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MUSICALEXPRESS

No. 311 (NEW SERIES) EVERY FRIDAY PRICE 6d. DECEMBER 26, 1952

A Merry Xmas and Happy 1953!LEFT (above) : Recording star Tennessee Ernie, who will be appearingat the London Palladium in April. LEFT (centre) : Two popular band-leaders compare pipes (left) Harry Gold and Joe Daniels. BELOW :Johnny Johnston and Billy Cotton, Junior, rehearse the plucky patientsof the Queen Mary Sanatorium, Carshalton, in their song " Forget -Me -Not" for a Christmas Day broadcast. LEFT (below) : Diana Dors andDick Henderson, Junior, in a hilarious scene from the new Jack Hyltoncomedy " Remains To Be Seen," which opened this week at Her Majesty's

Theatre, London.

DANKWORTH FOR GERMANYCommercial Tour planned in

THE Johnny DankworthSeven, with vocalists Cleo

Laine and Frank Holder, is totour all Zones of Germany ex-cept the Russian Zone, duringFebruary of next year.

The unit leaves this countryon February 9, returning onMarch 12 ; during their tour theSeven will have the unique dis-tinction of being the first Britishgroup ever to include the FrenchZone in its travels.

TOTAL COSTThe trip, which has been

negotiated by Jim Godbolt. incollaboration with the Davisonoffice, is on a strictly commer-cial basis, and is not backed bythe War Office as was the IvyBenson visit.

Although no definite itineraryis yet set, it is certain that atleast one date will be played inBerlin.

Asked whether he could dis-close any financial details,Harold Davison told the NME :" Actual figures are, of course,the private concern of theartists, but if you reckon thetotal fee at something over-the £2,000 mark you won't befar out."

New Year* * * * * * * * * * *

*10/11 great newport street,

leicester squareproudly presents

Europe's No. I BAND

*

* studio 51

* JACK*PARNELL

&' HIS MUSIC MAKERSTONY KINSEY TRIO - TOMMY WHITTLE *JIMMY SKIDMORE - - RONNIE SCOTT

EXCLUSIVE! CHRISTMAS EVE **

BOXING - HEW YEAR'S EVE

See our " clubs" advertisement,

*

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2

-1*

THE NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS, Friday, December 26, 1952

LOUIS ARMSTRONG ANDTHE ALL-STARS

" Satchmo At Symphony Hall"(Bruns. LAT.8018)

THIS 12 -inch LP (record 2

from a set of two discs) wasrecorded at a Symphony Hallconcert in Boston, Mass., onNovember 30, 1947, and Arm-strong fans will revel in theexcitement of their idol play-ing here before an enthusiasticcrowd.

The music varies from beingvery good to a pretty low stan-dard at times. Balance, too,isn't so hot, with the pianocoming off worst by being dis-tant all through.

Personnel here is BarneyBigard clarinet; Jack Tea-ga rden, trombone; Louis ontrumpet; Sidney Catlett, drums;Arvil Shaw, bass; and DickCarey, piano.

" Steak Face " starts in withthe rhythm laying down a firmbeat. You can hear Louis chat-tering, and then he blows a duetwith the trombone.

Alter this big " T " takes amelodic solo which leads intothe main feature of this one-a drum solo.

Although the drum sequenceis over -long, the interest is heldby virtue of Catlett's good taste.He doesn't go berserk, but startsquietly on tom-toms, graduallybuilding up, as he brings insnare drum, hi -hats, cymbals,and so on.

Naturally, all this kills thecash customers and he brings inthe group in a novel manner-quite a change from the usual" I -get -my -favourite -dish -fish "lick which drummers usuallyresort to !

"Sunny Side of the Street " isa vocal by Louis, who growls acouple of choruses in great style-but his first trumpet chorus isthin -toned and shaky.

Features are the tasty vocalbackground work by clarinetand trombone, and the latter's16 -bar solo, chocful of lovelyintervals, recalling the work ofour own George Chisholm at hisbest.

Louis' horn takes this one out,pushed by a driving off -beatfrom drums.

"High Society " is let down bya doubtful start from Louis,during the military drums trio,and a nasty split note at theend.

reviewed by Ralph SharonBigard takes the

inevitable traditionalclarinet solo (whichthe audience recognisewith glee) and thedrums try to keep

the thing moving, but apartfrom a spell of virile Louis lead,it doesn't mean much.

" That's My Desire." This isthe great side which was issuedlast month on 78 rpm.

You get a little more hero;Velma Middleton sings the firstchorus, but nothing really hap-pens till Louis joins in, so you'renot missing much.

"I Cried For You" is takenfaster than you'd expect, and isa vehicle for singer VelmaMiddleton, who doesn't impress.

She attempts some coy phras-ing in her second chorus whichdoesn't come off.

Best things here are the full -toned long bass notes of ArvilShaw, and a darned good tripletphrase by Louis' trumpet.

" Since I Fell For You " isagain all Velma's.

This is a wonderful tune,something like " Flamingo," andthe singer's efforts are betterhere. She is restrained andshows traces of Ethel Waters,and at times Helen Humes, butI question her ability as a jazzsinger.

I guess that being an avid fanof Billy Holiday has made mesceptical of other so-called" jazz " vocalists. To me, Velmaonly scratches the surface!

"Tea For Two ?' and "Bodyand Soul" are showcases forBigard's fluid, reedy clarinet.

On the first, he blows fourchoruses, urged on by Louis'chuckles. It's good stuff, a littlewild and over -florid in places,but he tops off the side with aduet with drums which is, musi-cally, the best thing on the disc,showing his amazing techniqueand ability to create patternswhich build and follow through.

" Body " is conspicuous by awonderful middle eight, andquite a few modern changescreep into his improvisations.

This tone gets to be a bitsoprano -sax -like in spots, andthe coda, with its final upwardgliss, is a page out of ArtieShaw's book of tricks-effective,nevertheless.

"Mahogany Hall Stomp," thefinal number, is scrappy and,obviously, is a visual effort,strictly for concerts.

The bass solo is excellent, butthere's a boring sequence asLouis holds a long note to criesof " hold it." Pretty sad, thisone!

STACK-HEETAKE ME1ND IN YOUR

ARMS AND HOLD MEWATCH OUT FOR TWO GREAT HITS !

MAKE IT SOONAND

BARRELS ' N BARRELSOF ROSES

ORCHS. READY SOON

Campbell Connell10, DENMARK STREET, LONDON, W.C.2. TEM. BAR 1653

Best things of the set areLouis' vocals on Desire " and" Sunny Side," and Bigard on" Tea " and " Body." The restare only fair, and in parts poor,but Louis Armstrong fans willwelcome this addition to theirfiles.

JUNE CHRISTY(with Pete Rugolo's Orch.)" Some Folks Do and Some

Folks Don't"" The Man I Love "

(Cap. CL.13824)JUNE CHRISTY sings better on

this coupling than she everdid with the Kenton crew.

The greatest improvement isher use of a vibrato, whichshows that she CAN sing in afashion other than the dirgysoulless " no-vib " monotonewhich was her trade mark awhile back.

Now, if she can only brush upon her intonation-who knows?But the material here isn't thegreatest for her.

First side finds June trying tomake the saucy double ententelyrics swing; she nearly does.

Pete Rugolo contributes aspirited two -beat backing, feat-uring an off -beat happy drum-mer, and a wild tenor who getsobnoxious in no time at all I

Flip is an attempt to do a" Lover," with June's echo -chambered pipes in half -tempoagainst the double tempo band.

It's not in the Peggy Lee class-not by a long chalk-butthere's a certain something in

the thrush's voice here whichshows a lot of Ella-and thatisn't so bad !

When Capitol And her somesongs which are more in herline, I think June Christy isgoing to surprise a few people.

You might try this one whileyou're waiting.

Jumping June.

THE HILLTOPPERS" Trying

" You Made Up My Mind"(Vogue V.9045)

MY spies tell me that " Try-ing " by the Hilltoppers is

a " big " disc in the States; wayout in front on the best-sellercharts.

After spinning this one, whichconsists of a corny vocalistsupported(?) by a barber shopvocal quartet, backed by a lone -wolf pianist (a " tinkler " atthat) all getting steamed -upover a puerile tune, I can onlyconclude that the Great BritishPublic are not all that far be-hind !

The flipover is even worse.The " Toppers'" harmonies area scream-I've heard betterfrom the Windmill Girls.

The pianist contributes an" oom-cha," as tastefully as asteam -hammer, and get a loadof the lyrics.

Here's a sample line : " You'vegot me foolish phrasing, withitsy, bitsy, baybsy, waybsy, allthe time."

Switch it off, I'll go quietly !Hilarious Hilltoppers.

Here is young Sheffieldvocalist Jane Freeman, whohas been signed -up by VicLewis to sing with his

Orchestra.

AINTED HEATH AND HIS

MUSICFriday, December 19,3 to 3.45 p.m. Light.

TN case of a misunderstandingI- regarding a statement Imade about the Heath bandwhen last reviewing them, letme state that I did not inteildto imply that the band had nomore broadcasts until ChristmasDay, but simply that the fanswould not be able to hear them,because the sessions were notat night, but only during theday, when, I believe, mostpeople have to work.

The present broadcast was avery high-class performance,but I still think it could havebeen improved by the inclusionof Paul Carpenter, as acompere.

Unfortunately, I have justheard that Paul is not to do thenew series with the band, afterall, and this I think is a greatpity.

MALE `OOMPH'With the exit of so many of

the personalities that this bandonce contained, the musical sideof it has not suffered at all, butthere is missing just that touchof male "oomph " that I alwaysfeel Paul Carpenter possesses.

This brings me into the argu-ment which is raging in theLetters Page of the NEWMUSICAL EXPRESS over the lastfew weeks, and as much as it isnot my business to take sidesone way or the other, this airingpersuades me, once again, tostate what my feelings areabout the relationship betweenthis present Heath crew and theold Heath band.

So let's boil it down to prosand cons.

The old band contained somany of these personalities thatlisteners were inclined to be

by Jack Bentleyblinded to tne delinquenciesthat often crept in with theerratic temperament that goeswith prima donnas.

Also, the ensemble playingwas never as tight and preciseas it is now.

From the point of view ofsoloists, there is no doubt thatthe "old " baad did containmore experts, but Ted is stillable to put three featured solospots in a broadcast, and thesewere all of an extremely highstandard.

Perhaps the one thing thatmay lead some listeners to be-lieve that the band is not quitethe same, comes under theheading of arrangements.

STYLE MARCHES ONWhen Ted first formed, he

spent an enormous amount ofmoney on getting scores doneby some of the finest Americanwriters, and although thesescores are still in the library,they obviously can't be floggedto death and, therefore, the fanswho have nostalgia for suchepics as " Old Kent Road,"" East of the Sun," " BakerlooNon -Stop," etc., are not satis-fied unless these things are con-tinually being played.

But time marches on, and somust the style of the Heathband.

There is no doubt that at themoment the arrangements aremuch of a sameness. This, aswith the Glenn Miller band, isdue to the fact that most ofthem are now being done byone staff arranger, who can'twrite on the crest of a wave allthe time.

Regarding the vocalists, thestandard is higher now than ithas ever been, Lita Roza stillbeing by far the most stylish' fern." singer in the country.

Dickie Valentine has fewequals as a dance band ballad -monger. Denis Lotis and hisjollities are also on a par withthe other two. Incidentally,this singer is undoubtedly farmore appealing now that he issinging " up tempo " numbers

instead of ballads he used todo.

Slight criticisms that could bemade about the contemporaryHeath band, if one is to judgeit by the world's best, are thatthe brass could have fattertones; that the top -note trum-peter Bobby Pratt, althoughhitting them consistently "onthe nose," is used too much inthat idiom, and' consequently aseries of anti -climaxes is theresult of not restricting thistour de force for the subtle andsuitable occasion.

The trombone soloist, althoughplaying what is obviously thestyle of the moment, also over-does a sameness in the glissingeffect, and therefore, the samething applies as with the highnote trumpet.

Apart from these small points,the immaculate alto saxophoneplaying of Leslie Gilbert, theterrific drive of the rhythmsection, the excellent precisionand understanding between sec-tions, still keep this band 'wayahead of anything that Britainhas to offer.

as

COMMERCIALISM ?Another point of debate in the

correspondence columns iswhether or not Mr. Heath ispandering too much to commer-cialism, at the expense of hisdiehard fans.

To a certain extent, on the airthis is true, but all listeners arenot fans, and if ever a policyreached that almost unobtain-able Shangri-La, where nothingis objectionable to the man -in -the -street and yet is still meatfor the cat, then Mr. Ted Heathhas reached it.

I would venture to suggest,therefore, that listeners to theHeath broadcasts at this timeare not only far more than theyever were but that the listenersthemselves are of considerablymore mixed tastes.

Such being the case, thensurely Ted Heath can claimsuccess for his band policy, hisprogramming and presentation?

Opinion : Britain's Best BandBroadcasters.


QKYROCKETS' manager Les Lambert received aLi letter the other day from Australia. It wasfrom a young lady who was endeavouring to trace.a musician named Guy Fletcher, whom she believedhad performed with the "Skyrockets" at, one time.

Les personally knew of no Guy Fletcher, but onenquiring of his colleagues, heard of one who playedthe piano, and was an arranger, so after a few ten-tative enquiries, tracked down this particular"Guy", and sure enough it turned out to be theright one!

Les wrote the necessary information out to thegirl, and now everyone is happy.

Well done, Les-the musical Slim Callaghan!* *

DRUMMERLen Johnson started this, week at the

Palladium, as replacement for popular GeorgeFierstone, who has left the band to freelance.

Apparently Len had an extremely successfuldebut, all concerned being more than satisfied.

Which reminds me that at the conclusion lastweek of the Palladium production "WonderfulTime", comedian Max Bygraves presented all theboys in the orchestra with Tartan scarves . . . tothe great pleasure of lead -sax Izzy "Mac" Duman!

AFAMOUSleader whose orchestra carries out an

important Radio Luxembourg programme eachweek, has the disturbing habit of paying the boyswith post-dated cheques, much tb the disgust ofthe fellows.

After several weeks of this, one genius in the out-fit sent the leader a sheet of notepaper, with thefollowing quotations:-

Rex v Horatio Bottomley 1923"Post-dated cheques never are, and neverhave been, a sign of solvency". (SirHumphrey Travers).

Bank of England Advice Note 1942In view of the increasing amount of post-dated cheques, this Bank can no longercredit accounts where the amount of chequeis over ten pounds.

Musicians' Union 1950After each engagement, musicians must bepaid their fees within 3 days.

Here the genius wrote his own name and putthe date "1952", together with the phrase "What'sthe blankety-blank idea?"

Everyone is eagerly-but eagerly-awaiting nextweek's session!

FRANKREIDY, saxophone star with Nat Temple's

"Bedtime with Braden" outfit, due to the over-lap of sessions sometimes arrives ,a couple ofminutes late for Nat's date.

Recently he agreed to be fined 5s. each time thishappened.

Last Monday, determined not to be late, Frankarose, bathed, shaved, dressed, and giving breakfast

by THE SLIDER 'a miss, tore down to the studios, arriving happilyat five minutes to nine on a quite cold morning.

To his amazement not a soul was around, and ittook him quite a time to dig up a studio attendant,who calmly informed him that the session time hadbeen changed from nine a.m. to one -thirty p.m.!

Pity they didn't make a recording of Frank'sanswer!

* * *AND here is one of the strangest coincidence

stories yet. Jackie Armstrong was drivinghome the other night, late, with Harry Roche sittingbeside him, and as they were about to pass under

a bridge near Raynes Park, Harry started to tell,Jackie about how, some while ago, he was drivingunder this bridge and ran into the back 'of the canin front . . " just about where that car in front;of us is now ".

Suddenly this "car in front " stopped, and-wham !-Jackie Armstrong was into the back of it !Without a moment of hesitation he turned to Harryand said, " You mean like that? "

Harry tells me that actually Jackie was keeping;an eye skinned for a fish shop, because he decided,he wanted fish for supper and told his wife to leave

-

it to him; he would get it on the way home

LES MADDOX, popular violinist with Stanley,Black's Orchestra, started in at the London

Palladium on Monday week.* * *

TED HEATH'S recently recorded "Alpine Boogieis going to cause some fun amongst the fans,

because Ted dropped his own pianist for the dateand booked that fine performer Bill McGuffie.

* *HERE'S a nice little story which concerns

drummers Jock Cummings, of the BBC ShowBand, and Binky Morris, drummer with Phil Tate -

It seems that Binky was stuck getting home aftera late date recently, and as he and Jock are strongfriends (they both hail from Aberdeen), Jock offeredto lend Binky his car, even though it meant he hadto struggle to get himself home.

The only thing is that Binky managed to wrapthe car around a lorry whilst driving back !

And now he can be seen, with Jock's drum gearpiled upon his back, humping it from studio tostudio . . . I understand he's to do this for the nextfifteen years or so, until the debt.is paid off !

Johnny Gray, his moustacheand his Citroen 15 taketheir turn in our popular" Musical Celebrities andtheir Cars " spot. Johnny'sauto is a 1940 model,GGT 97, a seven -seaterwhich has often carried 11,finished in black, with redupholstery. Extras includea heater and radio, and itdoes 25 mpg, with top speed

of around 75 mph.

MAPLETONRESTAURANT,

39 Coventry St., Piccadilly, W.I.Calling all modern Jazz fans !

Here's a new weekly featureto tell you exactly what's hap-pening each Sunday at Britain'sfinest modernist club, "JAZZAT THE FLAMINGO."

"JAZZ AT THE FLAMINGO"is for the fan for whom the bestis almost good enough: the bestjazz you'll hear anywhere; inthe most luxurious, comfortableand . pleasing surroundingsyou've ever enjoyed.

Next Sunday (28th) at 7.30,we're giving a special after -Christmas Party to celebratethe return home of our Presi-dent, KENNY GRAHAM. Thiswill be his first appearance witha new Afro -Cubist group fromThe great Jack Parnell Band.With him, among others, will beJo Hunter, one of the finest andleast -heard trumpet -players inBritain today; Phil Seaman,idol of every drummer; andbassist Sammy Stokes. the per-fect foil to Phil's fantasticphrasing.

Sharing the musical honourswill be the JATF regulars-JoeHarriott, the earthiest, mostexciting altoist you've everheard; Terry Brown; BennyGreen (baritone); backed by theswingiest rhythm section intown - the amazing TommyPollard (piano); Ken Ingerfield(bass); and Leon Roy (drums).There'll be plausible patter be-tween numbers by NME column-ist Tony Hall, and anotherspecial surprise group.

All this for only 5s,We'll see you on Sunday ?

Jeff Kruger (Director)

HALL -MARKS}JERE'S a very brief " What's 7.30 till 11.45 - Joe Muddel

On in London Over Christ- Group (Starlight Rooms).mas " jazz club guide, which I It should be quite a Christmas,hope will be of help, particu- so enjoy yourselves.larly to provincial readerswho'll be in town over the holi-day. There may be other clubsopen, but I've only heard aboutthe following:-

CHRISTMAS EVE7.30 till 12-Jack Parnell Band,

Band, Kinsey Trio 1'51).8 till 12-Joe Muddel Quintet,

Ambrose Campbell, Don Ren-dell (" Blue Room ")..

12 till 5 a.m.-Kenny GrahamAfro -Cubists, Jimmie DeucharAll -Stars, etc. ("Blue Room").

12 till 5 a.m. - Tubby HayesGroup (Zan-Zeba).

CHRISTMAS DAY9 till 3 a.m.-Dizzy Reece Band,

Ronnie Scott (Down Beat-Mac's).

BOXING DAY5.30 till 12-Parnell Band, Kin-

sey Trio ('51).12 till 5 a.m.-Kenny Graham

Afro -Cubists, Deuchar All -Stars ("Blue Room ").

SATURDAY (27th)7 till 11-Eric Delaney Group,

Muddel Quintet ("BlueRoom").

7.30 till 11 - Kinsey -WhittleGroup, Fred Perry Quartet,Dave Davani Sextet ('51).

12 till 5 a.m.-Rex Morris Group(Zan-Zeba).

