[Dixielandjazz] Jazz in Scotland

[Ken Mathieson]

Hi Listers and Listees!

I spotted Judy's post about the non-existence of quality jazz in Scotland, but decided to let it pass on the grounds that she obviously just hadn't heard the right bands or musicians. Then in today's Issue 40, Robert Calder made his response (which I've snipped in the interests of brevity, sorry Robert), in which I got named and thereby converted from a lurker to a protagonist (I'm not sure if that makes me a lurkee now, an ex-lurker, or a reformed lurker). I think I pefer disgraced ex-lurker.

Jazz in Scotland is indeed in good health and, since most of the list's active posters seem to be in California, you'll all be aware of a couple of bands from hereabouts which are/have been regular visitors to your fair land: Mike Hart's Syncopters and Fat Sam's Band. I played drums and arranged for Fat Sam for a protracted period (I was sentenced to 15 years but got 3 years off for outrageous behaviour), during which I worked the Sacto Jubilee and the LA Classic many times and remember some of you guys fondly. Bill Gunter's name came up the other day and I just about remember marathon joke and anecdote sessions in his yard, fuelled by Mr Coors' giggly juice.

To business: there is an astoundingly talented pool of young musicians coming up in Scotland. Almost of all of them play in fairly modern styles, but a few are interested enough in the older forms of jazz to  get involved in playing them. Brian Kellock, mentioned by Robert in his post, is a ferociously swinging piano player who has welded an amazing range of influences from Waller to Cecil Taylor into a highly personal style and is equally at home in a Dixieland rhythm section or in a very modern jazz trio. He is unquestionably a world-class player and well worth catching if you get the chance. 

Another fine pianist is the much younger Paul Kirby, whose personal style reminds me a lot of Bud Powell, but who has spent time studying the Armstrong Hot 5 & 7 as well as Jelly Roll and other old-timers. He plays with my band as first-call dep/sub for Tom Finlay. Paul Harrison is another fine keyboard player (he plays piano and Hammond organ) whose playing transcends styles: he's a musical chameleon who can fit in with pretty well anyone.

Trombonist Phil O'Malley is a name to watch out for: He's academy-trained, a wizard sight-reader, has a great sound and is developing into an outstanding soloist, who reminds me a bit of John Allred when he first burst on the scene. There's also a superb young tenor-player, Konrad Wiszniewski (born and bred in Scotland in spite of his name), similarly well-trained, possessed of a gorgeous tone, who is a lyrical soloist with plenty to say regardless of style. Both Phil and Konrad play in Tommy Smith's excellent big band, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (as does Brian Kellock). They also play in my Classic Jazz Orchestra (CJO) and enjoy the experience of playing a wide range of music from Jelly Roll Morton to Horace Silver. I've only mentioned a few of the brightest youngsters: the ones who take the time and trouble to learn about the earlier forms of jazz and to play a vital role in keeping these styles alive. 

In addition to Fat Sam and Mike Hart, two professional standard traditional bands exploring the older styles have been created in the last 4 years: my own CJO and a 4-piece called Quattro McJazz. My band is an 8-piece, whose repertoire covers lots of Bix, Louis, Oliver, Ellington and Morton as well as mainstream/modern material by Slide Hampton, Oscar Pettiford, Clark Terry, Buck Clayton, Buddy Tate, Horace Silver etc. There's planty about us on our website: www.classicjazzorchestra.org.uk if you can be bothered to have a look (N.B. the site is due a major update, which is timed to concide with the release of our new CD on Lake Records later in April).  Most of the guys in CJO are escapees from Fat Sam, although trumpeter Billy Hunter, saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski and pianist Tom Finlay are still there and play with my band when out on parole.

Quattro McJazz is a great wee hard-driving quartet comprising Forrie Cairns (wonderful fierce clarinettist), Lennie Herd (great hot trumpet lead and soloist), Alastair McDonald (an outstanding banjoist - they do exist!, guitarist and singer, well-known in Scottish folk music circles) and Roy Percy (bass), who also plays in my CJO and with almost every other band in Scotland it seems. There are a couple of reasons why Judy isn't aware of people of this calibre: They're all busy professionals working in a variety of settings outwith the Dixieland festivals, and it's often economically inviable to tour the jazz clubs and festivals in England, so Scottish musicians tend to be better known in Europe and beyond than in England. As Robert points out, there seems to be less cross-border touring going on nowadays

Finally (whew!), Robert mentioned George Chisholm in his post. Alas George passed on many years ago, but his great buddy in the bands of Ambrose, the Squadronaires, Danny Polo, Benny Carter, Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins etc, trumpeter Tommy McQuater died recently at the age of 93, although it should be pointed out that his liver was 186. Tommy was an outrageous character, but a great player and a consummate pro. He was greatly admired by people like Manny Klein and Clark Terry, which tells you he could play a bit.

Enough already. Regards and best wishes to old pals everywhere.

Ken Mathieson