[Dixielandjazz] Ban on Musicians

[pj.ladd]

The ban was indeed an idiocy of the Musicians' Union,>>

Presumably this was the same sort of reasoning which allowed us to have 
visiting band leaders but not their bands.  Although this no doubt did 
provide employment for British musicians it meant that we didnt hear the 
great sidesmen which were often as much a feature of the big bands as the 
leader.

I remember also being unable to place an order for `Downbeat` unless I could 
prove I was a professional musician. Presumably to preserve  the UK`s 
extremely limited foreign trading reserves.

Cheers

Pat