Trad jazz

1964 Aylesbury Jazz Club and Aylesbury Bluesville

Published on by Stephen Daglish

With the decline in the popularity of trad jazz, Nanda and Ron Lesley made the decision to shut down the Aylesbury Jazz Club and to move toward rhythm and blues. Aylesbury Bluesville bought a different range of artists to Aylesbury – British artists such as The Animals, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame and Long John Baldry, and American artists including John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Charlie and Inez Foxx and Jimmy Reed.

The year started with trad jazz artists who had been regulars at the Aylesbury Jazz Club – Terry Lightfoot, Chris Barber, Acker Bilk, Ken Colyer and Kenny Ball. Acker Bilk was still pulling in the crowds.

Acker Bilk review

The following week, the Aylesbury Jazz Club presented Sonny Boy Williamson, supported by Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men featuring “Rod the Mod” Stewart – a first move towards rhythm and blues.

Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men, with Rod Stewart, would become regulars in Aylesbury – and were back a few weeks later for the opening night of Aylesbury Bluesville.

Sonny Boy Williamson ad

Tony White in the Bucks Advertiser wrote:

Sonny Boy Williamson sang, played and swung his way into the hearts of a capacity crowd at the B.A.H. on Tuesday night. This tall, ageing, stooping negro blues man came, the audience saw, and he conquered.

Sonny Boy Williamson review

The final night of the Aylesbury Jazz Club was on 17th March with the Dutch Swing College Jazzband. Tony White wrote in the Bucks Advertiser:

Traditional jazz left the Borough Assembly Hall on a wave of applause on Tuesday. The final session, before the Rhythm and Blues men take over, was wildly successful, with the Dutch Swing College band in tremendous form.

Like many other jazz clubs in this country, Aylesbury has found it necessary to go over to rhythm and blues because of the rapid drop in audience numbers.

The following week, 24th March, was opening night for Aylesbury Bluesville with Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men, with Rod Stewart.

Bluesville opening ad

The Animals played four times during the year, with Eric Burdon and Alan Price in the group. The first appearance was on 21st April. By the time of their visit on 20th June, the group were at number one with The House Of The Rising Sun.

Image: Bucks Herald / Aylesbury Remembered
Image: Bucks Herald / Aylesbury Remembered

The Bucks Advertiser reported that The Cheynes also appeared – see below. The other appearances by The Animals were on 18th August and 24th November.

Animals review

On 16th June, John Lee Hooker was in Aylesbury, supported by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (who had appeared as headliners a few weeks earlier).

John Lee Hooker was back in October 1964, this time supported by John Lee and the Groundhogs, later to become The Groundhogs. The Groundhogs took their name from a John Lee Hooker song, “Groundhog’s Blues”.

Review from Bucks Advertiser. Photo: Bucks Herald.

John Lee Hooker review

John Lee Hooker 1964 BAH
Image: Bucks Herald / Aylesbury Remembered

In October, Bluesville presented a number of shows under the banner of the American Negro Blues Festival. On 13th October 1964, Charlie and Inez Foxx appeared. Tony White writing in the Bucks Advertiser was impressed – both by Charlie and Inez, and also by the Spencer Davis Group who were the backing band.

No-one can doubt that at Bluesville on Tuesday the young American brother and sister team of Inez and Charlie Foxx scored a triumph. Their 45-minute show, ably backed by the Spencer Davis Group, was a tour-de-force that had the fans shouting for more …

A special word is in order for the Spencer Davis Group. This quartet from Birmingham is undoubtedly one of the most polishred, exciting rhythm and blues bands to appear in Aylesbury. They played the first half on their own … Particularly impressive was drummer Pete York, and lead guitar and vocalist, Steve Winwood … The group only turned professional in May this year and it’s obvious they have a big future. They play with taste and intelligence.

The Spencer Davis Group were back in Aylesbury at the Granada supporting Manfred Mann in November, and headlining at Bluesville in December, with further appearances in January and February 1965.

