[Dixielandjazz] "Eggy" Ley.

[glen page]

Derek William "Eggy" Ley
Passed away in Dec. 1995 in Tsawwassen, B.C. Canada following a stroke
earlier in the year.

Eggy was one heck of a guy.At a private party with several of the then
Phoenix Jazzers in attendance he actually encouraged me to blow, as opposed
to play, my trombone for a couple of choruses whilst he had the impossible
task of accompanying me whilst the rest of my "friends" derided  my efforts.

In "Jazz, The Essential Companion" the following is said about him.

"Ley,Eggy(Derek, soprano and alto sax, vocals, bandleader. Born London 4 Nov
1928. He took up soprano sax in 1949,and led a top rated dixieland band in
Germany in 1955-1961. After returning to London he joined Radio Luxembourg
and played resident at the Tatty Bogle Club 1961-69 before producing for
BFBS (1969-83),freelancing and co-leading Jazz Legend(with Hugh Rainey)1973.
>From 1983 leading his own Hot Shots, Ley turned professional again, ran a
small jazz magazine Jazzin' Around" and successfully recorded and toured
abroad. He is one of the pioneers of classic soprano sax. in England."

I cannot remember when he moved to the Vancouver area, he had played at the
Hot Jazz Club several times before this.He played with his group at the
Vancouver World Fair and was a hit with the local jazz men.

His widow,Karel, still lives near to me and is very active in the Stroke
Club which she founded following Eggy's death.Eggy was very highly regarded
in these parts and a large number of friends and musicians braved a
horrendous snowstorm on Jan.20th 1996 to honour his life. Two sons came from
England, one a nice trombone player , the other a drummer. There was a great
musical evening at the local Legion, not too many dry eyes.

Cheers, Glen, still not able to play my 'bone in public.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Burt Wilson" <futurecon at earthlink.net>
To: "norrie.thomson" <norrie.thomson at btopenworld.com>; "DJML"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2003 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Bands in the 50s


Norrie--
When I was stationed in Germany in the middle 50's there was a Brit soprano
sax guy by the name of Eggy Ley who had a band at the Storyville Club in
Frankfort. Know anything of him?
Burt Wilson
-------Original Message-------
From: "norrie.thomson" <norrie.thomson at btopenworld.com>
Sent: 02/24/03 03:44 PM
To: DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Bands in the 50s

>
> Hi Listmates

So far there has only been mention of one British band.  Here's some more
that might set the memories working

Sandy Brown's Band
Cy Laurie Band
Humphrey Lyttelton Band
Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen
Steve Lane's Southern Stompers
Alex Welsh's Dixielanders
Eric Silk's Southern Jazz Band
The Yorkshire Jazz Band
The Saints Jazz Band
Acker Bilk Paramount Jazz Band
Ken Colyer's Jazzmen

These may not be well known over the other side of the pond, but they were
well known in the UK and Continental Europe

A couple of European bands

Papa Bue's Viking Jazz Band
The Dutch Swing College

A couple of great USA bands

George Lewis
Kid Thomas


Norrie


Norrie Thomson
Edinburgh
Scotland


_______________________________________________
Dixielandjazz mailing list
Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
<a target=_blank
href="http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz">http://ml.isla
ndnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz</a>
>

_______________________________________________
Dixielandjazz mailing list
Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz