1984 some London fans who remembered him fondly from the early 1950s persuaded him to come over and play some dates around the city. This he did and in company with the Eddie Thompson Trio quickly won a following and this first visit was recorded - Live at Chester's. He continued to play in the UK, USA and in Europe and 1991 he married Susan May, his British manager, and settled permanently in the UK. He suffered bouts of ill health and died in 2001. |
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Tommy Pollard's Downbeat Five - April 18th, 1951 (Esquire S318 (all titles)) Spike Robinson (as), Tommy Pollard (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). East Of The Sun (2 takes)/Just Friends (2 takes)/Lover Come Back To Me (2 takes)/The Way You Look Tonight (2 takes). Ronnie Scott Boptet - April 21st, 1951 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Spike Robinson (as), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Chasin' The Bird*/Little Willie Leaps*/El Sino*/Crazy Rhythm*. (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") This one title, recorded in London for an American label was never released in the UK... Spike Robinson with the Ronnie Ball Trio - July 7th, 1951 (Discovery (US label)) Spike Robinson (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Victor Feldman (d). Spike's Delight. Spike Robinson with the Ronnie Ball Trio - July 7th, 1951 (Esquire S318 (all titles)) Spike Robinson (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Victor Feldman (d). Blue Bird (2 takes)/The Guv'nor (2 takes)/Spike's Choice (2 takes)/Spike's Delight (2 takes). In 1981 Spike Robinson returned to the recording studios and made an album at his own expense for the Discovery label. It was eventually released in the UK on a Hep label CD... Spike Robinson with Victor Feldman - December 18th and 20th, 1981 (Discovery /Hep 2056 ) Spike Robinson (as), Victor Feldman (p), Ray Brown (b), John Guerin (d). This Is Always*/This Heart Of Mine*/The More I See You*/Chattanooga Choo Choo*/Cheerful Little Earful*/I Only Have Eyes For You*/Lulu's Back In Town*/I Wish I Knew*. (*Hep CD - Spike Robinson plays Harry Warren) (part only) Review: "These two live records, made in Southend on a 1984 British visit, are wonderfully light and swinging, as if the tenor were an alto in [Robinson's] hands. Volume 1 has the edge for a couple of ethereal ballads and the swing which is piled into 'Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone'. Vivid location recording." The Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD, ... Spike Robinson with Eddie Thompson Trio - July 26th, 1984 (At Chester's - Hep 2028) Spike Robinson (ts), Eddie Thompson (p), Len Skeat (b), Jim Hall (d). S'wonderful*/Flamingo*/Emily*/I'm Getting Sentimental Over You*/I Should Care*/Ow!*/Everything Happens to Me*/Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone*. (*Hep CD - At Chester's Volume 1) Spike Robinson with Eddie Thompson Trio - July 26th, 1984 (At Chester's - Hep 2031) Spike Robinson (ts), Eddie Thompson (p), Len Skeat (b), Jim Hall (d). You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To*/Emily*/East Of The Sun*/But Beautiful*/Way You Look Tonight*/Skylark*/I'm Beginning To See The Light*/That's All*. (*Hep CD - At Chester's Volume 2) On August 9th, 1984 Robinson recorded an album in London for the Capri label (Capri 44360). The album was titled London Reprise and was not released in the UK. The group personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Martin Taylor (g), Dave Green (b), Spike Wells (d). On July 17th, 1985 Robinson recorded another for the Capri label (Capri 71785) live at the"Bass Clef Club" in London. The album was titled Spring can really hang you up the most and was not released in the UK. The group personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Ted Beament (p), Peter Ind (b), Bill Eyden (d). A few days later on July 20th, 1985 Robinson recorded again for the Capri label (Capri 72185) in London. The album was titled It's a wonderful world and was not released in the UK. The group was a quintet and the personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Roy Williams (tb), Ted Beament (p), Paul Bridge (b), Allan Ganley (d). Spike Robinson with Elaine Delmar - October 23rd, 1986 (Spike Robinson: In town with Elaine Delmar - Hep 2035) Spike Robinson (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Len