Charlie Inez Foxx report

On 15th December Rufus Thomas appeared, backed by the Tony Knight Chessmen, including Lol Coxhill. Lol made his first TV appearance in 1964 on “Ready Steady Go”, playing with the Chessmen backing Rufus Thomas on his hit “Walking The Dog”.

Rufus Thomas review

Aylesbury Jazz Club and Aylesbury Bluesville dates for 1964:

DateClubArtist 1Artist 2  
7/1/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubTerry Lightfoot And His Jazzman
14/1/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubChris Barber's JazzbandOttilie Patterson
21/1/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubBack O' Town Syncopators
28/1/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubAlan Elsdon's Jazz Band
4/2/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubAcker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
11/2/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubSonny Boy WilliamsonLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men featuring Rod Stewart
18/2/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubTerry Lightfoot And His Jazzman
25/2/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubKen Colyer Jazzmen
3/3/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubKenny Ball and his Jazzmen
17/3/1964Aylesbury Jazz ClubDutch Swing College Jazzband
24/3/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men
31/3/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleJimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions
7/4/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleManfred MannJohn Mayall's Blues Breakers
14/4/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Downliners Sect
21/4/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Animals
5/5/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames
12/5/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Yardbirds
19/5/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleTerry Lightfoot's Jazzmen
26/5/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleJohn Mayall's Blues Breakers
2/6/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames
9/6/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men
16/6/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleJohn Lee HookerJohn Mayall's Bluesbreakers
23/6/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Yardbirds
30/6/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe AnimalsThe Cheynes
7/7/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleTerry Lightfoot's Jazzmen
21/7/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleManfred Mann
28/7/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames
11/8/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Cheynes
18/8/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Animals
25/8/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men
8/9/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleJimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions
15/9/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men
22/9/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames
29/9/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men
6/10/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLittle WalterArt Woods R&B
13/10/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleCharlie and Inez FoxxSpencer Davis Group
20/10/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleJohn Lee HookerJohn Lee and the Ground Hogs
27/10/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleLong John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men
10/11/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleJimmy ReedJohn Lee and the Ground Hogs
17/11/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleZoot Money's Big Roll Band
24/11/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Animals
1/12/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Falling Leaves
8/12/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Authentics
15/12/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleRufus ThomasTony Knight and the Chessmen
22/12/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleThe Cheynes
29/12/1964Aylesbury BluesvilleSpencer Davis Group

1963 Aylesbury Jazz Club

Published on by Stephen Daglish

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

1962 Aylesbury Jazz Club

Published on by Stephen Daglish

The start of 1962 saw the Aylesbury Jazz Club at the Town Hall, where it had moved to in November 1961 having left the Grosvenor Ballroom.

After the catastrophic fire at the Town Hall in March 1962, a further new venue was required – and this was at the Aylesbury Social Club in Park Street; the first show there was on April 17th.

AJC at Social Club

The list of artists appearing in 1962 has a familiar look to it compared with previous years – with Ken Colyer, Bob Wallis and Mike Cotton playing.