SUNDAY (28th)Noon-Toni Anton Club (Edg-

Ware). -

4 till 6.311-"lVlinton- Matinee "-Harriott, Ccurtley, Pollard,etc. (" Blue Room 1-

5.30 till 10.30 -- Ronnie ScottQuintet, Kinsey Trio ('51). , MUSICAL HIGHSPOT OF

7 till 11.30 - Kenny Graham THE WEEK ... UnquestionablyAfro -Cubists, Harriott-Poll- the really brilliant tenor-play-erd Group, etc. (Flamingo). ing of Don Rendell last Monday

* * *DO WE SOMETIMES TEND

TO TAKE CERTAIN BRITISHJAZZMEN FOR GRANTED? ..I think we do, and a case inpoint is trumpeter Terry Brown.For some reason, never acceptedas one of " the chaps " (becausehe's just an ordinary guy witha family, and not a " charac-ter" ?), it's always Terry whocomes to the rescue when agroup is short of a trumpet -player.

Though Terry is not a world-beater and (like every othermusician) has his " off " nights,there are few more reliable orsteadily improving hornmen tobe heard around the clubstoday. But don't take him forgranted. There may come atime when he'll be wanted andwon't be around.

* * *A lucky break ... for that

comic couple, Winston andWayne, better known to you asdrummer " Flash " Winstoneand bassist Bruce Swain.They've just landed a lucrativetwo-week contract over thepeak Christmas holiday periodat Edmundo Ros's New CoconutGrove. Maybe not the humourfor the Festival Hall, but theseboys have a crazy comedyroutine which deserves tosucceed.

* *

TONY HALL'SModern Gossipnight (15th), superbly supportedby the other four DankworthFugitives, with a special wordof praise for the regrettablyunder -publicised piano -playingof Bill le Sage. It's a long timesince I've heard such spontane-ous applause as that whichgreeted Don's solos.

Mike and I between us haveraved about him for so long nowthat there's nothing much I cansay that hasn't already beensaid, except that his playingwas even more wonderfullywarm than usual.

These sentiments were shared

by other tenormen present(Messrs. Temperley, Hayes,Evans and Walker). On thesame session, Cleo LaMe wasalso enthusiastically (and de-servedly) appreciated.

* *" Off the envelope." New

Year's Eve at the " Mapletone "should be pretty good. It's thedebut of a new Ted Heath groupled by trombonist Johnny Keat-ing. Line-up is four saxes, trom-bone and rhythm. Bob Efford'snew band and Benny Perrin'smob are also on this 8 till 4 a.m.bill. - . The Film Studios Clubare giving a special ChristmasParty for the entire " Porgy andBess " cast; a nice gesture.

THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOUR FRIENDSFill in on the form below the names and addresses to

which you would like the " New Musical Express " sent everyweek for one year, six months (delete period not required)and send this coupon to us.To the " NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS," 5, Denmark Street,

London, W.C.2.Please send the "New Musical Express" every week

commencing with January 2, 1953 issue, as my gift to :1. NAME

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(Please use Block Capitals)

I enclose remittance for 30s. (one year), 15s. (six months)(delete words not required) for each person.Signed

Address

(We will enclose a note with the first issue that thesubscription is a gift from the sender).

THE NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS, Friday, December 26, 1952 5

Star singer Anne Shelton is seen here withthe giant Christmas tree she has had erectedin the grounds of her Dulwich home. She andher neighbours are loading it with presents

for local sick children.

DIANA IS THEBAND PIN-UP GIRL !As our front-page picture proves

HYLTON has brought to HerMajesty's Theatre the American

comedy, " Remains To Be Seen," by thewriters of " Call Me Madam." He hasalso brought to the dance band businessits Number 1 pin-up girl-glamorous,luscious, infectiously sparkling DianaDors.

She plays the part of a vocalist in a small,touring dance band in the States, who is alsoa rabid fan of the big bands and leaders.She jives, she has all the band talk off pat(and delivers it in a most authentic andfascinating Bronx drawl), she plays a bit ofdrums and she fits the part as neatly andexcitingly as she fits her gowns (and night-gown !).

Her performance is a gem of characterisa-tion and observation. She is the embodimentof every dizzy dame who has ever sung in asmall-town band and of every jitterbuggingfan who ever went crazy at the name of DizzyGillespie. Her zestful youth, her figure, herpersonality and her strip -teases are cordiallyrecommended as a certain tonic against thewintry weather.. DYRENFORTH SCORESDick Henderson, Junior, has the role of an

apartment -house manager who plays thedrums. He throws himself about a bit toomuch, and his would-be innocent manneroften borders on the hang -dog. As for hisdrumming-well, he's no Jack Parnell, but hecan use the sticks adequately . . . and there'sno stand-in off-stage when he beats out therhythm.

Our old friend Jimmy Dyrenforth - ofradio fame-is as competent and confident onthe stage as he is before the mike, and givesa very good performance in the role of alawyer who falls for Diana (and whowouldn't?).

The play? Well, it's a thriller with asketchy murder -plot that serves as a shakyprop for lots of action (some of it quiteincomprehensible !) with comedy detectives,sliding panels in the wall, a stabbed corpse,screams and gunplay.

The opening is slow and heavy, but onceDiana Dors comes on, all is more than well.

R. S.

IT'S THE XMAS RUSH !We apologise to our readers for giving

them only eight pages this week. Christ-mas is a time of tremendous hustle inthe publishing world, as all periodicalshave to be put to press much in advanceto be on sale before the holiday. Stillreeling after the great amount of workneeded to give you a 32 -page Christmasissue the other week, we have had tocut down our pages in this issue to getout in time. But we'll be on sale againon January 2, 1953, with our usual 16pages. Seasonal greetings to you!

JOE LOSS GETS THE SUNDAY RHINEAFTER a nine - month

absence, the Joe LossOrchestra returns to thecoveted Sunday lunchtimebroadcasting spot (1.15 till1.45 p.m.) in the LightProgramme on December

-28. They take over from therumbustious Billy Cottoncrew, whose final BandShow airs next Sunday(21st).

Titled - naturally - " In theMood," the series is scheduledfor a thirteen -week run, andalthough it will be devised toappeal to the same time oflistening audience as theCotton broadcasts, there is to beno attempt to copy the style oftheir predecessors.

Each week a surprise guestartist or artists will be feat-ured. Not all of them will bewell-known to the public, butevery one will be a first-classperformer in his or her par-ticular field.

The first four programmes inthe series coincide with Joe'sthirteenth successive Christ -

AIR -SPOTmas residency at Green's Play-house Ballroom, and producerDonald Maclean will thereforetravel to Scotland overnight onthe preceding Saturdays. Thefirst and third broadcasts willcome from the Glasgow studios;the second and fourth fromHillhead Borough Hall, as nostudio is available.

The avowed policy of theprogrammes will be " basedsimply on the playing of popu-lar dance tunes - without re-course to copying other bandswhich have occupied the samespot."

This Christmas will be amemorable one for the Lossfamily, as it will be the firsttime in their lives that Joe, hiswife, and children Jennifer(12) and David (10), will havebeen all together at Christmas.Mrs. Loss and the kiddiestravel North this week to joinJoe, whose five -week annualChristmas season at Green'sbegan on December 15.

DAVISON STAGING MODERNALBERT HALL SHOW

SOME of the finest modern musical talent in Britainis to be presented in one big show at the Royal Albert

Hall on Sunday, January 18. Under the banner " Musicfor Moderns," this ambitious Harold Davison presentationwill feature top-flight bands and vocalists, including TedHeath and his Music, with Lita Roza, Dickie Valentineand Denis Lotis; Jack Parnell and his Music Makers, withMaurice Allen; and the Johnny Dankworth Seven, withCleo Laine and Frank Holder.

Britain's leading tenor playerRonnie Scott, will lead his own are obtainable °from the Royalgroup - Harry Klein, Norman Albert Hall, and usual agents.Stenfalt, Lennie Bush and TonyCrombie-and there will be anAll -Star session showcasing inone group Kenny Baker, JohnnyDankworth, Jack Parnell, RalphSharon, Ronnie Scott and severalnames yet to be fixed.Popular " Swing Session " char-acter Paul Carpenter will com-pere the show.

There will be one perform-ance only, at 7.30 p.m. Tickets

NEW WORKSBandleaders Jack Parnell and

Johnny Dankworth are to writeoriginal compositions featuringthemselves, on drums and altorespectively, for the concert.

The new works will be playedby the All -Star group, whichwill include Ronnie Scott,Kenny Baker, Ralph Sharon andseveral others hot yet signed.

The last time the Joe Lossband was featured in the Sun-day spot was during the periodJanuary 27-March 23; a seriesinterrupted by the shut -downon broadcasting which followedthe sad news of the late King'sdeath.

IVY BENSON

IN MAD DOG

DRAMAVY BENSON bitten by

a dog, suspected tohave rabies." A trans -Con-tinental telephone call fromGermany to the NME'soffices brought Britain thefirst news last week thatlater crashed the frontpages of Friday's nationalpapers.

The words of Ilse Muller,speaking from Minden to theNME, give a graphic descrip-tion of the accident. " Ivy hasa great love for dogs, and asshe stepped from her coach inBerlin after making the non-stop dash along the autobahnthat crosses the Russian Zone,put out her hand to stroke astray dog that padded up to-wards her.

GREAT PAIN" The dog snapped at her, and

bit clean through her middlefinger.

"In great pain she was takento hospital for injections witha new German serutn in thestomach. In spite of protestsfrom German Police Depart-ment who fear that Ivy mayhave rabies, and from thedoctors who were concernedabout the pain she was suffer-ing, she went out on the stageto conduct her show; immedi-ately it was over she wasrushed back to hospital to bequarantined. I gather she willstay under observation for fourdays at least."

RIK GUNNELL MISSINGSENSATION in a minor

key struck the WestEnd's jazz sphere this week-end when it was found thatclub promoter Rik (" BlueRoom ") Gunnell had dis-appeared without trace.Enquiries at his homebrought replies of ignoranceas to his whereabouts.

After a dragnet, put out byhis associates, had failed to findhim, a meeting was held on Fri-day afternoon at the "BlueRoom's" Garrick Street premi-ses. We understand that the

'Blue Room' Promoter Sensationmusicians employed at the clubwere represented by bassist -leader Joe Muddel.

After the meeting a spokes-man for this " emergency com-mittee " told the NME in an ex-clusive interview : ".... We wishit to be known that we dis-associate ourselves from RikGunnell completely. It has beendecided that the name of theclub will in future be simplyThe Blue Room,' and that our

entire Christmas and New Yearprogramme will be carried out

B ONESouthern Music Publishing Co. Ltd.8, Denmark Street, London, W.C.2. TEM. Bar 4524

exactly as published in yourcolumns. Meanwhile we areseeking police aid in findingGunnell."

We gather that talks are nowproceeding that will bring theclub under new management.

Readers will recall that thisclub was opened on November29 by American bandleader CabCalloway, supported by numer-ous famous personalities. Theclub, converted from the oldstudio of a dancing school, isdecorated entirely in blue at acost reputed to have run to£1,800. When the NME calledlast Friday evening business wasas usual with the Tommy Pol-lard Sextet sharing the standwith Joe Muddel's group.

Klein RecoveringBRITAIN'S star baritone saxo-

phone player, Harry Klein,has been ordered a completerest by his doctor, and conse-quently will be spending fiveweeks in Scotland, taking thingseasy.

His place with the RonnieScott group is being filled byBenny Green

B.B.C. producer John Jlooper (left) and bandleader Ted Heathcaught in a serious frame of mind as they talk over the new"Down heat" series, in which the Heath band will feature. Asannounced last week, Ted finds himself unable to undertake thetour of Germany, but Johnny Dankworth's Seven are now

definitely going in the New Year.

BBC'S DISC -JOCKEY PROBEGERALDO CUB

FIRST PHILIPS

DISCSGERALDO and his con-

cert Orchestra of forty-five musicians, cut theirfirst titles, " Eestacy " and" La Cumparsita," on Mon-day (22nd) for the newPhilips record label, towhich Geraldo has signed,as reported in last week'sNME.

The sides were recordedat Conway Hall, one of thetwo studios being used byPhilips until their own re-cording studios are ready.

MU PAYS ROY'S BOYSBUT NOTHING FOR HARRTHE NME learns that the members of Harry Roy's

Band received last Friday (December 19) pay-ment in full for the week's work which they wereprevented from fulfilling by Union ruling at the TheatreRoyal, Dublin. The money was paid to them by theMusicians' Union. Harry Roy received no payment,although he is also a member of the MU.

As stated last week, Harry isbeing sued for breach of con-tract, and the position regardingMU indemnity is still obscure.The MU executives will notcommit themselves to any state-ment on the matter.

A STATEMENTIn the meantime, the follow-

ing statement was made to theNME over the weekend by Mr.

U.S. STARSDUE HERE

JOCK JACOBSEN, of the MusicCorporation of America, has

a battery of famous stars linedup for a mass invasion of ourshores next year.

Jock told the NME: " We anti-cipate- bringing over the FourAces, Gordon Macrae, andDoris Day, if conditions andfilm commitments permit.

Others lined up are filmcomedian Billy de Wolfe andthe "Four Stepbrothers."

Jock has asked us to point outthat if and when Dean Martinand Jerry Lewis appear in thiscountry they will do so underthe aegis of MCA, to whom theyare contracted.

MUDDELPIANO SWITCHTN addition to the impending1- loss of drummer Pete Bray(he joins Vic Lewis on Decem-ber 24, as reported in lastweek's issue), bassist - leaderJoe Muddel is also feced withthe prospect of losirrg pianistJack Honeybourne, who is dueto join' the Basil and IvorKirchin Band at Fountain -bridge Palais, after Christmas.

" I'm happy to say thatTommy Pollard will be joiningus after Christmas on piano. Ihaven't fixed a drummer yet,though I have one or two peoplein mind."

Stanley Stevenson, Harry Roy'ssolicitor :

" Mr. Roy's attention has beendrawn to Mr. Hardie Ratcliffe'sstatement published in the lastissue of the Melody Maker.' Mr.Roy wishes to emphasise that,while the Musicians' Union nodoubt secured what may beregarded as a victory of inter-national magnitude, the Unionwill not fail to recognise that itdid so by compelling him tobreak his contract to appear atthe Theatre Royal in Dublin,and so exposing him to therigours and penalties of theIrish law and, in particular, tothe action which is now beingcommenced against him by theTheatre.

Mr. Harry Roy, without theslightest knowledge of troublewhich had arisen in Ireland be-tween two Unions, found him-self involved in this dispute withwhich neither he nor the Brit-

ish members of his band werein any way concerned. TheBritish Union having appar-ently resolved to support theIrish% Federation of Musicians,certain statements were madeon behalf of the British Unionboth to members of Mr. HarryRoy's Band and to Mr. HarryRoy himself, and orders wereissued by the Union for the pur-pose of assuring that the perfor-mance at the Theatre Royalwould not take place.

' INNOCENT VICTIM'" Mr. Harry Roy takes the

view that, both legally andmorally and as a member of theUnion, he should receive everypossible support which the influ-ence and the resources of thisgreat Union are capable.

"He does not care for the roleof an innocent victim in thisinternational drama, and doesnot believe that it is the inten-tion of the members of hisUnion that he should not receiveits full support.

" Mr. Roy, unlike Mr. Rat-cliffe, was at the scene of com-bat, and cannot attach any im-portance to that part of Mr.Ratcliffe's statement whichascribes the action of the Unionto the employment of an ex-pelled member at the Theatre."

A STORMY secret meetinjust leaked out, was

the BBC during the past wee

NATHAN GETSHIS GIRLSINGER

RANDLEADER Jack Nathan" has completed the internalchanges in his line-up by sign-ing 20 -year -old Jill Kinley tofill the vocal spot left vacant bythe departure of Alma Warren(one-time Ross) to Geraldo.

Jill, married to altoist PeteKinley, started her singingcareer in the straight groove atthe Trinity College of Music,later making her professionaldebut in the " pop " field withKen Mackintosh.

During a period of gigging shedid a couple of airings with JackNathan, and then joined JanRalfini. Recently she has beensinging with Sydney Lipton atthe Grosvenor House.

The revised personnel is nowJack on piano leading LeoWright (trumpet), Freddy SyerBill Lewington (altos), AubreyFrank and Eddie Mordue(tenors), Sam Bass (bass) andPeter Coleman (drums).

QC's Xmas farewell

to Oxford StreetAFTER a five-year stay at 100,

Oxford Street, the LondonJazz Club holds its farewell ses-sion last Saturday (20th), witha grand Christmas Party, atwhich many guests popped -in towish the Club success at its newMarble Arch abode.

Owing to a snag which hasarisen in connection with LCCregulations, certain structuralalterations have had to be com-missioned before the club canopen there.

These, coupled with the timestill needed to complete exten-sive redecoration and lightingalterations in these ex -BBCstudios, necessitate the LJChaving an enforced four -weekclosure.

The date now set for the GalaOpening is Sunday, February 1;thereafter the LJC will openevery Saturday and Sundaywith the Christie Brothers Stom-pers and guest groups.

g, of which news has onlyheld behind locked doors atk.

The BBC, the NME under-stands, called representatives ofcertain major record companiesto this high-level discussion, tostate clearly the Corporation'sdeep concern over the measuresadopted by certain employees ofthe record companies to gettheir discs airtime, especially inregard to programmes operatedby freelance disc -jockeys.

Outcome of the meeting wasthat the BBC have laid down apolicy that must not be side-stepped in any circumstances;it is that in future all discs mustfirst go to the BBC Record Lib-rary, and not to disc -jockeysdirect.

GOOD BOYS' ?A spokesman of a major com-

pany told the NME over theweek -end : " We were not in-vited, but what such exclusionmeans we cannot guess. Wehope it means that the BBCview us as good boys.' We feelthat it is useless getting advanceplugs months before a disc hitsthe market-that means wastedeffort for all concerned.

" Another thing, our retailersdo not like such practices-it isembarrassing for them to haveto admit ignorance to a clientof the number ' So -and -Soplayed on the air last night,'just because it got an advanceplug and was not, therefore,listed."

Other companies refused tocomment on the meeting -though one admitted that it didtake place, and that there was" quite a dust up."

Wilcox wants Girls'

Band for GermanyAGENT Bert Wilcox returned

to this country recentlyafter a lightning European tour"during which," he told theNME, "I was able to effect book-ings for British artists in Con-tinental shows and cabaret.

"I urgently require a six toeight -piece all -girls band -not for the LJC, but for alucrative engagement at apopular German coastal re-sort."Prospective applicants are

asked to contact Bert immedi-ately at TEMple Bar 1762.

BLACK

FIXES

LINE-UPDETAILS of the star-

studded personnelto be used by bandleaderStanley Black, on his forth-coming series of one-nightappearances all over thecountry, have now beenannounced.

As exclusively forecast by theNME many months ago, andconfirmed in our issue of Octo-ber 17, Stanley's 8k -year -oldcontract with the BBC expireson January 3.

Here are the names of the 14musicians and three vocalistswho go to make up the newStanley Black Dance Orchestra:

Saxes: Bill Povey, HarryHunter (altos) ; Billy Amstell,Manny Winters (tenors) ; JockFaulds (baritone).

AMBITIOUS PLANSBrass : Frank Thornton, Bert

Bullimore, George White (trum-pets) ; Jack Irvine, Lad Busby,Nick Nicholls (trombones).

Piano : Ken Jones. Bass :Frank Clarke. Drums : MickeyGreeve.

Vocalists: Diana Coupland,Martin Moreno, Monty Norman.

As reported previously in theNME (October 17), there are bigambitious plans for the orches-tra embracing many fields ofentertainment outside the orbitof one-night stands and radiowork.

Full details of these plans,plus the initial list of dateswhich the band will be playing,will appear in our issue datedJanuary 2.

LATE FLASH.-The Joe SayeTrio opened at Ciro's GreenRoom on Monday (22nd), withnew bassist Johnny Gunn re-placing Laurence Anthony. OnJanuary 4, the Trio plays theTed Heath Swing Session at theLondon Palladium and, onJanuary 18, has another 'StarShow' broadcast.

Heath trombone Keating forms"New Sound" eight -piece groupTED HEATH trombonist

-I- Johnny Keating has formedan eight -piece group, tentativelytitled " Johnny Keating's NewSounds in Jazz." Drawn fromthe personnel of the Ted HeathOrchestra, but totally uncon-nected with it in any other way,the line-up reads : Roy Willox(alto, soprano), Danny Moss,Henry Mackenzie (tenors, clari-

nets), George Hunter (bari-tone), Johnny Keating (trom-bone), Ralph Dollimore (piano).Johnny Hawksworth (bass) andRonnie Verrall (drums).

"We are going to play jazz,and only jazz," Johnny told theNME. " Working regularly witha band as we do, we don't haveto play commercial ' in thesesmall group sessions. Thankgoodness!

Greetings andBest Wishes

MAESTROMARIO

" MAKER OF STARS "ICI New Bond Street, London, W.I

Telephone: MAYtair 5160.

LAST - MINUTE NEWS:Manager -compere Bix Curtisinforms us just as we close forpress that the all-star " Jazzat the Prom " unit has beenbooked to support S a r aVaughan at her Royal AlbertHall Concert on January 31.They are also appearing at theGeraldo Swing Club concert atthe Royal Festival Hall on Feb-ruary 15.

There will be several groupsformed within the main body ;the Henry Mackenzie Quartet-clarinet and rhythm-the newRalph Dollimore Trio, and agroup which was once a featureof the Tommy Sampson andOscar Rabin bands-the DannyMoss Bop group, consisting oftenor, trombone, baritone andrhythm.

Commented leader Heath " I'm glad the boys are gettingtogether to form their owngroup ; it'll give them a chanceto let their hair down. I shallcertainly listen to them, and ifI like the noise shall quite defi-nitely make use of it on broad-casts and stage shows."

The group's first date will bean appearance from 2.30 a.m. to4 a.m. at Alec Brightman'sMapletone Club, CoventryStreet, on the 8 p.m. -4 a.m. NewYear's Eve Session.

the

OtkI4SPECIALLY ARRANGED BY

BERT BARNES TO SUIT ANY COMBINATIONFROM TRIO TO FULL DANCE ORCHESTRA

Introducing

%\

LINGER AWHILEMY MAMMY

WONDERFUL ONEMARIE

CHINATOWN MY CHINATOWNHOW DEEP IS THE OCEANPRICE : 3/6d. each orch. Postage 3d. extra

FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER, LTD.,1381140, CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON, W.C.2. TEM 9351/5

6 THE NEW MIACAL EXPRESS, Friday, December 26, 1952

MORE RECORD DELETIONSWILLIE the Lion Smith and" his Cubs is yet another

interesting Harlem outfit re-ceiving a cut with " More ThanThat"/"I'm All Out Of Breath"(02463), and " Breeze "/" Sittin'At The Table" (02791), ConnieBoswell's Blues disc, " FareThee Well, Honey " / " Mr.Freddie Blues" (02662) andJimmy Lunceford's " LingerAwhile "/" Honest And Truly "(02418) are also out.

WOODY HERMANSBen Pollack's Pick -a -rib Boys'

" You Made Me Love You "(02538), and the two O'NeilSpencer Trio couplings, " JohnHenry "/"Afternoon In Africa "(02632) and " Baby Won't YouPlease Come Home "/" LornaDoone Short Bread" (02657)are now deleted, together withseveral numbers by EdgarHayes and his Orchestra, ..theCasa Loma Orchestra and theJimmy Dorsey Band.

Another famous swing bandto suffer from this Christmaslist of new deletions is theWoody Herman Band, nowminus " Lazy Rhapsody "/" In-termezzo " (03256), " ThreeLittle Sisters "/" Whisper ThatYou Love Me" (03359) and" G'Bye Now " / " By -U By -U"(03471) 'whilst the CharlieBarnet aggregation drop " GulfCoast Blues "/" Drop Me Off AtHarlem " (03568) and " MyHeart Isn't In It" (03645).

by JamesAsman

(Concluded from last week)

The coloured American startrumpeter, Hot Lips Page, hasnow lost " Gone With The Gin "/" Call Of The Wild " (03480) incompany with Lucky Millinder's" Mason Flyer " / " Little JohnSpecial" (03406).

Amongst the more interestingand jazzlike titles now omittedfrom the 1953 Decca lists arethe Spike Hughes' Orchestra's" Margie " (F.1815), " Moanin'Low" (F.2217), " Some Of TheseDays " (F.2259), " DarktownStrutters Ball " (F.2611), " Har-lem Symphony " (F.2711), " SixBells Stampede" ( F . 2844 )," Elegy " (F.3004), " Buddy'sWednesday Outing" (F.3089)," Tiger Rag " (F.3311), " DoanYou Grieve" (F.3399), etc.

Coleman Hawkins, accom-panied by the Dutch RamblersOrchestra, has " What Is Har-lem To Me" (F.5775) and" Snfiles " (F.6445) deleted,whilst the Quintet of the HotClub de France loses severalevergreens such as "Moonglow"(F.5831), "Them There Eyes"(F.6899), " Undecided " (F.7140)and "The Man I Love" (F.7390).

Louis Armstrong's " Skeleton

Behind theRecord Counter

THE next time you go into ajazz record shop, keep an

eye on the chap behind thecounter - he may be jottingdown notes about what you likeand what you say !

For the jazz shop is just theplace to hear the real opinionsof the present-day record col-lector. It is also the placewhere the howlers of the jazzworld are born.

PARKER°The other day, for instance, a

young and rather new recruitenquired about the new VogueCharlie Parker LP just re-leased. He gazed. at the coverfor several minutes and thenasked me whether HumphreyLyttelton was in the personnel !

It later appeared that he wasjust a trifle confused about thename of Humph's pianist,Johnny Parker!

Sometime ago the shop under-went certain structural altera-tions owing to the activities oftwo opportunist jazz fans.Originally the shop's sole listen-ing booth was located down-stairs in a small closet.

One day it was discoveredthat two enterprising enthusi-asts had locked themselves inwith a small batch of records.Instead of the expected soundsof hot music, a low buzzingcould be heard.

Investigation revealed thatthe 'gram had been detachedand that the shop's juice was

supplying the power to anelectric razor occupied in re-moving masses of down fromtwo young chins ! Needless tosay the gramophone is now inthe shop !

One of the most curious factsabout jazz record buyers is thatfew of them inthese days of revivalist musicin local band recordings.

The biggest favourite amongsttraditional customers seems tobe clarinettist George Lewis,with the excellent Vogue andTempo Lewis' discs in constantdemand.

The moderns prefer CharlieParker, Erroll Garner andDizzy Gillespie to Dankworth,Scott and Deuchar.

In fact, with Christmasapproaching fast and jazz fansbusy digging deep into theirwallets for their Yuletide rationof hot and cool music, modernand traditional revivalist musicis rapidly losing ground to thereal thing.NEW ORLEANS GAIN

A year ago the reverse wasthe case. Best sellers Hum-phrey Lyttelton (Parlophone)and Lu Watters (Melodisc)showed a definite gain on NewOrleans jazz.

All of which might easilyhave some bearing on the factthat attendances in many jazzclubs featuring live music havedropped recently.. .

See you all Behind theCounter again soon. J.A.

In The Cupboard " (F.6145) iscut out, together with LeonardFeather's All Stars' " OceanMotion " / " Men Of Harlem "(F.7753), and Bob Crosby's" Between 18th And 19th OnChestnut Street" (F.7475),

British ace trombonist GeorgeChisholm drops out with" Penalty £5" / " No. Smoking "and "Rosetta" / "You're AlwaysMine," Decca F.6939 and F.7015respectively. Sid Phillip's Quin-tet joins him with " Serenata "(F.7845) and " Hot Time In TheOld Town Tonight" (F.7888).

CASA LOMA OUTAdelaide Hall's " Why Don't

We Do This More Often" onDecca F.8092 is out, and so are" Missouri Scrambler " (F.7824)and " Ja Da " (F.7858) by thepolished and lively Lew StoneStoneerackers.

Decca, in company withBrunswick, also loses some CasaLoma pieces, such as " StarDust " / " Morning In May "(F.7159), and "RiverboatShuffle / " Still Of The Night "(F.7161).

Danny Polo's Swing Stars areaxed with " That's A Plenty " /" Blue Murder " (F.6550) nowdeleted.

THE JAZZ -PIANIST'S 66 MUST 11"THE

HUMPHREY LYTTELTONPIANO ALBUM PRICE 3s.

Six original compositions featured and recorded by HumphreyLyttelton and arranged by MIKE McKENZIE, with interesting

biographical foreword by DENIS PRESTON.

DAREWSKI MUSIC PUB. CO., 9/10, New Compton St., London, W.C.2

TRADITIONAL

XMAS FOR

MANCHESTERMANCHESTER jazz fans will

have a " traditional "Christmas. Modern jazz will bein short supply, and the onlymusic in this style will probablybe heard at the Free Trade Hallfrom Nat Temple (ChristmasEve) and Vic Lewis (BoxingNight).

The New Orleans -Dixie clubs,however, have arranged for aplentiful supply of " figgishmusic.

LANCASHIRE SOCIETY OFJAZZ MUSIC will hold aChristmas Ball and Double -upon Christmas Eve. The Saints,Chris Barber, and the CraneRiver Jazz Band will play atthe Grosvenor Hotel and theManchester Assembly Rooms inrotation. The Society will holda New Year's Eve Party at theGrosvenor with the Saints andRay Leclerq's Jazz Band.

APEX JAZZ CLUB at theThatched House Hotel, Newmar-ket Place, holds its Christmassession on Saturday, December27. Featured will be the ApexJazz Band, the Unity Jazz Band,and Derek Atkins' Dixielanders.

MANCHESTER JAZZ CLUB,one of the few recitalists' clubs,held a Christmas Party onMonday (22nd) at the Nag'sHead Hotel, Jackson Street, Al-bert Square.

BIG RHYTHM SHOW atBelle Vue on Sunday, December28. With Mary Lou Williams,Cab Calloway, and Marie Bry-ant, of course.

