[Dixielandjazz] Re: Ken Colyer

[john petters]

Judy said
I have to state my bias, I heard him play frequently in
> the late 70s/early 80s in London and couldn't understand what all the fuss
> was about but hell what does a singer know?  

The whole Ken Colyer cult in the UK is strange indeed. Buy the late'70s and
early '80s his bands had passed their best. In the late '50s however, along
with Acker Bilk's band of the period, he got closer than most to pulse and
rhythm of New Orleans jazz. This was helped in no small measure by his
drummer, Colin Bowden, who studied Baby Dodds. He had a good frontline team
in Ian Wheeler, clarinet and the late Mac Duncan, trombone. This was not a
Brit trad band. It was an honest attempt to play New Orleans Jazz by a group
of young men separated by race culture and distance. It was an ensemble
music. 
When Bowden left, the band sound changed and lost its urgency. I heard Ken's
allstars in the early '70s with Colin back on drums, Ray Smith, piano, and
the wonderful Annie Hawkins on slapped acoustic bass. The magic was there.
In '85 I booked Ken as a guest at the jazz club I ran in Harlow. At that
time I had decided that I wanted to be a swing drummer and all this mouldy
fig stuff was old hat. 

I debated booking another drummer for the session, thing I would not enjoy
it. The need for money prevailed over artistic considerations and I did the
gig. Nervously, I asked him what style of drums he wanted me to play. His
reply, in few words, "swinging drums,man!"

Contrary to my expectations, the gig was most enjoyable. It was recorded and
some of it is on my "New Orleans Revisited" CD and a clip can be heard at 
http://www.traditional-jazz.com/pge_cd11.htm
Listening back, it failed to capture the raw energy of the '50s band. 

Ken had a melodic and lyrical approach to playing. His models were Bunk and
Mutt Carey, but as he got older the influences were less obvious. When we
recorded the session on the CD, he had been ill for sometime. He succumbed
to cancer in 1988. Significantly, his passing was mentioned in Parliament!

The Ken Colyer Trust emerged soon after his death. A Band of ex Colyer
sidemen was formed. This, over the years has been good and bad, depending on
the personnel. Many of the fans have a rather narrow view of the music,
which Ken never had. He apparently liked Roy Eldridge. There are a number of
festivals and events staged by the Trust which conform to a very narrow
musical policy, ie, New Orleans Revival. I have no problem with that, but
having been brought in to put some life into one of these festivals at
Blackpool some years ago, (I organised a more musical varied festival in
another hall) I found the music on offer about as interesting as watching
paint dry. But that is personal taste. It does however say something that
Ken Colyer is still revered nearly two decades after his death. He did leave
behind some of the most memorable recordings of British Traditional jazz, as
opposed to 'Trad'.
John Petters
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
www.traditional-jazz.com