DateVenueArtist  
9/1/1962Town Hall AylesburyBob Wallis's Storyville Jazz Band
16/1/1962Town Hall AylesburyMike Cotton Jazzmen
23/1/1962Town Hall AylesburyAlan Elsdon and his Jazz Band
30/1/1962Town Hall AylesburyThe London City Stompers
6/2/1962Town Hall AylesburyAcker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
13/2/1962Town Hall AylesburyForrie Cairns and the Clansmen
20/2/1962Town Hall AylesburyGerry Brown Jazzmen
27/2/1962Town Hall AylesburyHumphrey Lyttleton and his Jazzband
6/3/1962Town Hall AylesburyDick Charlesworth and his City Gents
13/3/1962Town Hall AylesburyBack O' Town Syncopaters
17/4/1962Aylesbury Social ClubLen Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
24/4/1962Aylesbury Social ClubEric Allandale and his New Orleans Knights
1/5/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMike Cotton and his Jazzband
8/5/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
15/5/1962Aylesbury Social ClubThe Clyde Valley Stompers
22/5/1962Aylesbury Social ClubForrie Cairns and the Clansmen
29/5/1962Aylesbury Social ClubEd Corries Jazzband
5/6/1962Aylesbury Social ClubLen Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
12/6/1962Aylesbury Social ClubGerry Brown Jazzmen
19/6/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMike Cotton Jazzmen
26/6/1962Aylesbury Social ClubTerry Lightfoot's Jazzmen
3/7/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
10/7/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBob Wallis's Storyville Jazz Band
17/7/1962Aylesbury Social ClubThe Fairweather-Brown All-Stars
24/7/1962Aylesbury Social ClubGerry Brown Jazzmen
31/7/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMike Cotton and his Jazzmen
7/8/1962Aylesbury Social ClubKen Colyer Jazzmen
14/8/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBruce Turner Jump Band
21/8/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBack O' Town Syncopaters
28/8/1962Aylesbury Social ClubTerry Lightfoot's Jazzmen
4/9/1962Aylesbury Social ClubAlan Elsdon's Jazzmen
11/9/1962Aylesbury Social ClubEric Silk's Southern Jazz Band
18/9/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBob Wallis's Storyville Jazz Band
25/9/1962Aylesbury Social ClubKen Colyer Jazzmen
2/10/1962Aylesbury Social ClubGerry Brown Jazzmen
9/10/1962Aylesbury Social ClubEric Alandale's New Orleans Knights
16/10/1962Aylesbury Social ClubAlan Elsdon's Jazz Band
23/10/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBack O' Town Syncopaters
30/10/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMike Cotton's Jazzmen
6/11/1962Aylesbury Social ClubKen Colyer Jazzmen
13/11/1962Aylesbury Social ClubKen Colyer Jazzmen
20/11/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBob Wallis's Storyville Jazz Band
27/11/1962Aylesbury Social ClubGerry Brown Jazzmen
4/12/1962Aylesbury Social ClubBack O' Town Syncopaters
11/12/1962Aylesbury Social ClubAlexanders Jazzmen
18/12/1962Aylesbury Social ClubMike Cotton's Jazzmen

1961 Aylesbury Jazz Club

Published on by Stephen Daglish

1961 saw the Aylesbury Jazz Club continue to thrive on Tuesday evenings – but there were some changes.

Toward the end of the year it was announced that the jazz club was changing venue, from the Grosvenor Ballroom to the Town Hall.

One artist of note to appear during the year was the Temperance Seven. The Bucks Herald reported that “hundreds of traditional jazz fans had to be turned away when the Temperance Seven made their debut at the Aylesbury Jazz Club. At one period the queue stretched for over 200 yards.”

The Temperance Seven’s single You’re Driving Me Crazy, produced by George Martin, was at number two in the charts, and went to number one the following week.

Temperance 7

On November 3rd, in the Bucks Advertiser Tony White reported “Jazz Club To Quit The Grosvenor”:

After using the Grosvenor Ballroom, Aylesbury, as it’s headquarters for nearly three years, Aylesbury Jazz Club is quitting this venue and moving down the road, under the arches to the Town Hall. The move will take place on Tuesday, November 14, and first man in will be the “Guv’nor”, Ken Colyer.

Why the move after so long? Let the club’s host, Ron Lesley, explain. “A better hall, and better facilities for my members”.

The one big question is, of course, that of capacity crowds. In the past, when Barber, Bilk or Ball have been to the Grosvenor, the number of fans has been in excess of that which will be allowed at the Town Hall. The Town Hall has a maximum of 660, but Ron is not particularly worried. “My average weekly crowd is about 350, but Chris Barber is the next big name to come to Aylesbury. He has been contacted and says he does not mind the 660 ceiling”, says Ron.

AJC Town Hall

But before this there had been a dispute earlier in the year, when a fire exit check on a jazz club evening resulted in a court heating. The Bucks Advertiser reported:

The lease-holder of Aylesbury’s Grosvenor Ballroom, Edward J. Friday, was fined £10 and ordered to pay £1 costs at Aylesbury court after being found guilty of failing to keep unobstructed exits, passageways and gangways in the ballroom.

