BILL YOUNGwas drummer with the RIVER CITY JAZZMEN

many years ago. I first met Bill when he was resident drummer

​at Prudhoe Social Club, with an excellent keyboard player, and they were my backing band for many good nights there.

I remember he had to go somewhere in Europe to play with the River City, some kind of jazz festival, but his main job was at the club. We were pals for a long time, and I was shocked to see this photo in the Chronicle alongside an article telling of his passing. Very sad, he was a nice person. 

BROADWAY MELODY  Excellent sounds from this six-piece. (L to R) BRIAN CHESTER - Piano, JOHN HALLAM - Bass, OLLIE RILLANDS - Drums, DEREK FLECK - Saxophone and Clarinet, Trumpet unknown, HERBIE HUDSON - Trombone.

BRIAN CHESTER playing the spoons with the band at the Crescent Club

in Cullercoats. Another pic from the John Broddle Birthday party gig.

​(L to R) Derek Fleck -John Broddle - Brian Chester - Herbie Hudson - and Ollie Rillands at the drums.

VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN  This was a special gig to celebrate the history of Whitley Bay Dome, which used to house a popular dance hall as far back as the twenties, and we played a 'Tea Dance' session which was filmed  for TV and showing at the Dome. Some nice dancers, we had a good time playing some different stuff.

(L to R) DAVE PERCY - Bass,  PAUL GOWLAND - Saxophone,  BRIAN BENNETT - Banjo,  FRED THOMSON - Drums  and

​BARRY SOULSBY - Clarinet.  Featured Vocalist was JOHN BRODDLE. 

Starting this section are pictures of some Trad Jazz Bands that are still in existence, though may not be able to play again until the crisis is over. When I was in my late teens I remember listening to this kind of music on the radio, and saw the River City Jazzmen playing at some venue in Newcastle - was quite attached to these sounds of inter-mingling wind instruments, and have never forgotten them.

However, Buddy Holly was in the charts, then the Beatles, and much more was to follow, and I got

engulfed in all this popular stuff, and started playing guitar with a few like-minded lads who thought we sounded great, just like our pop idols.

Then I found myself playing a Vox Continental keyboard, just like Alan Price's, and playing at the Club A'go-go and the Mayfair ballroom in a soul band with a great sax player called Mike Reynolds. Also got on the Country & Western band-wagon for a while and ended up touring with a band I founded with Alan Bartley we called The Atlantics, doing current pop stuff of the seventies. After that, a solo act for twelve years. Then, at the age of 40 decided to concentrate on my career in the printing trade! Glad I did, because that has given me a pension I can live on, and I retired aged 62, and got back to playing with our band Recall, which folded eventually due to old age I suppose, so rested up for a while.

​

Brian Bennett, leader and banjo player with the VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN asked me if I could dep with them on bass, as their bassist was unavailable. At first I told him I wouldn't have a clue about playing jazz bass, but he insisted and said that if I couldn't help, the rest of the band would have to miss a gig, and the audience would have to have nothing. I could not refuse that plea , would have felt guilty - so told him I'll be there. Brian had written out chord sheets for me, just as well as some of these numbers were totally unknown to me - and when the band started playing that evening, I sensed the feel of this genre straight away, and enjoyed it so much.  Ten years on, I was still their dep bassist, but have played with many other trad bands, and have a permanent position with a quartet when the playing starts up again. Lots of pictures of bands and musicians to follow now, if you are a follower of Trad you will probably know, or may have known, some of these great people.    

The name of this outfit is unknown to me, and the photo goes back many years, but two faces which are on several pictures here are HARRY STEPHENSON situated top right, and next to him is HERBIE HUDSON.

​They were both part of a harmonica act, the in-thing in the early fifties, and both have played a part in the music scene for many years, and are still playing.

TRAD JAZZ

​The Vieux Carre Jazzmen.

These lads play at all kinds of jazz gigs throughout the North East and beyond.

Their style is mostly 'New Orleans', but widens to blues

and whatever is popular.

(Left to right)

Barry Soulsby - Clarinet

Brian Sibbald - Bass

Brian Bennett - Banjo

Fred Rowe - Trumpet

Fred Thomson - Drums

Lawrence McBriarty - Trombone.

The band have had a connection with Whitley Bay Dome, and will commence playing there regularly soon, although the line-up has changed over the years. 

​

RAY NEWTON 

Ray is often seen at our Trad gigs at the Crescent Club both on a Monday and Wednesday, and many of the players know him. I have seen him work with a Trad band, and I know that he also specialises in orchestral jobs. 

​Dave's Guitarland

Tynemouth Front Street - ​Band unknown

VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN at the THE MILLSTONE PUB, SOUTH GOSFORTH.