Watch Ray Leclerq's JazzBand. Forty -year -old Ray usedto play bass with Fred Hedley,now leads an enthusiastic bunchof youngsters who play in thepre -classic Bunk -Lewis style.

Last Saturday week they hadthe Grosvenor Hotel crowdshouting for more. Fans of thegroup are mainly collectorswho until the band came alongpreferred to stick to. theircollections. Ray's band willsoon be a serious rival to theCrane River boys.

Send to DEBRONTHEATRICAL PHOTOGRAPHER

for the very finest inREPRODUCTIONS and

PHOTOGRAPHY

II Temple Street, Blackpool

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BANDS

'STAY WITH THE HAPPY PEOPLE'

GEOFFSOWDEN

AND HIS BANDManagement -21, Wembley Park Drive, Wembley,Middlesex. Tel.: WEMbley 8422

ALL BANDS -all functions -always WILCOX Organisation.-4, Earlham Street, W.C.2TEMple Bar 1762/3/4.

BOBBY MICKLEBURGH andhis BOBCATS. Clubs, dances,concerts. - Phone TEM 0079(afternoons).

CALVIN GRAY ORCHES-TRAS, 35 Grove Park, Camber-well, S.E.5.

ED NICHOLS and his Band.All functions. Christmas andNew Year's dates available. -30Ha mfrith Road, Stratford, E,15.MAR 1019.

FORDHAM'S ENTERTAIN-MENTS AGENCY - ALLBANDS -for all functions. -39Gerrard Street, W.1. GERrard4752.

HOWARD BAKER Bands andCabaret. One-night stands orresident. -69, Glenwood Gdns.,Ilford. Valentine 4043 orTemple Bar 7662.

JOHNNY BUCHAN'S 4 -piece.-MOU 5914.

LEW ROBINSON'S Ambassa-dors, MU.-Syd 4588; Elt. 5994.

LOU PREAGER'S Ambassa.dors Band, specially chosencombination; one-night standsanywhere. -Lou Preager's Pre-sentations, 69, Glenwood Gar-dens, Ilford. Val 4043.

MELONOTES. 3 - 8 piece.-ADV 1971 (eve.).

PETER LEGH'S MAYFAIRORCHESTRA available foryour dance. - Enquiries : 17Shaftesbury Avenue, W.1. GER7411.

THE Joe Muddel Quintetwith Honey Brown now avail-able for limited number ofengagements, 16 Garrick Street,W.C.2.

PERSONAL

BRITISH FRIENDSHIPSOCIETY, 231 Baker Street,London, N.W.1. Founded 1940.Members everywhere. - Writefor particulars.

BEFORE BOOKING a Musi-cian, always ask : " Are you inthe MU ?"

MOTOR INSURANCE un-stricted, minimum rates.M.I.M.A.-LANgham 6941.

PERMANENT HAIR -wavingBest system in London -smallcharge -ask for Rosemary.Model service. - Boiteux, 10New Quebec Street, MarbleArch, W.1. Telephone Padding-ton 0862.

" YOU can't beat ENSA port-able Sound Equipment," saysTito Burns. Details from yourdealer or GRAMPIAN REPRO-DUCERS, LTD., 13 HanworthTrading Estate, Feltham, Mid-dlesex.

REHEARSAL ROOMS

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THE NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS, Friday, December 26, 1952 7

CLUBS -TRADITIONAL

AT COOK'S FERRY, SUN-DAY, DECEMBER 28: AGRAND CHRISTMAS JAZZSESSION with FREDDY RAN-DALL and his BAND and BerylBryden also MIKE COLLIERand his Rhythm Kings. Lots offun and GREAT JAZZ. DON'TMISS THIS. Be early. Fullylicenced bar.

FIRST JAZZ EVENT OF THEYEAR. AT COOK'S FERRY,Thursday, January 1. A GREATBBC OVERSEAS BROADCASTand continuous dancing from 7p.m. to MIDNIGHT withFREDDY RANDALL and hisBAND and Beryl Bryden alsoMIKE COLLIER and hisRhythm Kings. TICKETSOBTAINABLE THE FREDDYRANDALL CLUB, 97 CAL-DERON ROAD, LONDON, E.11.3s. 6d. Fully licensed bar.DON'T MISS THIS GREATJAZZ SHOW.

CATFORD, Sunday and Fri-day : Mike Daniels. "KingAlfred," S.E.6.

CLUB CREOLE now openingFridays with Mike Collier'sJazzmen. Admission 2s. 6d.Saturdays (Kemp) and Sun-days (Mickleburgh) as usual.-44 Gerrard Street.

CLUB DU FAUBOURG, 6aNew Compton Street, W.1. TEM3003. Every evening, dance andcabaret with the best bands.

MON.: George Brown's Afro-Cuban Band.

TUES.: Mick Mulligan andhis Magnolians with GeorgeMelly.

WED.: George Brown'sCalypso Band.

THURS: The Quintet of theClub Du Faubourg.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY andSUNDAY : SID KENIAN andLes Joyeaux, with the bestcabaret in Town ! From 8.30to midnight. French atmo-sphere! Licensed ! Somethingdifferent each night, the ONLYClub of its kind.

CLUB SATCHMO. Sunday, 7p.m. " White Lion," Edgware :CHRISTMAS PARTY. Fun.Dancing. Prizes.

EALING, FRIDAY. " Fox andGoose," Hangar Lane. BOXINGDAY PARTY: SOUTHERNSTOMPERS and Riverside Jazz -band. Doug's Razzamatazzers.Open till 12.

HOT CLUB OF LONDON.Sunday, December 28: CRANERIVER JAZZBAND. The bandwith a beat plus George Webb'sDIXIELANDERS and guestartists. "SHAKESPEAREHOTEL," Powis Street, Wool-wich. Trains to WoolwichArsenal. Buses to door. Freemembership. Doors open 6.30p.m.

HUMPHREY LYTTELTONCLUB meets every Wednesday.100 Oxford Street. Details ofclub from 84 Newman Street,W.1. LAN 5861.

LONDON JAZZ CLUB, Wil-cox Studios, Bryanston Street,Marble Arch, W.1. Re -openingwith Gala Session, Sunday, Feb-ruary 1. Christie BrothersStompers and guests. -Details 4Earlham Street, W.C.2. TEM1762/3/4.

LONDON JAZZ RECORDSOCIETY. No meeting BoxingDay. Grand New Year session,January 2.

NEW YEAR'S EVE, Viaduct,Hanwell, 8 p.m. till 12.30 a.m.:GEOFF KEMP'S Jazz Band,LOCARNO, etc.

SOUTHERN JAZZ CLUB,Leytonstone. Fridays 7.30. EricSilk's Southern Jazzband.Valentine 7266. Closed BoxingNight.

CLUBS -MODERN

ACADEMIC MONDAY ! Openas usual.

JAZZ AT THE PUB, " King'sHead," Merton, closed Christ-mas Day. OPEN FOR SPECIALNEW YEAR'S DAY PARTY.Surprise guests. Admission 3s.Colliers Wood Tube, or 155, 152buses.

OPENING THIS Saturdayand Sunday (December 27 and28) THE QUINTETTE CLUB,39 Gerrard Street, W.1. Danc-ing to the newest and smooth-est band in Town (in a won-derful atmosphere), THE LEN-NIE BRESLOW QUINTET. '7.30to 11.30 both nights,

CLUBS MODERN-Cont.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AH, THE STARDUST ROOMS.at the luxurious BRISTOL,Cork Street, off Vigo Street,W.1 (rear of Austin Reed's).COLOSSAL, GIGANTIC, LUX-URIOUS. TWO CLUBS UNDERONE ROOF. Fully licensed TVLounge and Cocktail Bar.JAZZ CLUB offers you thisweek the TONY GRANT andLawrence ShOpper Groups.DANCE CLUB. The DaveDavani Orchestra with JohnnyGreen (the band with themodern beat). Plus host ofguest star musicians and cele-brities. The c 1 u b that isattracting the best crowd inTown. (Sensation ! The first 125will be admitted for 5s., socome early. Normal admission6s. 6d.; open 6.45). It's London'sPremier Club for Jazz andCommercial Music.

FROZEN ! EXCLUSIVE tothe ROBIN'S NEST, " WhiteHart," Hornchurch : GEOFFTAYLOR with the Derek SmithTrio and Ken Turner's MightyModernists. Every Tuesday, 8p.m.

A Truly Terrific Night of"JAZZ

ATTHE

FLAMINGO,"beneath Mapleton Restaurant,39 Coventry Street, Piccadilly.3 Big Bands. First sensationalre -appearance of the newKENNY GRAHAM " PAR-NELL " AFRO -CUBISTS withSammy Stokes, Jo Hunter,Derek Humble, Ginger Johnson,etc. Your only chance to seeand hear this great group -don't miss it ! Plus the amaz-ing Tommy Pollard, Europe'sgreatest altoist Joe Harriot, andhis Quintet, Leon Roy, TerryBrown, Joe Muddel, plus bari-tone star Benny Green's Quar-tet with Derek Smith, KennyIngerfield, etc. Tonight only,special extension until 11.30.Britain's ace compere TonyHall. This is the last night of" Jazz at the Flamingo " in 1952and we promise you a feast ofjazz. Our advice -come early.Bar, etc. Special guest stars." Meet the famous at the Flam-ingo " - Britain's finest jazzclub. See new Flamingocolumn, page 3.

JAZZ AT THE ZAN-ZEBA,Gerrard Street, 12 till 5, withall-stars Benny Green, RexMorris, Lennie Metcalfe,Johnnie Gunn, Dickie DeVere,Ron Bershire, Lennie Breslow,and various guest stars.CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEWYEAR'S EVE: ALL-STARBAND.

HIGH WYCOMBE RhythmClub EVERY SUNDAY, 3 till 6p.m. Cadena Hall, Frogmore.Star guests every week. Thisweek :

SLOUGH PALMS ModernJazz with Jimmie Skidmore,Tommy Whittle, Tony Coe Trio,Ken Summerville. Admission 2s.Jive or listen.

STUDIO '51 - STUDIO '51,10/11 Great Newport Street,

Leicester Square, W.I.EXCLUSIVE all sessions

Tommy Whittle, Jimmy Skid-more with the Tony Kinsey Trioand your compere Bix Curtis,plus RONNIE SCOTT GROUP.

