Ne w s L E T T e R ISSUE 24 May 2012

Legendary Interviewer Becomes Interviewee June’s celebrity guest, who has been very far from the has agreed to a spot of role case. He’s discussed future reversal, is introduced by plans for the Archive with our Digby Fairweather. principal fundraiser Fiona Digby writes: One of the Baird and myself over preconditions that most generous lunches at his NATIONAL JAZZ ARCHIVE JAZZ NATIONAL potential ‘patrons’ insist upon superb restaurant, the Royal before accepting the role with Oak, in Maidenhead, and any national organisation is found more time to truck on ‘OK, put my name on the down to Ronnie Scott’s for an notepaper by all means – but enjoyable lunchtime session don’t ask me to do anything!’ led by the writer. And most In the case of Sir Michael recently he’s agreed to Parkinson and the National release yet more hours from Jazz Archive, however, this Continued on page 2

The Story of British Jazz

Following the award of now under way, with the £346,300 to the National project team appointed Jazz Archive by the and work begun. Meet Heritage Lottery Fund, as the team members and National Jazz Archive announced in the last find out what the project Loughton Library, Traps Hill newsletter, our HLF- will be offering to fans and Loughton, Essex supported project, the students of British jazz on IG10 1HD Story of British Jazz, is pages 3–4. 020 8502 4701 www.nationaljazzarchive.org.uk [email protected] LEGENDARY INTERVIEWER BECOMES INTERVIEWEE Continued from page 1 a packed schedule to come ‘Parky’ at 11 a.m. on Sundays and talk to us about his and there were regular legendary career – and lifelong reminders that the music of love of jazz. Louis Armstrong, Ella As usual, I’ll be hosting the Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Ben interview – a thought which, Webster – in fact anyone who between you and me, filled me belonged in the authentic with more than a dash of trepi- pantheon of jazz’s most dation when the idea first innovative years – was still came up. What, I wondered, worthy of more serious could I be doing interviewing a consideration and appreciation E. Baird Photo: F. man who will probably be than the sometimes disposable Sir Michael and Digby at the Royal Oak remembered as Britain’s best- fare of pop. ever talk-show host? His perceptive recognition Michael returns to his legend- Any worries I may have had of newer talents – such as ary vocation on Sky TV for a were, however, gloriously Michael Bublé and Diana Krall series called Masterclass, a dispelled by the time our first – ensured that later arrivals timely reminder of how the meeting was over. In 2012 Sir received similar honours, and craft of interviewing can – and Michael is as passionate about his faithful championship of should – be an exercise in jazz – and as concerned for Jamie Cullum on both radio enquiry and discovery, rather the preservation of the golden and television probably did as than shameless self-promotion years of its culture – as any much as anyone to elevate his on the part of the presenter. member of the Archive’s ever- protégé to international I’ll do my best to live up to widening circle. And he talks stardom. In short, Sir Michael his matchless example on 30 with both reverence and of Parkinson has launched an June, and I hope you’ll come course irreplaceable first-hand ever-welcome series of and join us for what I’m sure knowledge of many of the crusades both for jazz and for will be an unforgettable classic figures of our music, the Great British and afternoon. from Bing Crosby and Johnny American Songbooks – genre Mercer to Oscar Peterson and titles which themselves might Sir Michael Parkinson Buddy Rich. never have existed had he not will be our Just a few years ago it was coined them. special celebrity guest his morning shows on BBC And absolutely nothing has on Saturday 30 June, Radio 2 which became a haven changed. His most recent 1.30 - 4.30 p.m. of excellence for jazz lovers at show for Radio 2, entitled My at Loughton Methodist a point when a great deal of Favourite Things, arguably did Church, 260 High Road. the station’s programming more than any other to Tickets £12 revolved relentlessly around replace Humphrey Lyttelton’s from David Nathan at pop music’s golden oldies or much-missed Best of Jazz. And the Archive indie innovations. Tune in to his interviewer’s role is by no (cheques payable to the man the world knew – and means just a matter of glorious National Jazz Archive). knows – affectionately as memory, for this year Sir

