[Dixielandjazz] Trad Jazz (British) and the piano

[Marek Boym]

Hi Ken,
Jerry has already provided a partial answer.
Most Colyer bands had a pianist; some had not.
But the fame of the Barber band and its influence on European  (and, to a
lesser extent, even American) have spunned the notion that typical British
trad bands were pianoless.  And it was Barber who organized the first
Colyer band with which  the latter played and recorded for a short time.
Actually, the only other pianoless band I know is Bob Oliver's, which
features two banjoes instead!  There may be others, not well-known.  But
all the other British bands of renown have pianos.
Cheers,
Marek


On 19 February 2014 19:07, 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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