FRI. : 7.30 till 11 : RECORDCOUNTER plus TONY KINSEYTRIO, Tommy Whittle, JimmySkidmore.

SAT.: 27th ALL-STAR GROUPplus DAVE DAVANI SEXTETplus Tony Kinsey Trio, JimmySkidmore.

SUN.: 2 till 5 RECORDCOUNTER; members ls., guestsls. 6d. Dancing. 5.30 till 10.30 :RONNIE SCOTT GROUP plusTony Kinsey Trio, Jimmy Skid-more plus Tommy WhittleQuartet.

MON.: 8 till 10.30: TOMMYWHITTLE QUARTET plusRecord Session.

TUES.: RECORD COUNTER;dancing; refreshments; membersIs., guests ls. 6d.

WED.: RONNIE SCOTTGROUP plus Tony Kinsey Trio,Jimmy. Skidmore plus Tommy,Whittle Quartet.

ZAN-ZEBA, AAAAAAAH !39 Gerrard Street. 12 till 5Boxing Day midnight : WizardSimmons, Lennie Metcalf, ArtEllefson, Lennie Breslow, RonBerkshire, and guest stars.

LOST AND FOUND

REWARD £40. Stolen Decem-ber 14/15, 1952, from premisesoff Tottenham Court Road, 22Trumpets B flat, Gold Lac-quered ( v a ri o u s includingCONNS, OLDS, HOLTONS,KING, YORK, BACH). quan-tity American mouth pieces.Subject to usual conditions. -Apply N. J. Wheeler, 44 Leaden -hall Street, E.C.3. ROYal 6868.

TUITIONBOBBY KEVIN (Drums) has

vacancies for pupils. -Wimble-don Palais, S.W.19.

BOBBY MICKLEBURGHteaches Trumpet and Trom-bone. - Ring TEM 0079 (after-noons).

BRITAIN'S BEST SaxophoneTeacher. Leslie Evans teachespersonally EVERY lesson -nosubstitutes -no classes. Begin-ner, Moderate, AdvancedCourses. Timing, TechnicalStudies. Music Free. SpecialityPostal tuition, Low fees, un-limited patience. Syllabus : 275,Colney Hatch Lane, N.11. ENT4137.

CENTRAL SCHOOL OFDANCE MUSIC offers tuitionunder Britain's greatest panelof teachers. Every pupil re-ceives the personal help andguidance of Principal IVORMAIRANTS. SAVE MONEYbefore buying an instrument byconsulting o u r InstrumentAdvice Bureau. - Apply forProspectus to Secretary,CSDM, 15 West Street, W.C.2.TEMple Bar 3373/4.

FREDDY CLAYTON for thefinest trumpet tuition; sectionwork, ad libbing.-2 GreenawayHouse, Ainsworth Estate, N.W.8.

GEORGE FIERSTONE is nowin a position to accept a fewpupils for individual drumtuition. Beginners and advancedpupils. -ENT 5406.

HARRY HAYES for the finestsaxophone and clarinet tuition.Beginners to advanced sectionscoached. Success guaranteed.20 Romilly Street, W.1. GER1285.

JOE MUDDEL, bass tuition. -FOR 1858.

JOHNNY SHAKESPEARE,Trumpet Tuition, advanced orbeginner. -51 West KensingtonMansions, W.14. FULham 9639.

NAT BURMAN, Drum Tuitionexpert. - 88a Edgware Way.Edgware 7569.

MEMORY - PLAYINGand Sight -Reading provedmethods over 30 years. Fullparticulars (postage 2d.).State instrument and if Elem-entary, Moderate or Advancedplayer. -Reginald Foort (Studio32), 14 Edgeworth Crescent,London, N.W.4.

PETER COLEMAN, moderndrum tuition. - 53 MontserratRoad, Putney, S.W.15. PUT3135.

PHIL B. PARKER (Principal,Parker's Brass Studios, Ltd.),all Brass Instruments, beginners'to teachers' standard. -6, pansey Place, off Wardour Street,near Gerrard Street, London,W.I. GER 8994.

TERRY BROWN for moderntrumpet tuition. -LIB 1562 andGER 8994.

TROMBONE TUITION byGeraldo trombonist DONLUSHER. 32 ChristchurchHouse, Streatham Hill. TUL4210.

RECORDING

BROADCASTS recorded andtapes dubbed to disc at THEmost competitive prices.MICROGROOVE a speciality. -Ring SHE 2176, Ext. 2 after 11a.m.

MOBILE UNIT. One guineaper hour plus discs 10 inch -14s.6d.; 12 inch -19s. 6d. Tapesdubbed to discs. Philips, EMIand GRUNDIG recordersstocked. Broadcasts taken.-Tele-Sound Services, Ltd., 37Court Parade, East Lane, NorthWembley. ARNold 5201/2.

CONCERTS

FIRST JAZZ EVENT OF THEYEAR. See Traditional Clubcolumn.

SPECIAL NOTICES

GERALDO SWING CLUB,Britain's No. 1 Modern MusicClub. Membership 2s. 6d. p.a.-S.a.e. Bert Wilcox. 4 EarlhamStreet, W.C.2. TEM 1762/3/4.

IF HE'S A MUSICIAN, butnot in the Union, tell him tojoin.

JAZZ AT THE FLAMINGO.Annual membership only 2s. 6d.-S.a.e. Secretary, 9 Woodlands,North Harrow, Middlesex.

PROFESSIONAL QUARTETopen for Bookings over Christ-mas. Phone Field End 9495.

THE MIMA offers existingPersonal Accident policy-holders an extension to provide£10 per week for 26 weeks whendisabled by any illness. Pre-mium £8 15s. -Write or phoneMusicians' Insurance and Mort-gage Agency, 17-23 WigmoreStreet, W.1. LAN 6941.

HALLS

WANTED, DANCE Hall, Cen-tral London area. - Apply C.Anderson. ALB 1283.

RECORDS WANTEDGO OD PRICE paid for

secondhand records. -ContactB. & R. Bros., 54 BrokesleyStreet, Bow, E.2. AMH 7883after 6 p.m.

JAll RECORDSDO you live in Leeds? Then

your Record Dealer is EricHeath, 230 Old ChristchurchRoad. JRRA, of course !

DANCES

FIRST JAZZ EVENT OF THEYEAR. See Traditional Clubcolumn.

MAPLETON CLUB, Maple-ton Restaurant, Coventry Street,W.I. New Year's Eve, all-nightsession of Jazz and free foodfrom 1 a.m. Presenting thedebut of the Ted Heath All -Stars " The Johnny KeatingNew Sounds in Jazz," featuringthe Danny Moss Bop Group, theRalph Dollimore Trio, and theHenry McKenzie Quartet andthe great Bob Efford and hisAll -Stars featuring Ter r yBrown. Guests, Guests, Guests.A night of Jazz to Remember,compered by the man himself,Tony (JATF) Hall. Fullylicensed bar; free buffet from 1a.m. Admission 10s. At theMapleton.

NORTHAMPTON, Drill Hall,Boxing Night. Dancing toARTHUR ROWBERRY ANDHIS ORCHESTRA, theRONNIE SCOTT GROUP.Tickets 4s. 6d. Late buses toKettering, Rushden and Well-ingborough.

PETERBOROUGH PALMS,Fitzwilliam Street. Saturday,December 27: ARTHUR ROW -BERRY AND HIS ORCHES-TRA. Tickets 4s.

MOUTHPIECESYou should use a BOBBY

MICKLEBURGH mouthpiece.Send for free specification andsize chart. -6, Denmark Street.London. W.C.2.

NOTIFICATION OFVACANCIES ORDER, 1952

Engagement of persons answer-ing these advertisements mustbe made through the local officeof the Ministry of Labour, orScheduled Employment Agencyif the applicant is a man 1844inclusive or a woman aged 18-59inclusive unless otherwise ex-cepted from the provisions ofthe Notification of Vacancies

Order, 1952.

MUSICIANS WANTEDALL MUSICIANS who accept

paid engagements, should be inthe MU. - Particulars : Alex.Mitchell. Lon don OrganiserHOL 1755.

PIANIST REQUIRED f o rrestaurant. Evenings only NoSundays. - Write Box No. 163,NME.

WANTED URGENTLY. In-strumentalists of all kinds.Enlist for the Band 2nd Bttn.The Black Watch. Re -engage-ments especially considered,particularly qualified ex-NCO's,also Boys of good character,with musical ambition to trainas Bandsmen, ages from 15 to17 years. - Apply Bandmaster,Queen's Barracks, Perth, Soot -land.

PERFORMERS WANTEDINSTRUMENTALISTS,

BANDS, Duos, Trios, for Con-certs, odd dates, CoronationEvent, etc. - Write : LonartAgency, 62 Christchurch Road,S.W.2.

ENGAGEMENTS WANTED

ARTHUR SPILLING, drum-mer, 96 Clarendon Way, St.Paul's Cray, Kent.

BASSIST.-Har 9446.BERT CROME (drummer),

good reader, modern, transport.-HOL 7247.

JOHNNY BUCHAN (Drum-mer).-MOU 5914.

INSTRUMENT REPAIRSHARRY HAYES' Repair Ser-

vice is universally accepted asthe best and most economical inGreat Britain; lacquering aspeciality. - 20 Romilly Street,

HOHNER - complete repairservice for Accordions andChromatic Harmonicas. Expertcraftsmen - Hohner (NME), 9Farringdon Road, E.C.1. HOL8650/2253.

INSURANCEALL MOTOR INSURANCE.

Lowest rates, best terms. NORESTRICTIONS ON OCCUPA-TION. W. C. COLLINS & CO.(Insurance Brokers), 14-18Queen Victoria Street, E.C.4.CITY 6875. Our Musical Instru-ment Insurance Scheme alreadywidely known. Rates £1 per£100 and pro rata; also Life,Endowment, House Purchase.

Doc Hunt says:

6 UP THE

10/11, Archer St., Shaftesbury Ave.London W.1. 0 E Rrard 81111

L. W. HUNT DRUM CO. LTD.

DOC I'

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Music Business News and ChatterT_TALLO, there ! In the wordsA.." of one of the seasonal songs," Once More It's Christmas," sohere's wishing you all the bestof the best, and I'm sure you de-serve it.

