1963 Aylesbury Jazz Club

The Aylesbury Jazz Club started 1963 at Aylesbury Social Club but, after a summer break, moved back to Market Square and the Borough Assembly Hall (being the refurbished Grosvenor Ballroom).

Fewer of the established “big names” appeared at the Aylesbury Social Club. Len Baldwin, Micky Ashman, Ed Corrie, Doug Richford and Charles Galbraith were among the regular visitors.

The Bucks Advertiser of 22 February reported on one unexpected jam session. Under the headline “A Session To Remember At Social Club”, Tony White wrote:

At Aylesbury Jazz Club on Tuesday … The Ken Stewart Seven was the advertised band. But for some reason or other Dick Charlesworth thought he was playing there. So, along with his wife, singer Jackie Lynn, only to find that the rest of his band was in London, fully aware of the night off.

Despite having driven from Southport after being on the road for 18 days … Dick and Jackie decided to stay and have a blow. And what a session it was … His clarinet playing was some of the best I’ve heard at the club and he proved to be no mean performer on the alto sax. The presence of Dick and Gerry Turnham with Jackie singing seemed to spur on the Ken Stewart boys. They blew well.

Later, on 14 June, Tony White was expressing concern at falling attendances at the Aylesbury Social Club. Under the heading “The Missing Fans – Where Are They All Now?”, he wrote:

Attendances at Aylesbury Jazz Club have been dropping sharply in the past few months. It’s no secret but a well-known fact that an average of only 70 to 90 fans turn up each week at the Social Club in Park-street.

Former regular attenders have said to me: “But the club is not getting the top bands anymore.” Surely this is a vicious circle. If the crowds are not coming any more then the promoters cannot afford the more expensive groups. It stands to reason.

Ron Lesley is hoping things will pick up when the club moves back to The Grosvenor. But if we’re not careful he will be shutting the doors at The Social Club before then.

The last date for Aylesbury Jazz Club at the Social Club was on 9th July. The Borough Assembly Hall was expected to open in late September – and September 24th was pencilled in for the re-opening of the Jazz Club there with Acker Bilk contracted to play. As it was, the opening was delayed, and the first night for the Jazz Club was on 22nd October with Chris Barber – though his wife, Ottilie Patterson, was ill and could not appear as advertised.

The move to the Borough Assembly Hall also saw the return of Acker Bilk, Ken Colyer and Kenny Ball.

AJC opening night

DateVenueArtist 1
8/1/1963Aylesbury Social ClubCharles Galbraith All-Stars
15/1/1963Aylesbury Social ClubTerry Lightfoot's Jazzmen
22/1/1963Aylesbury Social ClubRodney Foster's Jazz Band
29/1/1963Aylesbury Social ClubLen Barton's Alexander Jazzmen
5/2/1963Aylesbury Social ClubDavy Kier's Jazz Band
12/2/1963Aylesbury Social ClubThames City Jazzmen
19/2/1963Aylesbury Social ClubThe Ken Stuart Seven
26/2/1963Aylesbury Social ClubThe Colne Valley Six
5/3/1963Aylesbury Social ClubKeith Smith's Climax Jazzband
12/3/1963Aylesbury Social ClubLen Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
19/3/1963Aylesbury Social ClubEd Corrie and his Jazzband
26/3/1963Aylesbury Social ClubMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
2/4/1963Aylesbury Social ClubCharles Galbraith All-Stars
9/4/1963Aylesbury Social ClubLen Barton's Alexander Jazzmen
16/4/1963Aylesbury Social ClubDoug Richford and his London Jazzmen
23/4/1963Aylesbury Social ClubMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
30/4/1963Aylesbury Social ClubLen Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
7/5/1963Aylesbury Social ClubKeith Smith's Climax Jazzband
14/5/1963Aylesbury Social ClubEd Corrie and his Jazzband
21/5/1963Aylesbury Social ClubLen Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
28/5/1963Aylesbury Social ClubThames City Jazzmen
4/6/1963Aylesbury Social ClubDoug Richford and his London Jazzmen
11/6/1963Aylesbury Social ClubEd Corrie and his Jazzband
18/6/1963Aylesbury Social ClubLen Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
25/6/1963Aylesbury Social ClubDoug Richford and his London Jazzmen
2/7/1963Aylesbury Social ClubCharles Galbraith All-Star Jazzmen
9/7/1963Aylesbury Social ClubMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
22/10/1963Borough Assembly HallChris Barber and His Jazz Band
29/10/1963Borough Assembly HallAlan Elsdon's Jazz Band with Mick Emery
5/11/1963Borough Assembly HallAcker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
12/11/1963Borough Assembly HallDick Charlesworth and his City Gents with Jackie Lynn
19/11/1963Borough Assembly HallTerry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen
26/11/1963Borough Assembly HallAlex Welsh and his Jazzband
3/12/1963Borough Assembly HallKen Colyer Jazzmen
10/12/1963Borough Assembly HallDick Charlesworth and his City Gents with Jackie Lynn
17/12/1963Borough Assembly HallKenny Ball and his Jazzmen
24/12/1963Borough Assembly HallMike Cotton Band

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