[Dixielandjazz] Trad Jazz (British) and the piano

[Jerry Brown]

Many of Colyer's bands over the years had a pianist and such as Ray Foxley and maybe those were pianoless lost the chair because of a shortage of good pianists and maybe more to the point a shortage of decent pianos in pubs and clubs which were the backbone of the touring circuit. For example the famous Dancing Slipper Club in Nottingham was notorious for the quality of the piano as a listen to some of the recordings from its heyday will show. 

The Chris Barber band was, and still is, the most famous pianoless band but others at the top for the fame ladder during the 'trad boom days' such as Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk had a piano in their lineup as did those of Bob Wallis, Alex Welsh and many others.

Jerry Brown

Sent from my iPad

> On 19 Feb 2014, at 17:07, Ken Gates <kwg915 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> While sorting out my old LPs and wondering what to do with them,
> I noticed several 10 inch disks.  Two of them had to do with early
> British trad bands.The "New Orleans to London" was, of course
> Ken Colyer.  Apparently recorded after his return from New Orleans
> of March of 1953--according to the liner notes.  Personnel were--
> Colyer, Sunshine, Barber, Donnegan, Bray, Bowden (Ron).  NO
> piano---which the liner notes found to be noticeable.
> 
> The other LP was recorded in July 1951 at the "British Festival of
> Jazz Concert" with six bands including one number by the the
> Crane River Band led by Ken Colyer.  ALL six bands had a piano.
> Crane River pianist was Pat Hawes.
> 
> Sometimes I hear mention of British Trad as being mostly without
> piano.  I'm now wondering if this is mythology.  I'm asking for some
> knowledge as to history of piano in this jazz style.
> 
> Surely Ken Colyer didn't return from New Orleans with the notion
> that "pure" New Orleans jazz was to be played without piano.
> Not after the Bunk Johnson/George Lewis recordings with piano
> by Alton Purnell.  But maybe the informal sessions he played
> with George Lewis and others while in New Orleans were
> mostly without piano and he got used to that sound?
> 
> Ken Gates
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