We had some great thursday afternoons here, nice audience - and the food served here was really good. I used to come along even when I wasn't depping for Bill, the regular bassist. Loads of atmosphere.

​(L to R)  PAUL GOWLAND - Sax,  DAVE PERCY - Bassist,  FRED THOMSON - Drums,  FRED ROE - Trumpet,

                                          BRIAN BENNETT - Banjo,  LAURENCE MCBRIERTY - Trombone..

PLAYERS (L to R) Paul Gowland - Harry Stephenson - John Hallam - Liz Bacon - John Broddle - Miles Watson - Unknown - Herbie Hudson - Lawrence McBrierty - Unknown - The players you can't see are Derek Fleck (behind John) and Ollie Rillands (behind Herbie).

​The event took place on a Monday afternoon, to celebrate John Broddle's Birthday.

​VCJ at the Millstone, South Gosforth. Dave Percy, Fred Rowe, Fred Thomson

​BRIAN BENNETT with the Vieux Carre Jazzmen

at the Millstone Pub in South Gosforth. He plays

a Tenor four string banjo, and the band are

often a five or six piece doing good New Orleans. .

BROADWAY MELODY playing at the MOUTH OF THE TYNE FESTIVAL. 2019

Situated next to the Gibraltar Rock Pub in the open air, always a pleasure to play to a big crowd.

(L to R) BRIAN CHESTER - Piano, HERBIE HUDSON - Trombone and Harmonica, OLLIE RILLANDS - Drums,

​DAVE PERCY - Bass, GAVIN LEE - Saxophones. Occasional Vocals by JOHN BRODDLE.

VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN. Brian Sibbald, Lawrence McBriarty, and Brian Bennett at Festival near Durham - 2010 

VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN   Playing three sets outside the Whitley Bay Dome. It was quite windy, and our set list and chord sheets were blowing away all the time, but we had a good day with a great crowd of Trad lovers.

(L to R) DAVE PERCY - Bass,  HARRY STEPHENSON - Clarinet,  FRED THOMSON - Drums,  PAUL GOWLAND - Saxophone,

BRIAN BENNETT - Banjo,  LAWRENCE MCBRIARTY - Trombone.

The Maine Street Jazzmen ​in full fling with a very large audience on Tynemouth Station around 2015

VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN at the MILLSTONE

( L to R)  DAVE PERCY,  LIZ BACON,  FRED THOMSON,  BRIAN BENNETT. .

THE MAINE STREET JAZZMEN  HERBIE HUDSON on Trombone, leading this fantastic band - who play everything from New Orleans style to British Trad favourites.  JIM McBRIARTY  plays Clarinet and Saxophone...not sure of the other names, but all brilliant players. This gig was playing live at Tynemouth Station six years ago. 

Grace and I were on holiday here, and we saw this poster outside the Pier venue. Never got to see the show, as we were on various day trips - wish I had though. We have a River City Jazz Band up here in the North-East, so I don't know if these lads had anything to do with them. I would have asked if I'd seen them.

Regular Vocalists at Cullercoats Club on Mondays and Wednesdays are MILES WATSON on the left; he plays

trumpet too, and JOHN BRODDLE on the right, who played with the Locarno Big Band in Hull for many years.  

Corner House in Heaton

​Taken about 2010

VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN  Featuring JOHN BRUMWELL on Vocals. At the Crescent Club in Cullercoats with all the regular members of the band, this was a private party to celebrate Danny's Birthday. The room was full, and buffet was enjoyed by everyone, with extra entertainment from Danny on Harmonica.

BROADWAY MELODY. Dave Percy and Brian Chester on

Tynemouth Station - 2011

BROADWAY MELODY.. Playing at the MOUTH OF THE TYNE FESTIVAL to a massive crowd, with special guests who come here from Hong Kong every year for the festival, and a few weeks of gigging around all the jazz venues. 

(L to R)  DEREK FLECK - Saxophone,  JOHN HALLAM - Bass,  FRANCO VALUSSI - Sax and Clarinet,  JOHN BRODDLE - Vocal - 

OLLIE RILLANDS - Drums,  COLIN AITCHISON - Trumpet,  BRIAN CHESTER, Piano

ANNE STARR and HARRY STEPHENSON

Ann was a regular singer in clubs and theatres many years ago, and Harry is a prominent clarinetist who has played with everyone, including the River City Jazzmen.

FISH QUAY FESTIVAL. A good day out here in the early nineties. I took this photo, but don't know exactly when - but it's nice to look back on those times. The only jazzman I recognise is FRED ROWE, someone I got to know very well in later years when we played together in various bands for around ten years. When I realised who it was I told Fred, and did a copy for him - and he remembered the names of all the other guys in the band, he was really pleased to see it. ​By the way, the fresh fried kippers were absolutely delicious!