2National Jazz Archive Newsletter Issue 24 Up and Running … Our Heritage Lottery Fund-supported project, the Story of British Jazz, is now firmly under way following the appointment of the project team in January. The 33-month project, which will present the story of British jazz through four key themes of People, Places, Watershed Moments, and Social and Cultural Dimensions, will secure the Archive’s collection for the long term and transform the experience of the visitor and user. It will allow our resources to be publicised and accessible to a greater number and variety of users, especially young people. Left to right: Sam Fieldhouse, Fiona Cormack MEET THE TEAM and Angela Davies

The project team has significant experience relevant to the project: Learning and Outreach Officer: Sam Fieldhouse was previously Learning and Participation Officer Project Manager: Angela Davies undertook the for Chichester District Museum. He trained as a HLF project-development phase (2008–11) and teacher, and has since had broad experience of submitted the Archive’s successful bid to the directing learning in a heritage environment and Heritage Lottery Fund. She has over 20 years’ developing diverse learning programmes. He also experience in various aspects of access plays clarinet for the Roding Players. development, including the management of large- Sam is responsible for promoting an engaging scale digitisation projects. For the past 10 years she community programme of events, family activities has managed one of the UK’s premier online and opportunities for internships and volunteers. heritage image libraries. The events – including attendance and exhibiting at Angela is responsible for ensuring the success of UK jazz festivals – will raise the Archive’s profile as the project, quarterly reporting on progress, the UK’s foremost jazz research resource. making financial returns, and managing staff.

Project Archivist: Fiona Cormack has a MA in THE STORY SO FAR archives and records management, and has previously worked at the Museum of London, the After a successful tendering process, the project National Maritime Museum, and the English Folk has already reached two significant early milestones Dance and Song Society. She also has an academic by appointing suppliers for its cataloguing software, background in music research. from Axiell CALM Ltd, and for its digitisation Fiona is responsible for managing the programme, through TownsWeb Archiving Ltd. development of the Archive, including storage and Cataloguing is now under way, and will eventually preservation strategies, cataloguing our wide- allow users to search the Archive’s holdings. Our ranging collection, advising on the copyright- first substantial batch of journals (over 10,000 clearance programme, coordinating the volunteers, pages) has been sent off for digitisation. These will and ensuring that at least 30,000 journal pages and be converted into PDF files and made available 1,000 ephemera items are digitised. through our new Story of British Jazz website.

Issue 24 National Jazz Archive Newsletter 3 We have started the tendering process for the The Archive will be taking part in two local design of the Story of British Jazz website, and festivals: the Oakwood Hill Fun Day and Love expect to have appointed a designer by the end of Loughton. The Oakwood Hill Fun Day will be a April. The website is due to be launched in January family-oriented day with the Archive providing jazz- 2013. inspired craft activities aimed at young children. The Story of British Jazz project is building on our Love Loughton celebrates the huge variety of local existing partnership with the Essex Record Office groups and clubs that exist in the town, and the for provision of storage, conservation and Archive will be promoting the collection and the preservation facilities. existence of the Archive. There will be a stage with Our project will be presenting new live performances, and the Archive is looking for opportunities for our existing team of volunteers, willing performers. and we are also working with Epping Forest At the end of August the Archive will be Volunteer Bureau to recruit new volunteers. attending Bude Jazz 2012 in Cornwall, exhibiting We have been revising the Archive’s policy part of its extensive poster collection as well as documents to establish best-practice procedures. displaying a ‘pop-up’ archive with some star items The Archive will be taking part in Heritage Open from the collection. Days, a series of national events that promote free The project was awarded £346,300 from the access to heritage sites. For four days from 6 to 9 Heritage Lottery Fund, but still needs to raise a September the Archive will host free talks, tours, sizeable sum in ‘match funding’ both to achieve its drop-in sessions and performances that promote outcomes and to keep the project running when the Story of British Jazz. Family activities will engage the three-year investment period comes to an end. new audiences, and local wind and brass specialists See below for how you can help with this. will be on hand to encourage young people to Don’t forget you can now keep up to date and become a part of the story. More details will be on get the latest Archive news by following us on the Archive’s website nearer to the dates. Twitter: @JazzArchive.

