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Bill in his days with the Invicta Jazz Band, Mo Hovary Jazz Men, Tishomingo
Jazz Band and the Dave Bone Quartet
Heres Bill playing Girls
Go Crazy
Jackass Blues
click on titles to listen
1980 with the Invicta Jazz band 1980 with the Invicta Jazz band
My interest
in jazz started at school with Arthur Robinson, who started the Caves Jazz
Club in Ramsgate with Dave Corsby. After leaving school I formed a skiffle
group and played in the interval at John Kelk’s Jazz Club in Canterbury in
the middle fifties. I bought my first drum kit whilst doing National Service
at Sandwich. Joined the Tishomingo Jazz Band in 1957 – 1963, then I left the
Tish to go commercial with Dave Bone and formed the Dave Bone Quartet with
myself, Dave , Kay Nesbitt piano and Doug Inkpen on bass and we had two or
three successful seasons at Imperial Hotel in
Hythe. After the DBQ I joined Peter Jon Trio when the famous Les Feast
left to go fully commercial. We played at Sarre Court Country Club, Marie
Celeste Club in Herne Bay St Mildred's Westgate/Miramar Herne Bay. I then
left the area, returned and joined Mo Hovery's Band at the Smuggler's. Mo
retired from playing and the band became the Invicta Jazz Band under Phil
Barnes. Phil died prematurely. I left the area again, over twenty years
ago. I now play at home for fun and bit of practice.
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John
Cottis - drums
John playing Hindustan, this was recorded live at The Globe in
Morning
Lane, Hackney, London.
12th March 2006 Rest of the band are Dave Stradwick tpt,
Don York tmb, Roy Mason reeds, Burtie Butler bnj and Bernie Johnson bass.
Born in the East End of London just after the war, John was hooked on music
from the early days of rock and roll. "Anything with a good beat, I loved
it. I used to have a pair of wooden knitting needles from my Mum's sewing
kit as a child and I would drum along to "Saturday Club" on the arms of the
furniture. My first drum kit was one second-hand cymbal and a cardboard box.
I eventually became a jazzer in the Trad boom of the early Sixties and was
professional for a while with a ragtime banjo band."
John moved to Kent in the early Seventies and has played with most of the
local bands during the last thirty years on a strictly amateur basis. "I
just love the music - a good tune and happy beat - you can't go wrong!"
John ran the Invicta Jazz Band for a few years but his love of travel to
Australia for months on end intervened and he now just occasionally deps for
other drummers. It won't be long before the outback calls and he goes on
walkabout again!
Here is John in different bands that he has played in and depped for:
Sheerness Carnival 1986
Hastings Sea Front Expedia Marching Band 1989
band members: band members:
bottom L to R: tmb unkn, tmb
Jim Gunton tmb, L to R: Tony Cardwell tmb, unkn bass drum, Alan Sokell sousa
Mick Stansell tpt, Ivan Ganden alto sax, Mike
Summers tpt.
John Cottis snare drm, Dave Link tpt, Burtie Butler bnj,
Top L to R: Pete Drage tuba,
John Cottis snare drm, and Jim Searson clt.
snare drm unkn, Norman Haliday
clt
The Chislehurst Ramblers formerly known as "The Annie Street Jazz Band" mid
1980's
Band Members:
John Cottis drms, Ron Goulding tuba, Pete Warren bnj, Ken Atkinson piano,
Bill Boston sax, Trevor Rose cornet and Arthur Gould trombone / vocal
The Invicta Jazz Band
The Semi Quavers around the mid 1980's
Band members:
Band Members:
Mike Porter-Ward bass, Kenny Pyrke
tmb, Roy Mason clt
Roger Pitt tmb, unkn banjo, John Cottis drms, Gerry Birch sousa,
John Cottis drms, Dave Bashford bnj,
Dave link cornet.
Nigel Pitt cornet and unkn clarinet.
-webb.jpg)
The Meridian City Jazz Band formed from "The Locksbottom Stompers" at The
Crown Inn, Seal, Kent.
Band members:
Tubby Spicer bass, Ken Packer clt,
Tim Jones tpt, trembling Mickey Mustoe tmb,
John Cottis drms, Eric 'Sailor' Webster bnj and Jonathon Vinten piano.