The court was told of a visit by Aylesbury Borough Council’s senior building inspector, a police inspector and a fire officer to the Grosvenor during a jazz club session on Tuesday, July 25.

The building inspector, Mr. Geoffrey Edwards, said he was told that 551 people had paid for admission when he arrived. He inspected the premises and found all bar one of the exits were either chained and padlocked or obstructed by boards, or as in one case by a piano, blocking the passage leading to the doors.

In answer to cross-examination, defending, Mr. Edwards said Mr. Friday was not at the Grosvenor that night. The promotoer of the Aylesbury Jazz Club, Mr. Ronald Lesley, told the court he had a verbal agreement with Mr. Friday to hire the Grosvenor every Tuesday at a rental of £15. He was given to understand that Mr. Friday was responsible for the state of the hall …

Friday denied in the witness box that he was responsible for the hall’s condition on jazz club nights. He claimed that on one occasion he wrote to Mr. Lesley and reminded him of his responsibilities with regard to keeping all the fire exits open when the ballroom was being used.

Mr. Miscampbell, addressing the magistrates, said the crux of the matter was who was in charge of the ballroom on this particular night. Mr. Friday, he said, rented the Grosvenor Ballrooom from the freeholders. The freeholders were not held responsible for the exits when Mr. Friday was present, so why should Mr. Friday be held responsible when he was not there, but the ballroom was rented from him.

After the magistrates had retired the Chairman, Col. F. W. Watson, said the Bench felt that Friday was responsible for seeing the exits were kept free.”

This episode may have soured the relationship between Eddie Friday and Ron Lesley. It is interesting that when the Town Hall was closed in 1962 due to a fire, the Aylesbury Jazz Club did not return to the Grosvenor – but instead moved to the Aylesbury Social Club in Park Street, only returning when the Grosvenor re-opened as the council owned Borough Assembly Hall in October 1963.

Details of the Aylesbury Jazz Club on Tuesday evenings in 1961 are shown below. There was also one all night jazz ball on 10th March – for details please see here.