Be Part of the Story of British Jazz As mentioned above, although it has been awarded with retailers such as Amazon, M&S, Argos, John £346,300 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Lewis, eBay etc. Sign up (for free) at Archive will need to raise a sizeable sum in ‘match www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/nja. Links on funding’ to realise the Story of British Jazz project the site will let you shop directly with the retailer in and to keep it running when the three-year the normal way, and a percentage of whatever you investment period comes to an end. While we are spend will come directly to us – at no extra cost to making considerable efforts to raise the additional you or us! funds required, we welcome the support of Raise funds for us: Taking part in a marathon or readers of the newsletter and all jazz lovers. Here similar money-raising event? Celebrating a birthday are some ways in which you can help: or wedding anniversary and prefer to support the Make a donation: Just click on the ‘Donate’ Archive rather than accepting gifts? Contact us on button at www.nationaljazzarchive.org.uk and (020) 8502 4701 for support and advice. your donation will be processed securely by the Leave the Archive a gift in your will: Whether Charities Aid Foundation, which will also reclaim making a new will or updating an existing one, any tax on your donation through Gift Aid. If you’d leaving a gift to the Archive is an ideal way for you prefer to send a cheque, just call us on (020) 8502 to create a lasting legacy. A solicitor can help and 4701 and we’ll send you a donation form. advise you. However, be sure to use our full title Shop online and raise money for us: Here’s a and charity number: the National Jazz Archive – clever way of raising money while you shop online registered charity number 327894.

4National Jazz Archive Newsletter Issue 24 Blues Out the Closet By Stevie King On Tuesday 6 October 2011, the blues came calling at Loughton’s Methodist Church hall, in the shape of pop star, actor, broadcaster and award-winning harmonica player Paul Jones. Before an audience of jazz and blues fans of all ages, ex-Manfred Mann member Paul was interviewed by Peter Harvie. After an introduction from our ever-ebullient Digby Fairweather, Paul spoke entertainingly and at length about his career and his interest in the blues. He told of his earliest fascination with jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton, and how the chart success of Lonnie Donegan’s ‘Rock Island Line’ in 1956 led him to seek out the recordings of Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Joe Turner, and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. But it was when he heard an LP of T-Bone Walker featuring the harmonica of

Chicago blues-harp maven Junior Wells, said Paul, Photo: John Root, Ongar Jazz that he was inspired to play the mouth organ. Paul Jones checking in with the blues Paul went on to talk about his first days learning the instrument, pulling a harmonica from his pocket reminiscences about the Blues Band, their self- to demonstrate playing in both the first and the bootlegged first album, and gigging at the old Bridge second position – for the uninitiated, the difference House in Canning Town, before the time for talking between Jimmy Reed and Little Walter. After we ran out and it was time to let the music speak for heard a snatch from his old hit ‘Do Wah Diddy’, itself. Paul recalled his time with Manfred Mann – or, as After a short break for refreshments, Paul they used to be, the Mann–Hugg Blues Brothers. returned and – accompanied by Digby on trumpet, He also told the story of how he was invited to John Altman on soprano sax and Dominic leave his first band, Thunder Odin’s Big Secret, to Ashworth on guitar – showed us exactly why he’d help Brian Jones form the Rolling Stones – an offer been voted best blues harmonica player of the year he said he’s never regretted refusing. in 2010 and 2011. The quartet gave an informal but Peter then brought Paul up to the present day, excellent performance that mixed jazz, funk, soul and discussed his new CD, Starting All Over Again. and gospel into a bluesy set, punctuated by Paul’s Paul told us about his experiences recording with entertaining introductions and explanations. American soul star Percy Sledge and British rock We were treated to ‘Back at the Chicken Shack’, icon Eric Clapton, and we listened to a minute of ‘If You Love Me Like You Say’, ‘The Bad Boy’, music from his reworking of Van Morrison’s ‘The ‘Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Resting on Philosopher’s Stone’, which drew a spontaneous Jesus’ and, most appropriately ‘Ain’t Got Nothin’ round of applause. As Peter observed, ‘That’s what but the Blues’, before four o’clock rolled round and I call the blues.’ There were a few more our celebrity event had to draw to a close.

