[Dixielandjazz] "Eggy" Ley.

[John Petters]

Glen said
>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 met Eggy in the early '80s. He was co-leading a quintet with the late and
much missed Cy Laurie. I played a regular Thursday night session on Southend
sea front in a pub called the Esplanade. He was a fiery exciting hot player
and worked well with Cy's Dodds styled clarinet. He was a great hustler and
got a lot of gigs for his Hotshots, which ws a popular band on the circuit.
Different in that it used a two reed line-up, (even after Cy left, with Mac
White, then Trevor Whiting) and always played entertaining music. If you are
in touch with Karel, please pass on my warmest regards.
I enjoyed some happy times with Eggy and Cy, which of course cannot now be
repeated.
cheers

John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "glen page" <gpage at direct.ca>
To: "Burt Wilson" <futurecon at earthlink.net>; "norrie.thomson"
<norrie.thomson at btopenworld.com>; "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 7:45 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] "Eggy" Ley.


> 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
>
>
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