Memories of a Birmingham Musician (Drummer)!

[sospiri]

Eddie,

My friend is still not a good reader, but has quite a good ear. What he wanted to learn some time ago was how to improvise with his right hand and I suggested that he try a tune like "Just one of those things" and he tried that a few times. Though as a bass player he can do some wonderful chord substitutions, trying to improvise a linear melody line and/or play both left and right hands at the same time just didn't come natural to him as a bass player.

I can understand that and you are doing the right thing by using the correct fingering. Don't get into the habit of using incorrect fingering even though it may seem easier now. When you come to play a more difficult piece, that wrong fingering will become a difficult handicap that will be almost impossible to get out of. Ask any typist who learn by playing with just two fingers!

I hope you are continuing to enjoy learning to play the piano.

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

Eddie,



I hope you are continuing to enjoy learning to play the piano.

Maurice

Really enjoying it Maurice, and I am practicing a minimum of one hour a day.....much depends on other things to be done. I checked to find out my finger span, and I can span, from middle C to D with ease.....9 notes, and D# is not a problem. In fact, with a bit of a stretch, I can manage the E, but as you say, not really needed.

Eddie

Eddie

 

[norfolk brummie]

I believe I have already told, in an earlier posting on this website, the story of the two Hungarians that escaped from Hungary, after the Hungarian Uprising, in 1956. The story was of how they came into the music store, where I was then working, and played some incredible Hungarian gypsy music to us. The Russians had been very brutal in putting down the uprising, and Russian soldiers killed people without any compassion, or thought.

Another man that also managed to escape from Hungary at that time was a lovely man named Janos Keszei. I got to know Janos quite well, and one day, over lunch, he told me his story.

Janos was the principal timpanist with the Hungarian State Orchestra, and in his attempt to escape, was caught by the Russians. They made him kneel, and pointed the gun to his head. Janos really felt his life was ended, but the Russian soldier saw the lovely watch that Janos was wearing, and told Janos "Your life for the watch". Janos gave the soldier his watch, and the soldier walked off. Janos made his escape to the west, and to England where he became the principal timpanist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

He owed his life to his watch.


Eddie

 

[sospiri]

Good story with a happy ending, Eddie.

I'm so glad your pianistic efforts are giving you so much pleasure. On a much younger person, that stretch would improve with practice, but not advisable to attempt it now. I don't know whether you remember, but in the 1950/60s Melody Maker used to carry a classified advert for finger independence exercises to be undertaken away from the keyboard. It actually comprised 10 sheets of Gestetner copied typed instructions and 10 small photographs. The span exercise merely involved taking a pencil, cutting it to the required length and placing it between thumb and smallest finger. For the independence exercises, place hand palm upwards with fingers together and stretched to their full length. (Think of an old-fashioned policeman stopping traffic!). Then independently, one at a time & whilst keeping the other fingers stretched out, bend each finger at the second joint to 90 degrees whilst keeping the rest of that finger straight. You're allowed at first to use the other hand to assist you, but eventually you will be able to do this unassisted.

I'm sure one of your daughters will know of these exercises and you could probably find them somewhere on the internet. I'll have a look myself shortly. I think I lent my copy to someone before leaving the UK.

Maurice

 

[Bob Davis]

Maurice,

before I left 'Brum', in the fifties, I often worked at the Golden Cross, in Aston, with the Johnny Beck Six. In fact, the jazz club there was opened by a guy who was also our band manager (I have forgotten his name), and we were the resident Saturday night band, always backing the guest star for the evening.

The club was always packed with dancers 'jiving' the night away.

I first met Andy Hamilton in the early 50's, and he was a Saturday regular at Kay Westworths music store, when I worked there. He would come into the shop around lunchtime, checking through the tenor sax reeds, and stay for two or three hours. We became good friends over time, but I lost track of him when I left Birmingham.