DateVenueArtist
3/1/1961Grosvenor BallroomMicky Ashman and his Ragtime Jazzband
10/1/1961Grosvenor BallroomKen Colyer and his Jazzmen
17/1/1961Grosvenor BallroomCy Laurie Jazzband, Ella Mitchell
24/1/1961Grosvenor BallroomKenny Ball and his Jazzmen, Clinton Ford
31/1/1961Grosvenor BallroomMike Daniels Delta Jazzmen, Doreen Beatty
7/2/1961Grosvenor BallroomKen Sims Vintage Jazzband
14/2/1961Grosvenor BallroomBob Wallis's Storyville Jazzband
21/2/1961Grosvenor BallroomChris Barber Jazzband, Ottilie Patterson
28/2/1961Grosvenor BallroomSir Charles Galbraith Jazz Gentlemen
7/3/1961Grosvenor BallroomIan Menzies and the Clyde Valley Stompers, Fiona Duncan
14/3/1961Grosvenor BallroomMick Mulligan Jazz Band, George Melly
21/3/1961Grosvenor BallroomKen Colyer and his Jazzmen
28/3/1961Grosvenor BallroomKenny Ball Jazzmen
4/4/1961Grosvenor BallroomDick Charlesworth and his City Gents, Jackie Lynn
11/4/1961Grosvenor BallroomTerry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
18/4/1961Grosvenor BallroomAlex Welch Band
25/4/1961Grosvenor BallroomKen Sims Vintage Jazzband
2/5/1961Grosvenor BallroomMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
9/5/1961Grosvenor BallroomBob Wallis's Storyville Jazzband
16/5/1961Grosvenor BallroomThe Temperance Seven, Sir Charles Galbraith Jazz Gentlemen
23/5/1961Grosvenor BallroomEric Alandale's New Orleans Knights
30/5/1961Grosvenor BallroomAlex Welsh and his Jazzband
6/6/1961Grosvenor BallroomEd Corrie's Concord Jazz Men
13/6/1961Grosvenor BallroomTerry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
20/6/1961Grosvenor BallroomDick Charlesworth and his City Gents, Jackie Lynn
27/6/1961Grosvenor BallroomSir Charles Galbraith's Charleston Chasers
4/7/1961Grosvenor BallroomEric Alandale's New Orleans Knights
11/7/1961Grosvenor BallroomAlan Elsdon's Jazzmen
18/7/1961Grosvenor BallroomMike Cotton's Jazzmen, Jeannie Lambe
25/7/1961Grosvenor BallroomKenny Ball Jazzmen
1/8/1961Grosvenor BallroomTerry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
8/8/1961Grosvenor BallroomSir Charles Galbraith's Charleston Chasers
15/8/1961Grosvenor BallroomMicky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
22/8/1961Grosvenor BallroomLennie Baldwin's Dauphin Street Six
29/8/1961Grosvenor BallroomAcker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
5/9/1961Grosvenor BallroomKen Colyer and his Jazzmen
12/9/1961Grosvenor BallroomDougie Richford's London Jazzmen
19/9/1961Grosvenor BallroomDick Charlesworth and his City Gents, Jackie Lynn
26/9/1961Grosvenor BallroomTerry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
3/10/1961Grosvenor BallroomThe Melbourne New Orleans Jazz Band
10/10/1961Grosvenor BallroomThe Clyde Valley Stompers
17/10/1961Grosvenor BallroomGerry Brown Jazzmen
24/10/1961Grosvenor BallroomKen Sims Vintage Jazzband, Long John Baldry
31/10/1961Grosvenor BallroomTerry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
7/11/1961Grosvenor BallroomAlan Elsdon's Jazzband
14/11/1961Town Hall AylesburyKen Colyer and his Jazzmen
21/11/1961Town Hall AylesburyGerry Brown Jazzmen
28/11/1961Town Hall AylesburyThe Back 'O Town Syncopaters
5/12/1961Town Hall AylesburyChris Barber's Jazzband, Ottilie Patterson

 

1960 Aylesbury Jazz Club

Published on by Stephen Daglish

In 1960, the Aylesbury Jazz Club continued to present top-class trad jazz at the Grosvenor Ballroom every Tuesday evening. The fans continued to flock in – the Bucks Herald reported a record attendance of 950 for Terry Lightfoot on 24th May.

Micky Ashman and his Ragtime Jazzband topped the number of appearances during the year with 8, followed by the Kenny Ball Jazzmen (6) and Terry Lightfoot (5). Ken Colyer, Acker Bilk and Bob Wallis each appeared three times.

In addition there were five all-night jazz balls held at the Grosvenor Ballroom during the year – for details, please see here.

Alex Welsh Dixielanders ad Nov 15

Details of the 52 gigs in 1960 are shown below. For other years, please see separate posts.