The Meridian City Jazz
Band different line up mid 1980's
The New Orleans Echoes 1980's at the Old Pembury Hospital
Band members: Band members:
Fred Hoare bass, Ken
Packer clt, Dave Clennell tpt, John
Roberts bass, Pete Curtis clt, Bob Jones cornet,
John Cottis drms, Lyn
Falvey voc, Eric Webster bnj,
John Cottis drms,
Sid Bailey tmb and Andy Maynard bnj.
and trembling
Mickey Mustoe tmb.
The Premier Jazz Band
The Royal Garden Jazz Band at The Crown Inn, Seal, Kent.
Band members:
Band members:
Jeff Hatton tpt, Richard
Brennan sax, Geoff Williams tmb,
Andrew Wyllie sax, Jacqui Atkinson gtr, Dave Hutchins tpt,
and Barney Smith bass.
John Cottis drums, unkn bass and Bill Todd tmb.
The Shanghai Syncopated Orchestra
Band members:
Geoff Bonner sax, Martyn Liston sax, Robin Eve tpt, Malcolm Walton tpt,
Stephan Hatfield violin, Steve Botting tmb, Ron Rackley bass,
John Cottis drms and Bob Pluck banjo.
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Barry Knight - percussion Here is Barry's distinctive style
of playing on these three tracks taken from the CD recorded
live at the 'Duke of Cumberland', High Street, Whitstable, Kent on the 21st
December 2007
band members are: Mick Stansell tpt, Dennis Lear clt, Séan
Maple tmb, Burtie Butler bnj,
Mike Porter-Ward bass and Barry drms. so click on
the titles to hear.
Avalon
Marching through Georgia
Royal garden blues
Barry started playing drums in 1956 when
he joined the Army as a cornet player! There was a group in the band who
also played modern jazz and they didn't have a drummer at the time so he
thought he'd have a go on the drums and was invited to join the jazz group.
He then enrolled at the Ivor Merrants School of Dance Music and his first
paid job was at the Grand Hotel, Folkestone. Played with 14 piece Glen
Miller styleband, which entertained the Yanks at Manston. Became regimental
drummer in the Army and moved to Cyprus. Also played with a popular 4 piece
in nightclub in Nicosia. When demobbed returned to UK and joined Musicians
Union getting gigs from the Vacant Date book all around London and the South
East. Did a lot of Ladies Nights, tea dances, some West End work and the
usual pubs and clubs. In 1968 and joined a function band which occupied most
of the 70's and then joined a traditional jazz band where he stayed for some
time. In between times he has played in brass bands, 20's dance bands,
German Oompah bands and concert bands.Over the last few years he has
concentrated on Traditional /New Orleans Jazz which has been his main love.
Highlight has been playing in Bourbon Street, New Orleans with Burt!
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Ashford Jazz Week/End 2009
Bombay Harbour - PO Ship ORSOVA - 1967
Jimmy Tagford – Drummer
Jimmy has been a professional Drummer
since 1965, He started with the ship’s orchestras of P&O Orient Lines,
making regular visits to the USA, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and circling
the globe three times. Subsequently, Jimmy worked with Gerry Rafferty (of
Baker Street fame); Billy Connolly; Singer/ impressionist Faith Brown and
david Essex before commencing a six year residency at the Latin Quarter
night club in London’s West End.
Apart from playing with most of the top Kent Jazz Bands, since leaving
London and settling in Folkestone, Jimmy has toured with singers Frankie
Vaughan and Vince Hill, the Ink Spots, Eartha Kitt; toured and recorded 2
CD’s with reedsman John Crocker (from the Chris Barber Band) and played with
top British modern jazz artists Pete King, Don Weller, Dick Pearce, Bobby
Wellins and Derek Nash. And……played for pantomimes up and down the country
as well as various musicals – West Side Story, Annie, Me & My Girl, Kiss Me
Kate, Barnim etc.
Jimmy’s favourite drummers are Buddy
Rich, Jake Hanna, Jo Jones, Oliver Jackson, Grady Tate, Big Sid Catlett,
George Wettling, Mel Lewis, Jeff Hamilton, Gene Krupa, Jack Sperling, Alvin
Stoler, Joe Morello, Ed Thigpen……..well, all of them realyy
!!!!!!!!!!