* * *More big news comes this

week from that very excellentNorthern Variety Orchestra,under their conductor AlynAinsworth. These are the boyswho whether accompanying abig variety show, or playing or-chestrally, really make with thefine music.

Seems this column is not theonly one to appreciate their tal-ents, as they are now to have anew spot on Saturday eveningsfrom 7 to 7.15 p.m., on the HomeService, commencing Janu-ary 24.

The title for this programmewhich will precede the " InTown Tonight " show, has notyet been decided, but your AlleyCat can tell you that somethingextra special is planned, and Ihear that in addition to the or-chestra, each programme willfeature a four -minute spot by atop -line cabaret artist.

* *Have you heard the rumour

about Ray Ellington ? Luckyboy, if it's true !

* * *The first major TV show from

the North will take place onJanuary 7, at 9.15 p.m. Produc-ing will be Barney Colehan, andthe transmission will come fromCity Varieties, Leeds.

The show will be entitled"The Story Of a British MusicHall," and sounds as though itis going to be most interestingas well as entertaining. Selectedto conduct the specially pickedTV orchestra is, of course, theNorthern genius whose nameseems never out of this column,Alyn Ainsworth.

* *Quite a change ! A year ago,

young Joni James entered atalent contest at the Copa inPittsburgh. She reached thefinal but unfortunately didn'twin. However, as a finalist shereceived twelve and a halfdollars for her I efforts. Today,a year later, she is booked toappear in the same spot for thesum of one thousand dollars aweek, andher record of " WhyDon't You Believe Me" is themost popular disc in the States.Yes, quite a change !

* * *I know a lot of people search-

ing for unusual voices in thisbusiness. I'd advise them to givea listen when next time thePeter Knight Singers are on theair. When I heard them lastweek on " Forces Show " givingout with " Belle Of The Ball," Ifound the lead female voicereally glorious. Surely here isa voice that can benefit with ex-ploitation.

* * *Visitor to Europe within the

next few weeks will be Ameri-can publisher Robert Mellin,whose first plug, since openinghis company in this country,has reached the top place onthe British Hit Parade. Irefer, of course, to " Here InMy Heart." Mr. Mellin will bearranging to open offices iqlParis, Berlin, and Brussels.

RECORDINGSMade anywhere any time on tape andDiscs. Broadcasts Recorded on Tape anddubbed to discs

RECORDING

BLOW SIIVeCnO.KIngs7191.

CHADWELL HEATH, ESSEX

THE

ALLEY

CATFans of singer Vic Dainone

will be pleased to note that heis due for release from the U.S.Forces early in the New Year,and I've an idea that this youngman is really going to reach thevery top pinnacle of fame.

* * *I hear a whisper that fine

singer Bryan Johnson is likelyto be combining his acting quali-ties with his vocalising, in amost unusual way, early in theNew Year. Incidentally, why isit that we donit hear of anymore records being made by thisyoung man? Can it be that thisage of gimmicks has killed offyet another promising voice ?

* * *Things the public don't hear

about : Just four minutes beforehe was due to go on recentlyat the Metropolitan, EdgwareRoad, Tony Brent on his wayfrom his dressing -room to thestage, fell the complete lengthof ,the stone steps, and sustaineda severely bruised back, and acut and equally bruised elbow.Despite being in intense pain,Tony went on in true stage tra-dition and did a fine show. Justanother page in the book "TheShow Must Go On."

* *Off to Austria shortly are

Issy Bonn and Eddie Calvert,who will be going for fourweeks to entertain the troops.On their way back, they willprobably be airing over theLuxembourg and Hilversumnetworks. Around March orApril, Issy and Eddie will betaking out their joint varietyshow on a nation-wide tour,thus presenting to the public" The Golden Voice and TheGolden Trumpet." Sounds likea sound bet to me.

At the 75th anniversarydinner of Francis, Day &Hunter, Ltd., last Wednes-day, the two groups hereshow (on right), I. to r.Mrs and Mrs. Benny Lee,Matt Heft, Bob Monkhouse,Spanish composer andpublisher Augusto Alguerro,of Barcelona, and JimmyPhillips. (Below) : Mana-ging director Fred Daywith some young membersof the FD & H staff-(1. tor.): Barbara Price Beryl('ombe, John Pecorini and

Megan George.

Seems these disc -jockeys havetalent as well as the gift of thegab. My reason for saying thisis that Marcel Stellmcm, theyoung man who has just finishedhis series of gimmick records,has now had a very cute songplaced with Leeds Music, whowill he plugging it next month.I wonder what Marcel had inmind when he wrote this firstsong. Its title? "I Collect."Not a bad idea. I hope he does !

* * *So British songwriters just

can't write the songs eh ! Idon't think the American sing-ers are of that opinion. PaddyRoberts, whose " Choo-BuySong " is constantly on the airthese days, has just pennedanother little ditty entitled"Forgive and Forget."

Is it going to be successful?Well, I don't know. What I doknow is that Tony Martin, JeriSouthern, John Arcesi, andRichard Hayes have already re-corded it over in the States, and

if that's not a good start off forany song, then I'm not the AlleyCat.

I am now fully preparedwager that people will considerthat " Forgive and Forget" is agreat song. After all, aren'tthere four AMERICAN recordsof it? Oh, what a business thisis !

* *Had an interesting fan letter

this week asking me whetherthe Alley Cat was psychic?Seems in my column of May 30,I doubted the possibility of anygirl living with the voice ofJohnnie Ray for the rest of herlife, when he announced hisbetrothal.

Seems now that the news hasbroken that his young wife hasalready left him, my fan isanxious to know whether shehas much longer to wait for atall dark stranger to enter herlife. That's one thing I'mafraid the Alley Cat can't tellyou, dear! Never mind, I'mstill around. (Is that good?)

BRENT WITHOUT FISHER SLAYS ' EM !HE much -heralded con-" test between Tony

Brent and Eddie Fisher forthe World's LightweightVocal Championship, sched-uled for Weisbaden a weekor so back, was finally can-celled.

A phone call to the NME's LesPerrin, then in Germany, fromsinger Tony Brent, brought thenews that the U.S. authoritieshad put " kaput " to the wholeidea. Officialdom had-justly-rated the Brent abilities high

enough for him to make outalone, without Eddie Fisher asan additional draw.

Tony opened his series ofentertain -our -allies appearanceswith a concert at the NeroburgClub, just outside Frankfurt.The Club has what discreetcircles call a " discerning audi-ence "-and what show businessknows as a " tough house."

So it says much for Tony thathe set out with a five -song pro-gramme and had to do threeencores - each carrying an" absolute demand " tag.

With good backing from the

German Lutz Tlio, he slammedover a bazooka in the form ofthe Frankie Laine special " I'mGonna Live Till I Die " . . . andfrom then on he was IN.

Walking to Missouri " andthe new " The Way That I Feel "had 'em yelling; " High Noon "slapped 'em between the eyes;and then came another fromMemory Laine - " That LuckyOld Sun." After that, the crowdwere really on pleasure Brent.

With a little more attention toindividuality, this boy can cleanup back home-if the Yanksdon't nab him first. L. P.

A XMAS

PRESENT FOR

CHILDRENTHROUGH the columns of

NME, agent HarryDawson invites the sick,disabled and crippled child-ren of the country to attend- free - either a perform-ance of the " Big RhythmShow of 1953," on Sunday,January 4 at a big Londoncinema, or a performanceof Jack Hylton's Circus atEarl's Court, on Monday,January 19.

When members of theBig Rhythm Show castoffered their services freefor such a concert, HarryDawson-at the suggestionof George and Alfred Black-approached Jack Hyltonfor the loan of a theatre.

In his letter of reply, Mr.Hylton regretted that cir-cumstances made it impos-sible for a theatre to beloaned, but offered to admitfree for this one perform-ance of his circus, any sickor disabled children whomHarry Dawson cared tosend along.

This offer was gratefullyaccepted.

Any musician or readerof the NME wishing to takeadvantage of this mostgenerous offer by Mr. Hyl-ton and the Big RhythmShow cast, and who wisheshis or her sick or disabledchildren to attend eithershow, should write to HarryDawson at 12, OrangeStreet, W.C.2, or to theNME, marking the en-velope "Free Show Offer."

It is emphasised that nochild will be admitted freeat the doors, unless hold-ing a ticket issued throughthe Dawson office.

.".........v.4"0,~41,~0m".I hear that Charlie Ventura,

the famous saxist, has a six-teen -year -old son who lookslikely to follow in the old man'sfootsteps. He's already a regu-lar member of pop's band.

* * *They say that Dave Toff has

another hit in " They Say " byLeslie Julian -Jones.

BBC's XMAS JAll PARTYON December 27, Charles Chilton's " World of Jazz

airing in the Light Programme is to be given overto a Jazz Christmas Party, in which some of the finestmusicians from both worlds of jazz will get together ina BBC studio 'to play together, with the bars well andtruly down.

Already signed for the pro- Ralph Sharon and Mikegramme are trumpeters Kenny McKenzie, guitarist Don Fraser,Baker and Humphrey Lyttelton, bassist Jack Fallon and drum.trombonist George Chisholm, mer Jack Parnell.clarinettist Wally Fawkes, alto- Marion McPartland, starman Johnny Dankworth, violin- British pianist from the States,ist Stephane Grappelly, pianists will be one of the guests.

MADE BY JACK JACKSON - MADE IN BRITAINTHE SENSATIONAL WINTER SONG

WHERE DID MYSNOWMAN GO?

Recorded by PETULA CLARK on Polygon P.1056.ORCHESTRATIONS IN THE PRESS

ANY OLD TIME - SLOW TRAIN BLUES

ARCADIA MUSIC 24, GREAT PULTENEY ST., LONDONW.I GER 5285

Printed for the Publishers, Venture publication'', Ltd., 5, Denmark Street, London, W.C.2. by Macaulay's Advertising Service, Ltd. (T.U.) 12, Folgate Street,

nmosemm.mww, musical express · 2019. 12. 5. · pete rugolo contributes a spirited two -beat...

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