DateArtist
5/1/1960Cy Laurie and his Band
12/1/1960Terry Lightfoot Jazzmen
19/1/1960Micky Ashman Jazzband
26/1/1960Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen
2/2/1960Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
9/2/1960Ken Colyer Jazzmen
16/2/1960Sonny Morris Jazzmen
23/2/1960Cy Laurie Jazzmen
1/3/1960Ian Menzies and the Clyde Valley Stompers
8/3/1960Micky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
15/3/1960Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen
22/3/1960Terry Lightfoot Jazzmen
29/3/1960Ken Colyer Jazzmen
5/4/1960Kenny Ball Jazzmen
12/4/1960Micky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
19/4/1960Dave Nelson and the Marlborough Jazzband
26/4/1960Humphrey Lyttleton and his band with Cab Kaye
3/5/1960Graham Stewart's New Orleans Jazzmen
10/5/1960Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
17/5/1960Sandy Brown-Al Fairweather All Stars
24/5/1960Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
31/5/1960Micky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
7/6/1960Bob Wallis and the Storyville Jazzmen
14/6/1960Ian Menzies and the Clyde Valley Stompers
21/6/1960Nat Gonella and the Georgians
28/6/1960Micky Ashman and his Ragtime Jazzband
5/7/1960Cy Laurie and his Jazzband
12/7/1960Ken Barton's Creole Jazz Band
19/7/1960Kenny Ball Jazzmen
26/7/1960Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
2/8/1960Micky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
9/8/1960Ken Colyer Jazzmen
16/8/1960Bob Wallis and the Storyville Jazzmen
23/8/1960Kenny Ball Jazzmen
30/8/1960Sims-Wheeler Vintage Jazz Band
6/9/1960Clyde Valley Stompers
13/9/1960Humphrey Lyttleton and his band
20/9/1960Micky Ashman and his Ragtime Jazzband
27/9/1960Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen
4/10/1960Dick Charlesworth and his City Gents
11/10/1960Cy Laurie Jazz Band
18/10/1960Mick Mulligan and his band
25/10/1960Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen
1/11/1960Pete Ridge Jazz Band with Little Mo
8/11/1960Sims-Wheeler Vintage Jazz Band
15/11/1960The Alex Welsh Dixielanders with Diz Dizley and Lennie Hastings
22/11/1960Micky Ashman's Ragtime Jazzband
29/11/1960Bob Walliss and his Storyville Jazzband
6/12/1960Terry Lightfoot and his New Orleans Jazzmen
13/12/1960Dick Charlesworth and his City Gents
20/12/1960Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
27/12/1960Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen

All night jazz comes to Aylesbury

Published on by Stephen Daglish

In November 1959, the first all night jazz event was held at the Grosvenor Ballroom, Aylesbury. Such events were nothing new to the jazz scene – they had been going on in London for many years – but this was definitely something new for Aylesbury.

The Bucks Advertiser reported on November 6, 1959:

All Night licence

The first event featured Micky Ashman, Dave Nelson’s Marlborough Jazz Band, Bob Wallis’s Storyville Jazz Band and the Alberts Jazz Band. The Bucks Advertiser reported that 550 jazz fans attended:

Aylesbury Jazz All Nighter

Further all-nighters were held at the Grosvenor:

29th January 1960 – Cy Laurie, Micky Ashman, Dick Charlesworth, Sonny Morris

25th March 1960 – Cy Laurie, Bob Willis, Dave Nelson, Terry Lightfoot

20th May 1960 – Acker Bilk

12th August 1960 – Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot, Ken Barton, Sim-Wheeler Vintage Jazz Band

16th September 1960 – Kenny Ball, Micky Ashman, Bob Wallis, Dave Nelson

10th March 1961 – Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot, Micky Ashman, Eric Alandale

1959 Aylesbury Jazz Club

Published on by Stephen Daglish

On 13th January 1959, the Chris Barber Jazz Band played at the gala opening night of the Aylesbury Jazz Club at the Grosvenor Ballroom.

The formation of the new jazz club was the idea of Eddie Friday, manager of the Grosvenor, and Ron Lesley, who had run the Harringay Jazz Club, Ron and his wife Nanda went on to run the Aylesbury Jazz Club, and also the Ipswich Jazz Club.

Chris Barber Aylesbury ad

Chris Barber Aylesbury review

The next artists to appear were Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band and the Ken Colyer Jazzmen – all of which returned later in the year. Acker Bilk played six times during that first year, while Ken Colyer played five times and Chris Barber twice. Other artists appearing included Micky Ashman (6), Cy Laurie (5), Terry Lightfoot (3), Mike Daniels (3), Alex Welsh (2), Kenny Ball and Humphrey Lyttleton.

Micky Ashman had played with Chris Barber and Lonnie Donegan before forming his own band.

Terry Lightfoot obituary – Daily Telegraph

Mike Daniels obituary – Daily Telegraph

The Aylesbury Jazz Club ran on Tuesday evenings at the Grosvenor. Below are details of 45 shows during 1959. For later years, please see separate posts.

Note: there are no details shown between 23rd June and 11th August. The local newspapers – the Bucks Herald and Bucks Advertiser – were not printed between these dates, and it has not been possible to find details from other sources. Can you help plug this gap please?