Contact Jimmy 01303 258055
Jimmy Tagford
Here is Jimmy playing with the John Crocker Quartet
from the LP 'Easy Living'
Avalon
Lady Be Good
Personnel : John Crocker clt / alto / Tenor
Roger Munns piano
Viv Pitt bass
Jimmy Tagford drms
comments from John on the numbers:
Avalon: One of the numbers I
played as a featured solo with the Chris Barber Band is included in response
to many requests
Roger and Vic take fine solos and Jimmy shows why his drumming is so much in
demand.
Lady Be Good: Roger,
Vic and Jimmy swing Gershwins Lady Be Good mightily - glad I was along for
the ride
1958 at the Royal Mortar 1985 with Tony King’s MLJB 1992 at the Holiday Camp
Eddy Newport - Drums and Washboard
Here is Eddie playing THE SHEIK of
ARABY with him playing the washboard. It's a bit different
to the usual. In Germany with the Mainline Jazz Band he became a
bit of a star playing this as the
Germans have never seen a washboard being played before. Of course they
could have been just
taking the piss. Nevertheless he enjoyed it at the time.
The Shiek of Araby click on title to
hear
band members : Tony King tpt, Rod Hayes tmb, Mark Southwell clt
Steve Morgans piano/voc, Pete Thomas bass and Eddy wbrd.
I was born December 1940 and got into
music at the age of 16 when a few school mates bought a couple of guitars
and started to play and sing Lonnie Donegan songs. Being unable to tune a
guitar let alone be able to play one, I bought a snare drum and a cymbal and
joined in the fun. Another mate made a tea chest bass and the Ramblers
Skiffle Group was formed. We rehearsed in my works canteen in Woolwich in
the evenings and did our first gig (a cabaret spot) for the company’s dinner
and dance. The dance band drummer, who was playing at the gig, asked if I
would like to use his drum kit. And my love affair with drums started there.
Also being paid 10 shilling for the gig was another incentive to get into
the music seine. I had some lessons from a pro drummer and he got me on the
straight and narrow playing wise. I worked with a lady pianist in a pub, The
Royal Mortar in Beresford Square Woolwich, one of the roughest pubs you
could imagine. I was 18 she was in her 70’s and she told me she used to play
for silent films at the local cinemas. I joined the “Hot Club of
London” a
Jazz Club that was on a Sunday evening in Powis St run by George Webb. I had
the privilege of hearing and seeing Chris Barber, Acker Bilk, Cy Laurie, Mike Danels, a very young 14 year old Sammy Rimmington and many more. From then
on I wanted to play in a Jazz Band. Later on I worked with a dance band at
the Bell Grove Social Club in Welling, a good grounding for tempos and
playing different types of rhythms. A new job offer, I then moved to Chatham
in 1964 and got into the local music seine and the rest is history. My main
influences were Louis Belson, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Jo Morello and Chico
Hamilton and of course all the pro trad drummers I saw at the Hot Club. In
those days you were either a TRADIE or a MODIE and never the twain shall
meet. I loved it all I had friends in both camps and I dare not let on that
I liked the “other stuff” as well as their music. After many years of
playing in Medway bands and pop groups I finely joined Tony King in the
Mainline Jazz Band and after that I gigged with the Thameside Stompers. I
“turned pro” in 1992 and did a summer season in a holiday camp at
Mundesley in Norfolk with a key board player and worked 7 nights a week for
7 months, with nothing to do all day I was so laid back I was horizontal. My
wife hated it I loved it, but I would not do it for a living. I did it
because I was on the dole for two years and at the time I had to undergo a
major career change, but that’s another story. I am retired and now
play with the Moonlight Sounds an 18 piece rehearsal band run by Rod Hayes
playing big band arrangements and am getting to grips with drum music, this
is the last music challenge of my life.
Eddy Newport Sept 2008
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Robin Beames - drums and vocals
Robin a great mate of mine, has a wonderful singing voice, this particular
track
is a great favourite of mine Love Letters in the Sand this was
recorded at Langlei
Studios, Rainham, Kent 25th Feb 1999, with The Canterbury Jazz Pilgrims.
