[Dixielandjazz] George Melly NY TIMES OBIT

[TBW504 at aol.com]

Steve
I first new George way back when he sang with Mick Mulligan (who was  
immortalised on meeting Louis on arrival in London when Louis asked to borrow  his 
horn for a toot and afterwards remarked that Mick should remove the saveloys  
from that thing. In those early days George was thin and extremely nervous, thus 
 accounting for mannerisms as a cover which later became part of the act. 
George  had the good sense to have John Chilton to lead his band for many, many 
years.  Known best as a writer (Who's Who of Jazz, etc.)John was a fine 
trumpeter.  Unusually George Melly and the John Chilton Feetwarmers had an annual gig 
at the  Ronnie Scott Club in Soho: a bit like George Lewis playing at 
Birdland. As a  mature student at university I was present when George came to 
lecture on  Magritte. Afterwards there were a gaggle of earnest youngsters asking 
about art  when I took him by surprise by mentioning happy days at the Cooks 
Ferry Inn (a  prominent jazz hostelry) before he broke into a huge smile. 
Incidentally, I rate  his autobiographical trilogy on a par with Eddie Condon's We 
Called It Music: so  very very funny! In truth George's vocal talents were 
modest but his  understanding of the blues and his huge personality made him 
something rare and  precious.
Brian Wood