Today would have been Tubby Hayes birthday he would have been 81 years old Tubby was born in st Pancras London. He was a multi-instrumentalist but more known for his tenor saxaphone playing, he turned pro at the tender age of 16 he joined Kenny Bakers sextet and later played in big bands for the likes of Roy Burns Vic Lewis and Jack Parnel in the late 50's he joined up with Ronnie Scott and formed the Jazz Couriers which in truth was most probally the most remembered of the British Jazz groups. In 1961 Tubby was asked to play in America at the half note club stunning the american audiances being likened to Coltrain Sims and many other great sax players of the time. Tragicly Tubby left us all to early sadly passing away in 1973.
Tubby has left a huge legacy of musical recordings which are much sort after collectors items
2015 saw the release of " A Man in a Hurry The Tubby Hayes Story" a DVD documentary about Tubby's life directed by Lee Cogswell and produced by Mark Baxter it contains achive footage and interviews with the people that new him iam also pleased to say that Art to Zoot supplied some of the stills photography its a must see documentry for all Jazz fans.
Today is the stunning Salina Jones Birthday as we are talking about a lady we wont put her age shhhhh, Salina is an American jazz singer she has made over 40 albums and preformed with many great artists of her generation only last year she was on tour in the UK and her many fans are still filling venues so i would like to wish this incredable lady of Jazz a very Happy Birthday xxx
Today would have been Ronnie Scotts 88th Birthday Ronnie was born in Aldgate East London in 1927 Ronnie was an English Tennor saxophanist and Jazz club owner. Its a case of where do you begin Ronnie has played with them all :- Johnny Dankworth Victor Feldman Pete King Benny Green Tubby Hayes Stan Tracey Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Sonny Stitt Kenny Clarke Sonny Rollins Johnny Griffin. But i think Ronnie will be remembered more for the club and the musicians he brought over from America The likes of Buddy Rich Bill Evens Chet Baker Ella Fitzgerald Nina Simone Chick Corea again the list is endless even Jimmi Hendrix's last ever preformance was at Ronnies in 1970. Ronnie started in the basement in no39 Gerrarad Street in Soho in 1959 one story he liked to tell was how he and bussiness partner Pete King talked a local music shop to lend them a grand piano and how they struggeled to get it down the stairs because he had booked Bill Evens and didnt have a piano in the club, they moved the club to bigger premises in 1965 to where it is now no47 Frith Street Ronnie Scotts jazz club has been given the acolaid of being one of if not the most important jazz club in the Uk for its contrabution to music.Sadly Ronnie passed away in 1996 but the great man will always be rememberd for his sartorial wit and all round lovely guy His plaque at the Goldergreen Crematorium reads :-
Ronnie Scott O.B.E.Jazz Musiacian club Propriter Raconteur and wit
28th january 1927 23rd December 1996
He was a leader of our Generation
and a final quote from the great man himself
"I love this place its just like home filthy and full of strangers"
Wishing vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson a very happy 75th Birthday i hope you have an amazing day
Happy Birthday to Benny Golsen born 25th January 1929 he is 87 years young a Jazz tennor sax player composer and arranger playing hardbop and bebop i hope you had a fantastic day thankyou for your music
Today would have been Django Reinhardt's Birthday born January 23rd 1910 the Belgum-born Frenchman guitarist and compser was of Romani decent. Django was regarded as one of the greatest jazz guitarest of all time. After being burnt in a fire some of his fingers became paralisied and he changed the way he played just using his middle finger on his left hand for his solos he co-formed the "Quintet du Hot Clud du France" with Stephane Grappelli which became one of the most origanal bands in jazz
Al Cohn January 18 2016
Today would have been Al Cohn's birthday sadly he passed away in 1988 aged just 63 Cohn was one of his generations most influencial tennor sax palyers playing with the likes of Buddy Rich Artie Shaw Woody Hermon Stan Getz but was well known with his playing and collaberation with his great friend Zoot Sims
The renowened Jazz pianist Paul Bley has died aged 83 at his home surrouned by his family, on the 3rd of January 2016. Bley was known for his contrabutions to the Free Jazz movement in the 1960's. He played with the likes of Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Lester Young, Art Blakey and Charles Mingus to name but a few.
Today would had been Stan William Tracey CBE 89th Birthday Stan was a Jazz pianist and composer whose most important infuences were Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk Stan's best known recording is the 1965 Jazz Suite insired by Dylan Thomas "Under Milk Wood" which is based on the BBC radio play of the same name written by Dylan Thomas
Freddie Hubbard the American trumpeter passed away this day in 2008 Freddie was known primairly for his beb hop and hardbop style of playing in the 60's his unmistakable and infuential tone contributed to modern jazz and beb bop