Skeat (b), Allan Ganley (d). Too Close For Comfort*/You've Changed*/Get Out Of Town*/Little Girl Blue*/Everything I Love*/Will You Still Be Mine. Elaine Delmar (vocal) added. Just One Of Those Things*/In A Sentimental Mood*/'S wonderful*/Young And Foolish*. (*Hep CD - Spike Robinson: In town with Elaine Delmar) At this time Spike Robinson's recordings were selling very well and he began to record regularly in the US as well as the UK. His records in the US were for the Capri label and many are available in the UK, and brief details are given here. Full details are shown for his UK records with British musicians... June 17th, 1987 - Capri 71785 recorded New Jersey, US. The album was titled Once in a wild and the group personnel was Spike Robinson, Al Cohn (ts) with an American rhythm section. (Capri CD - Once in a wild) Spike Robinson Quartet - October 20th and 21st, 1987 (The Gershwin collection - Hep 2042) Spike Robinson (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Len Skeat (b), Allan Ganley (d). Titles marked (1) have added strings. Arrangements are by Jimmy Deuchar Lady Be Good*/I've Got A Crush On You (1)*/A Foggy Day*/Summertime (1)*/Who Cares*/Somebody Loves Me*/Someone To Watch Over Me (1)*/Soon*/How Long Has This Been Going On (1)*/I've Got Rhythm*/They Can't Take That Away From Me*. (*Hep CD - The Gershwin collection) August 11th, 1988 - Capri 74008 recorded Denver, Colorado, US. The album was titled The odd couple and the group personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Rob Mullins (p), + (b), (d). (Capri CD - The odd couple) September 19th and 21st, 1988 - Capri 74012/3 recorded Hollywood, US. The title of these two CDs was Juss bit o' blues and the group personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Harry 'Sweets' Edison + (p), (b), (d). (Capri CD - Juss bit o' blues, Volume 1) (Capri CD - Juss bit o' blues, Volume 2) Spike Robinson / Louis Stewart / Janusz Carmello - July 15th, 1989 (Three for the road - Hep 2045) Spike Robinson (ts), Janusz Carmello (pocket tpt - 1), Louis Stewart (g), Pete Morgan (b), Mark Taylor (d). They Didn't Believe Me*/Only A Rose*/Dearly Beloved (1)*/The Song Is You (1)*/They Say That Falling In Love Is Wonderful*. (*Hep CD - The Gershwin collection) Spike Robinson Quartet - October 15th, 1990 in Queen's Hall, Edinburgh. (Stairway to the stars - Hep 2049) Spike Robinson (ts), Brian Kellock (p), Ronnie Rae (b), John Rae (d). Gone With The Wind*/Beautiful Love*/Gypsy Sweetheart*/It's Always You*/It's A Blue World*/A Summer Thing*/From Here To Eternity*/Stairway To the Stars*/It Could Happen To You. (*Hep CD - Stairway to the stars) Spike Robinson / George Masso - October 18th and 19th, 1991 (Spike Robinson & George Masso play Arlen - Hep 2053) Spike Robinson (ts), George Masso (tb), John Pearce (p), Dave Green (b), Martin Drew (d). (1) - Add Ken Peplowski (ts,cl). Let's Fall In Love*/Right As Rain*/I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues*/Taking A Chance On Love*/this time The Dreams On Me (1)*/Medley: (Happiness Is Just A thing Called Joe*/When The Sun Comes Out*/Last Night When We Were Young*/My Shining Hour (1)*/As Long As I Live*/Come Rain Or Come Shine (1)*/Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1)*. (*Hep CD - Spike Robinson & George Masso play Arlen) October 26th, 1991 - Capri 74043 recorded in Ireland. The album was titled A real corker and the group personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Louis Stewart (g), Red Mitchell (b), Martin Drew (d). (Capri CD - A real corker) December 12th - 15th, 1991 - Capri 74029 recorded in Denver, Colorado, US. The album was titled Reminiscin' and the group personnel was Spike Robinson (ts), Mundell Lowe (g), Monty Budwig (b), Jake Hanna (d). (Capri CD - Reminiscin') Spike Robinson Quartet - August 18th, 1993, Hollywood, USA (Spike Robinson plays Harry Warren - Hep 2056) Spike Robinson (ts), Pete Jolly (p), John Lenham (b), Paul Kreibich (d). At Last*/The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams*/There Will Never Be Another You*/I Had The Craziest Dream*/Shadow Waltz*/Serenade In Blue*. (*Hep CD - Spike Robinson plays Harry Warren) (part only) Spike Robinson continued to be recorded until just before he died in 2001. There are at least another six recording dates available on CD. Details of these will be added later when information has been verified... | |