The Foot Tappers News
March – May 2013
Edwin McGarr 1929 – 2013
Edwin with Gwyn Lewis and Alun Jones At Bromyard August 2012
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Our Programme
19th March sees the welcome return of the Vic Partridge Quartet, with Vic, Norman, John Davies and Paul Hillman - most enjoyable last time – if you missed them they are well worth a listen. 26th March :- From Hibernation in deepest West Wales the Memphis Seven emerge to entertain you.
April 2nd The John Davies Quartet. Two excellent reed players John D and Ian Jameson backed by superb rhythm section Vic Partridge & Mike Gale April 9th :- We welcome a return to Cardiff of the excellent New Orleans Trumpeter John Hummerstone, who will be one of the Anglo Welsh Stompers with Lynn Saunders. John used to play with Lynn in the Mike Harries Band back in the 60’s and to my knowledge, every Aberaeron Carnival parade since. April 16th :- We have the postponed visit from Hot Club Gallois, who are a Welsh group inspired by the music of Django Rienhardt and Stephane Grapelli. Their music evokes the style and elegance of 1930's Paris and draws on passion and romance of the gypsy Jazz tradition. 23rd April :- A return visit for “Rivercon” , a band made up of ex members of the Icon and Riverside bands. Finally on the 30th we have John Scantlebury Quartet.
7th May :– The Vic Partridge Quartet 14th May : – The New Georgia Jazz Band. A treat for New Orleans fans. The whole Georgia Band are coming with Dave Smith, cornet, Ian Woods clt., Stan Stephens tbn., Ian Dalziel bjo., David Johnson, string bass, & Alan Jones drums. 21st :- The Dick Williams Six. Cardiff & Bristol musicians with Bob Tunnicliffe, John Evans and Co. 28th :- The Preservation Rhythm Kings. This is a newly formed band led by Roy Davies on banjo – full line up unknown at time of printing.
So over the March to May period some excellent musicians and good music to look forward to. Please do you best to attend. Many Thanks to all those who have renewed their membership of the PJS and sent donations – all of which are gratefully received.
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Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 2
Edwin McGarr 1929 - 2013
Edwin appeared on the world stage on 6th June 1929 at Durham, one of four boys he grew up in the area and developed an interest for music. He joined a brass band at an early age and caught the ‘Jazz Bug’. He later formed the Edwin McGarr Orchestra which had the privilege of supporting international stars such as Louis Armstrong, Humphrey Lyttleton and others in the Co. Durham area. Like many people of Irish decent he was a born natural comic and had a second career as a stand-up comic around the clubs under the name Con Martin.
Edwin came to South Wales in the 1970’s and worked at Avana Bakeries as a Health Inspector. Later he became tenant of the ‘Cross Keys’ in Llantrisant, where his passion for jazz allowed him to put on twice weekly sessions of jazz, both traditional and mainstream. He encouraged many young musicians and on his 50th birthday had the American Bee Bop trumpeter Red Rodney. Other International guests were also featured such as Kenny Davern and Digby Fairweather as well numerous local musicians.
The Cross Keys were also famous for Edwin’s Curries and many a pleasant time was spent by musicians first playing and then sampling the delicious food.
Edwin was a member of the Adamant Marching band and later the Arcadian’s. One memorable occasion was when the Adamant went to the Cross Keys, Geoff Palser, on opening his trombone case, to his horror, found it empty. It was later retrieved it from the Bosun Pub in Cardiff where Geoff had left it on the window ledge of the pub. -That wouldn't happen today - it would be on e-bay within the hour.
Edwin’s career continued in Public Health alongside all of this and he became Chief Environmental Health Officer at Taff Ely Council.
Edwin retired in the 90’s and lived in France for a few year looking after a chateau and making food for the guests and later living in Australia where he joined a local brass band before returning to the UK.
More recently Edwin would spend the winter months in Australia and it was on his visit this year that he died peacefully at his daughter’s house.
We extend our sympathy to Edwin’s family and friends at their sad loss.
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 3
Edwin with Geoff Palser and son Simon, on drums, for Edwin’s 50th birthday in Switzerland, when they had a sit in with Colin Dawson’s Onward Band.
Nearer home, Geoff and Edwin play the last number at the Star Inn Dinas Powis
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 4
Edwin with Ron King -Adamant Marching Band circa 1990
It was also sad to learn of the death of Pat Halcox and Kenny Ball who died recently, Pat Halcox (1930 – 2013) had been with the Chris Barber Band since the early 1950’s and actually played in the Barber Band for 54 years retiring in 2008. One of the most memorable concerts was at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 1954
Kenny Ball (1930 – 2013). Coincidentally Kenny died the same age as Pat Halcox. One of the Three “B’s” Barber, Ball and Bilk. Kenny was perhaps the most commercial of the three, having such hits as ‘Midnight in Moscow’, ‘Samantha’, ‘I’m the King of the Swingers’ with the chimpanzee impressions by Clarinettist Andy Cooper
Kenny Ball Pat Halcox Taken at Upton upon Severn Jazz Festival
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 5 Nostalgia
Many years ago in the early 90’s we used to have sessions in the Bottleneck Bar of the Philharmonic Hotel in St Mary Street.
Here are a few reminders
Sarah Thatcher or Sarah Roofe as she was then
Bill Kemp leading the Oriel Jazz Band Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 6
John Coles drummer with the Oriel
Bill Nichols playing at the Golden Cross
All the Bottleneck photographs were taken by Paul Dunleavy and produced from scanned transparencies.
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 7
PJS
Gig List
March
19 Vic Partridge Quartet 26 Memphis Seven
April
2 John Davies Quartet 9 The Anglo – Welsh Stompers 16 Hot Club Gallois Django Style Jazz 23 Rivercon 30 John Scantlebury Quartet
May
7 Vic Partridge Quartet 14 The New Georgia Jazz Band 21 The Dick Williams Six 28 The Preservation Rhythm Kings
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Café Jazz - The Sandringham Hotel, St. Mary Street, Cardiff Admission - unless otherwise stated P.J.S Members & Concessions £4 00 Non Members £4.50, Students £2.00
The PJS Acknowledge assistance from Dutton Hotels
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk 8