Band
members are: Bill Phelan crt, Jim Searson reeds, John Finch tmb, Alan
Kennington
bass and Burtie Butler bnj. so click on to Robs name and
listen to some fine brush
work and a great vocal.
Born in 1940, his first interest in music was in 1953 when he
joined a cadet band as a drummer and, after three years, became RASC junior
leader of the trumpeters and snare drummer sections. In 1960 he became the
RASC Corps Band percussionist. In 1960 he enjoyed the early rock & roll
music, which influenced most jazz musicians, though they would not admit it!
In 1963 he left the Army and became interested in traditional jazz. He
formed his first band with Edwin "Boots" Baker, John Cowdrey, Roger Ely,
Humphrey Mayes and Bob Long, and they called themselves the South Side Jazz
Band. In 1968 he returned to play in the "pop" scene and a dance music
quartet. From 1976, like many others, he caught the New Orleans bug from
listening to Ken Colyer, although still playibng rock & roll. In 1986 he set
up the Headcorn Jazz club with a band called the New Orleans Jazzmen. This
eventually became the Imperial Jazz Band and is still going strong.
Memorable moments include playing behind Humphrey Lyttelton, Pat Halcox,
Randy Colville, Roy Williams, and many more. Robin's favourite pastimes are
drinking, whilst eating copious amounts of curry! He is also part-time drum
and percussion teacher with the Kent Music School.
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Roy Neal - drums
Roy - 1964 R.M.S.
Queen Mary (give away photo's) Roy - a few years later
Roy Neal - drums
Had a yearning for the drums from early teens. Use
to play along with the Jack Parnall band on the wireless imitating the
drummer with clothes brushes and a biscuit tin.
Went to the Army cadets at the Drill Hall in Chatham to learn the
rudiments of drumming. With the help of my Mother bought some drums for Ten
shillings whilst still at
school ( Rochester Technical ). Played at a local Youth club then
joined a local Jazz band "Crescent City Stompers" and played at "The Good
Intent" public house in Chatham with the great Pitt brothers, ( then just
very young boys ) as their father was the landlord. Met Ronnie Verrel ( Ted
Heaths drummer ) who lived near me, he taught me various drumming
techniques. Into various Jazz bands. In 1957 the Royal Air Force for three
years, Joined the "Tuxedo Jazz Band" in 1961. In 1963 with the "Ron
Buckley Trio" had an
audition with with Peter Summerfield agent for the 'Springfields' and 'Carl
Denver Trio' made a tape which he considered was good enough to approach
Decca Records. Never
made Decca due to arguments with band wives re: turning professional, thus
band broke up. I was set on becoming professional so after an audition in
London I joined 'Cunard Steamships'. I went on to their Cruise ships first
then on to the R.M.S. Queen Mary until she was sold to the Americans. Home
in England I played with various groups did
session work in London. I formed my own group "Neil Lawrence Quartet"
playing Medway and London areas. Sold my drums in 1968 went into Graphic
Art. Off to London in
1970 worked as display manager for Stanley Gibbons and then the same for
Trust Houses Forte. Played several gigs with hired drums in London, but in
later years developed arthritis in my shoulders and fingers. I can still
play but not so fast.
click here for Roys website
Back on the road again 2010
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Mark Alexander – Drums – Born 1942
He started playing the trumpet whilst at school in
the mid-1950s. Joined the Canterbury City Jazz Band on leaving school and
thereafter played trumpet with various bands including Halliday’s Eagle Band
and Kid Webster’s Band. Highlight of jazz career was an extensive tour of
Belgium in 1966 when he was asked for an autographed photo of
himself by an attractive young girl! He switched to drums in 1970 and is the
regular drummer with The Vocalian Jazz Band, The Roseleaf Ramblers and The
Liberty Hall Jazz
Band. His favourite jazz is the music of the New Orleans dance halls as
played by, among others, Kid Thomas, Peter Bogage, etc. When not playing, or
listening to, jazz, he
can be found selling model railways in The Hobby Shop in Faversham.
www.hobb-e-mail.com
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