[Dixielandjazz] Kath Stobart

[Ken Mathieson]

Hi All,

It was good to see Kath Stobart getting just praise in Robert's posting. In her prime, she was a formidable player. She had been in Ivy Benson's all-lady band in the UK early in her career, but took time out to raise her family (she was married to bop trumpeter Bert Courtley) and took pupils to keep the cash flowing and to keep her chops up. As a a result of this, she became heavily involved in musical education before coming back to full-time professional work with Humphrey Lyttelton's band. She also did solo gigs with local rhythm sections, including a few at The Black Bull Jazz Club in Milngavie, near Glasgow, in the 1970s and 80s. I was on those gigs and can vouch that she was a storming mainstream to hard bop player. I've got recordings of some of those sessions and they make for exciting listening without ever going over the top and losing their musicality.

I believe Kath has now retired to the rural south-west of England, but she's still around and may still be teaching, although I don't think she does gigs any more. As well as being a fine player, she is also a sweet lady with a wicked sense of humour and great company on or off the bandstand.

Another fine UK lady tenor sax player was Betty Smith, who had a career in variety theatres as well as working with trad and mainstream jazz bands. She worked with some of UK's best jazz bands, notably that of Freddy Randall.

One name which has been conspicuous by its absence in the thread about lady instrumentalists in jazz has been Valaida Snow. Being highly rated as a trumpeter, singer and entertainer by no less than Louis Armstrong puts her at the top of the profession in her day. Facinating life story too. Worth checking out her biog.

Cheers,

Ken Mathieson
www/classicjazzorchestra.org.uk