Eddie

Eddie
If you were still there in 1959, then in six degrees of separation our paths have crossed, because it was there Jan/Feb 1959, that I met the lady who is still my wife ....57 years, we actually married on Boxing Day 1959 in Hessenford in Cornwall, the vicar, Us, the best man and maid of honour, her immediate family, my immediate family the organist and five locals who sat at the back. After we met I tried to impress her with some of the best of my 100 modern jazz records these included all the great drummers, sax players and big bands. However these days jazz seems to no longer be standards adapted by an instrumentalist, if you played Birmingham you will remember the sax player whose standard was 'All the things you are ' , but meaningless blasts of all the stops or strings at once and an obscure title...... Jazz FM does not live up to its name, so it is always back to the old CDs

Bob

 

[norfolk brummie]

Just received the sad news of the passing of another old friend....Rick Parfitt, of Status Quo.

I was always great pals with the band, and we had some hilarious times together, like the night we all stayed in the same hotel in Sydney, and another time at a very funny wedding.

Until now, Quo were about the only band left that could still have put all their original band musicians together.

R.I.P. Rick...Good times remembered.

Eddie

Eddie

 

[sospiri]

Eddie,

I guessed you would be the one with some personal recollections - I have none except those as a musician performing a couple of their tunes. My feelings go out especially to his wife and their young family - my condolences. RIP Rick Parfitt.

Maurice

 

[Astonian]

Hi Maurice
just read your thread about the jazz sessions at the golden cross
during the 50,s my dad used to be the head barman there during that period
he started around 15 years old and finished we he actualy died in march 28 1958
which was a good friday other wise he would have been there longer in his life
merry christmas maurice and a happy and healthy prosperous new year to you
for 2017 best wishes as always Alan,, Astonian;;;;;;;;

 

[sospiri]

Hi Alan,

Nice to hear from you on what is probably the coldest Christmas in Crete since we came here almost 12 years ago. And I see that the UK is being caned by a couple of storms too. Yes, I only went down the Golden Cross, upstairs on a Sunday night generally when Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes and Jimmy Deuchar were in the Scott band, all sadly no longer with us, like so many others. But we had some good nights and some great jazz was blown. I'm afraid I can't remember the names of any of the staff there as it's now incredibly almost 60 years ago. Talking about winding the clock back - phew! I hope you & yours have a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Succesful 2017, Alan. Cheers!

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

This Christmas has seen the passing of two more famous British entertainers, Rick Parfitt and George Michael. Still relatively young, and so sad.

Let us all also remember the tragic death of all the not so famous musicians that have been killed in the Russian air disaster, and their grieving families.

They also entertained.

May they all R.I.P.

Eddie

 

[sospiri]

Well said, Eddie, a lot of musicians have lost their lives this Christmas. I'm sure we all agree with your sentiments.

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

Some wonderful Christmas presents, including, at 83 years of age.......a pianoforte tutor book.
Life in the old dog yet!!

Eddie

 

[sospiri]

Eddie,

Absolutely brilliant! I'm so pleased that you are enjoying your learning - that's an achievement in itself.

Incidentally, I was in Neapoli Hospital here this morning (just to get a repeat prescription), and in the main reception there was a large screen TV on the wall displaying an extended newsreel. This included several minutes tribute to the members of the Red Army Band, Choir & soloists who lost their lives in the Black Sea disaster. Extracts from one of their concert hall programmes, all in full dress uniform - just a pity I was unable to wind the sound up!

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

Thanks Maurice. Very sad about all those musicians dying.
Alfonso Mouzon has also died, original drummer with Weather Report. Must have been around 70, I guess.

Yes, thoroughly enjoying the old 88'er

Eddie

 

[oldbrit]

Eddie (ted?) was this your first gig? Two of us still kicking!

 

[sospiri]

Thanks for letting us know, Eddie, I haven't had a chance to do my usual rounds of the musical forums yet. Ironically I was watching some Weather Report on YouTube last night - Jaco was still with them then in 1978 - Birdland and The Remark You Made. According to Wiki he was 68. Victor Bailey, one of their bass players, also died in November. He was only 56. Here's a pic of Alphonse - who was a real mixture including Blackfoot Indian.

Maurice

 

[Smudger]

Some wonderful Christmas presents, including, at 83 years of age.......a pianoforte tutor book.
Life in the old dog yet!!

Eddie

Keep barking Eddie. The piano is a brilliant instrument for a good old sing a long. We had many happy hours sitting round the piano as my mother in law belted out some good old tunes..... Roll out the barrel, knees up mother brown and many more. She always ended a session with, " I`ll take you home again Kathleen" I miss those times.

