[Dixielandjazz] Acker in Poland

[Bill Haesler]

Marek Boym wrote:
> Your sources may be right, but I don't think so.
> I spoke to Acker Bilk about that tour, and he corroborated an earlier
> date.  But he was not all that young, so he might have been wrong.

Dear Marek,
The official Acker Bilk web site, which I also checked (and dismissed) 
the other day, says [in part]:
   "Demobbed, Acker formed his first Band in Bristol, but then he and 
Jean moved to London so he could become the clarinettist with the Ken 
Colyer Band, but he hated London and returned to Bristol to form the 
Bristol Paramount Jazz Band. In 1951 [so the home page says] this Band 
came to London and Acker and Jean survived in a factory attic in 
Plaistow until the Band got their first big break - six weeks constant 
playing in a beer bar in Dusseldorf."
Which implies much earlier dates than Acker's usual biographical 
accounts and the discographal evidence.
With respect, I would rather trust researchers like John Chilton, 
DJMLer Brian Wood and the early LP album notes than a musician's 
impromptu memory.
Having written 100s of musical biogs, I know what their memories are 
like, including my own.
8>)
Listmate and broadcaster Brian Harvey was involved with Doug Dobell 
(who has put the Polish trip in 1957, before Dusseldorf) in producing 
Acker's first records in the mid 50s. What say Brian?
Kind regards,
Bill.