Issue 24 National Jazz Archive Newsletter 5 Remembering Monty Sunshine By Digby Fairweather through the London traffic to join the joyful For two and a half hours on 8 December last proceedings on stage, and this year’s winner of the year, the joyful sound of New Orleans jazz British Jazz Award for top vocalist, Val Wiseman, reverberated around the 100 Club, London’s joined the band to sing in her incomparable style. long-time home of traditional jazz, as friends After the music was over – following a rocking and fans of the late Monty Sunshine gathered Wiseman delivery of ‘See See Rider’ – £2,020 had for a memorial concert just one week after been raised for Jackie’s chosen charities: the the anniversary of Monty’s sad demise on 30 NSPCC and the National Jazz Archive. The November 2010. money will be divided between them. A host of famous guests, jazz celebrities and Special thanks to all the musicians who took part well-wishers included Monty’s widow, Jackie, who and to National Jazz Archive trustee Jane Hunter- stood to take a roar of respectful and affectionate Randall, whose ever-tireless efforts on behalf of the applause. The band – composed exclusively of music she loves brought this grand event to the 100 Sunshine alumni – was led by trumpeter Alan Club – generously made available by Jeff Horton – Gresty, with the demanding clarinet role reminding a packed house that Sunshine’s music masterfully filled by Monty’s successor with Chris lives on with undiminished warmth of spirit and Barber, John Crocker. Chris himself made it passion in performance. Photo: John Root, Ongar Jazz Spreading Sunshine (left to right): John Crocker, Val Wiseman, Alan Gresty, Chris Barber and John Howlett in action at the 100 Club

6National Jazz Archive Newsletter Issue 24 ARCHIVE NEWS by David Nathan Gillson (on behalf of the late Roy Belcher), Brian Gladwell, DONATIONS Mary Greig, Penny Ham, The Charles Hayward George Hulme, Sir Michael Foundation has kindly donated Knight, Robert Lamb, the Philip £3,000 as a contribution to our Larkin Society, John Lawson, match funding for the Heritage Elsa Linder (on behalf of the Lottery Fund award, which is late Ivan Linder), Stephen Luke, greatly appreciated. Dr A. F. MacDonald, George Aleksandra H. Artlands has Martin, Frank Mears, Nick presented us with a splendid Morgan, Dave Murrell, Phil portrait she painted of a Napier, Scott Nicol (Rabbit younger Dame Cleo Laine Records), Mrs K. Price, John (right). Redfern, Brian Robinson, John The Kenny Ball and His magazines that we did not have Sirett, Angela Taylor (on behalf Jazzmen Appreciation – Mike was for many years of the late Donald King), Alan Society, via Phil Hoy, a leading editor of the fine magazine New Tribe, executors for the late light in the Society, sent us from Orleans Music. Jeffrey Tottman, John Warner their collection playbills, The Ted Heath Music and Laura Yates.(on behalf of photographs, programmes, Appreciation Society, via the late Chris Yates). date sheets, newspaper Charles Jackson, the Society’s To them and to all our donors cuttings, posters and Jazzette chairman, arranged for material we offer grateful thanks. magazines we were missing. to be transferred to us from NEW BOOKS Kenny is, of course, one of our Leeds College of Music and Apex Publishing kindly donated patrons. additionally sent us two a copy of Kenny Ball’s and John Tim Battle donated some excellent books on this Bennett’s Musical Skylarks: A splendid material which wonderful band, written by Medley of Memories, Debbie belonged to his late father, Graham Monkman: Ted Heath Burke let us have a signed copy Dick, who played trumpet with and His Times and Memories of of her book The Poconos In B the Cambridge Quinquaginta You: Ted Heath and His Music Flat: The Incredible Jazz Legacy Ramblers in 1926–7, including a 1945 to 1964. of the Pocono Mountains of souvenir programme of the Other donors since the last Pennsylvania, and Mike Pearson Melody Maker invitation concert newsletter include Les Adams, has sent us a copy of his book of 23 June 1929 by Fred Jean Atkinson, Veronica Beckett John Surman: The Belting Zodiac. Elizalde and his Savoy Music (on behalf of the late Harry and a marketing brochure from Beckett), Robert Bowring, VOLUNTEERS 1926 – ‘Paul Whiteman in David Bradford, Terry Brown, Continued thanks go to symphonic syncopation’. Margaret Chead (on behalf of Gemma Boyd, Steve Carter, Te r r y C r y e r , the well- the late Leon Chead), Derek Alan Quaife, Christine Smith respected photographer, has Coller, John Scott Cree, Bob and George Wilkinson for the donated some of his excellent Davenport, Digby Fairweather, great work they do for us. work. Eric Field, Norman Field (on Sadly, Wally Barnard has been Ruth Hazledine’s donation, behalf of the late John too unwell to attend, but we which came from the collection Woodward), Clive Fleckney, thank him for his past support of her late husband, Mike Peter Gardner, Dave Gelly, and wish him well for the Hazledine, included books and Professor Phil Gibbard, Sarah future.