 

[norfolk brummie]

View attachment 110565 View attachment 110565 Eddie (ted?) was this your first gig? Two of us still kicking!

Not my first gig, John.

When I was nearly 17, I worked with an accordion player, Stan Husband. A nice jazz player. We did a duo at a country club just outside Brum. He had a motorbike, and sidecar. I was bundled into the side car, with my drums. I still cannot remember how we managed it.

Before I was called for National Service, I also played in a Dixieland band that included Rick (Mac) Lennon, on trumpet, sitting next to you, in your photograph. We also recorded a couple of numbers......."Deed I Do" and "Darktown Strutters Ball" on 78 rpm.

Whilst in the Royal Signals I also played in the camp band. Always did the Sergeants and Officers mess 'do's.

I enjoyed playing with yourself, and the guys in the band shown.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to Marcia & yourself.

 

[oldbrit]

Great times we packed them in. Happy New Year to you and all the Brum History Group

 

[sospiri]

A drummer we missed, British-born American drummer Randy Jones passed away in June 2016 in New York at the age of 72. Randy Jones worked with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra for a time, but is best known as Dave Brubeck's drummer for 32 years until Brubeck's own death in 2012. Cause of death was heart failure. R.I.P. Randy

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

A drummer we missed, British-born American drummer Randy Jones passed away in June 2016 in New York at the age of 72. Randy Jones worked with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra for a time, but is best known as Dave Brubeck's drummer for 32 years until Brubeck's own death in 2012. Cause of death was heart failure. R.I.P. Randy

Maurice

Sorry Maurice,

I did know about Randy's passing...just forgot to place a tribute on this website.

I knew Randy in the late sixties/early seventies, when he was working with the Maynard Ferguson Band, and we were both endorsing Hayman drums. I lost touch with him after he left for the States, but followed his years with Dave Brubeck.

A lovely guy, and a wonderful drummer. Sadly missed.

I always felt very honoured to be classed with some of the great drummers of the day.

 

[norfolk brummie]

Musically speaking, life is again getting serious.

Photographed, with my daughter, during a Christmas piano lesson.

Juliet is ex. Royal Academy of Music, and a superb musician, so I have my own highly qualified teacher....all at no expense. Not that I feel guilty. It cost my wife and I fortune when she was at college!.

Eddie

 

[sospiri]

And nice to see photographs too, Eddie. I see that Tony Oxley is on that list and according to Wiki is still alive - he's 18 months younger than me! But I never hear of him these days - must be keeping a low profile or spending all the money he made out of drumming!

 

[sospiri]

Eddie,

Our posts crossed, but I am glad to see you are reclaiming some of your investment! Great pic.

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

Maurice. I often wonder about what happened to Tony Oxley. Tony was a fine jazz drummer, and a successful one, albeit at times a little weird with his ideas.

Rob Townsend and Brian Bennett I still see occasionally, but most of them have sadly departed to that great rhythm section in the sky.

Best wishes for 2017.

Eddie

 

[sospiri]

And the same good wishes to you too Eddie. I'll have to do a bit of digging and see if I can find any more recent news of Tony. As you say, at times a little strange with his ideas, but more than competent, that's for sure.

Maurice

 

[sospiri]

Eddie,

Apparently Tony has been based in Germany for quite a few years. He issued a CD on his own label (Incus) on his 75th birthday in 2013.

Maurice

 

[norfolk brummie]

Another wonderful musician has died today, American pianist/singer Buddy Greco. I had the pleasure of meeting Buddy a couple of times, and spent one quite funny evening with him.

Somewhere on this thread, I believe I have related a Buddy Greco story.

Not many left from my era, when the world talent was not loosely used, and had real meaning.

Now used for any amount of rubbish that we see and hear.

R.I.P. Buddy Greco, and thank you for all the enjoyment that you gave us.

Eddie.

 

[sospiri]

Eddie,

Yes, a very sad loss though I never met him or heard him live. A distinctive musician. R.I.P. Buddy :-(

Maurice.........

 

[sospiri]

And to give this thread a definite Brum feel, here's Buddy (much older, of course) at the Circus Casino, Birmingham.......

Maurice