DateArtist 1
13/1/1959Chris Barber Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson
20/1/1959Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
27/1/1959Ken Colyer Jazzmen
3/2/1959Micky Ashman Jazzmen
10/2/1959Terry Lightfoot Jazzmen
17/2/1959Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
24/2/1959Ken Colyer Jazzmen
3/3/1959Cy Laurie Jazzmen
10/3/1959The Graham Stewart Hot 7
17/3/1959Mick Mulligan Band with George Melly
24/3/1959Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen
31/3/1959Micky Ashman Jazzmen
7/4/1959Ken Colyer Jazzmen
14/4/1959Cy Laurie Jazzmen
21/4/1959Bob Wallis
28/4/1959Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
5/5/1959Humphrey Lyttleton and his band
12/5/1959Cy Laurie Jazzmen
19/5/1959The Graham Stewart Hot 7
26/5/1959Alex Welsh Dixielanders
2/6/1959Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen
9/6/1959Micky Ashman Jazzmen
16/6/1959Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
23/6/1959Bob Wallis's Storyville Jazzmen
11/8/1959Eric Silk and his Southern Jazzmen
18/8/1959Micky Ashman Jazzmen
25/8/1959Dick Charlesworth and His City Gents
1/9/1959Ian Menzies and the Clyde Valley Stompers
8/9/1959Chris Barber Jazzband
15/9/1959Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen
22/9/1959Eric Silk Southern Jazz Band with Patti Clark
29/9/1959Cy Laurie Jazz Band
6/10/1959Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen
13/10/1959Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
20/10/1959Ken Colyer Jazzmen
27/10/1959Alex Welsh Dixielanders
3/11/1959Micky Ashman Jazzmen
10/11/1959Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band
17/11/1959Cy Laurie Jazz Band
24/11/1959Kenny Ball Jazzmen
1/12/1959Jack Dupree, Mike Daniels with Doreen Beatty
8/12/1959Sonny Morris Jazz Band
15/12/1959Terry Lightfoot Jazzmen
22/12/1959Ken Colyer Jazzmen
29/12/1959Micky Ashman's Jazz Band

Jazz: The early 1950s

Published on by Stephen Daglish

In 1952 we find a reference to the Modern Music Club at the National Service Hostel in Bicester Road. An article in the Bucks Herald dated 3rd October 1952 reported on “the first jazz club session to be held in Aylesbury for two years” since the Aylesbury Jazz Club was disbanded.

Modern Music Club 1952

Mentioned as one of the artists is Ken Sykora, a jazz guitarist. His obituary in The Guardian notes that “for five successive years in the 1950s, he was voted Britain’s top guitarist by readers of Melody Maker”. Later he became a presenter of music shows for radio and TV. More information on The Man with the Jazz Guitar website.

Earlier in the year, the County Theatre (later the Grosvenor Ballroom) had presented the 1952 Jazz Cavalcade in April.

1952 Jazz Cavalacade ad

1957: Trad jazz comes to the Grosvenor

Published on by Stephen Daglish

On 4 September 1957, the Buckinghamshire Traditional Jazz Club held its opening night at the Grosvenor Ballroom. The artist was Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.

Kenny Ball ad Sept 57

The Bucks Herald covered the opening on its front page on September 13, 1957. The organiser was Barrington Saunders, an ex-servieman from Ilford, who told the Herald: When I was stationed at Bicester, I often came into Aylesbury, and I thought what a depressing place it was for entertainment. I also thought that Aylesbury had tremendous possibilities for social outlet, and by the look of the people here tonight I think these traditional jazz evenings will be a success.

Bucks Trad Jazz Club

Sadly the club did not appear to last long, and had closed by the end of the year. Below is a list of dates that we have been able to find. If you can provide any more information, do please let us know.

DateArtist 1Notes
04/09/1957Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen
11/09/1957Charlie Galbraith and his Jazz Band
18/09/1957Marlborough Jazz Band
25/09/1957Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen
02/10/1957Sonny Morris Jazzmen
16/10/1957No artist details
06/11/1957Reg Mallet and his band
13/11/1957Reg Mallet and his band