Issue 24 National Jazz Archive Newsletter 7 Picture Puzzle

By Dave Gelly Archive (part of the British found a relay from Bush House The photograph below was Library) and an all-round good in the BBC French Service, 20 sent to the Archive, back in egg. He has been compiling, October 1946, with the October 2011, by radio mostly in his own time, a listing following line-up: Billy Riddick producer Roy Oakshott. He of BBC jazz broadcasts, (trumpet), George Chisholm wanted to know if anyone beginning in 1945. Referring to (trombone), Cliff Townshend knew when it was taken, and it, I discovered a mysterious (clarinet), Jimmy Skidmore who the players were. David outfit called the Jazz Octet of (tenor), Billy Munn (piano), Nathan immediately spotted the BBC European Service, Jack Llewellyn (guitar), Tommy George Chisholm (third from broadcasting in January 1946 Bromley (bass), George left) and Jimmy Skidmore what was billed as ‘A Fierstone (drums). (extreme right), but couldn’t programme of improvised Now all we need is positive place the other six. Several of music led by Billy Munn’, but identification of Riddick, us, including Digby, scratched no further details. I also found Townshend, Llewellyn, Bromley our heads and made a few wild details of an acetate disc from and Fierstone (Roy Oakshott guesses, but nothing definite a rehearsal for a broadcast in knew Billy Munn) and we’re emerged – except that it was the French Service, listing there. Cliff Townshend was taken in a BBC studio (see the names but, annoyingly, the the father of Pete Townshend, microphone over the piano, wrong ones – including Sid late of the Who, so I suppose extreme left). Phillips and Frank Deniz, both one could ask him, if he is Now you can’t just take of whom I knew, and no approachable by mere snapshots in BBC studios. Chisholm. But it was a start. mortals. Only authorised photo- Back to Paul’s listing. Check Does anyone have any graphers are allowed, usually through again – and this time I bright ideas? for publicity purposes. So this is official. Judging by the clothes and general style of the guys, it looks like the early post-war period. Handwritten on the back of the pic were the number 1946015 – the first four digits of which could refer to the year 1946 – and the words ‘BBC European Jazz Society’, whatever that was. That’s when I thought of Paul Wilson, who is Curator of Radio at the National Sound

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