March 2013 - The Preservation Jazz Society

The Foot Tappers
News
March – May 2013
Edwin McGarr
1929 – 2013
Edwin with Gwyn Lewis and Alun Jones
At Bromyard August 2012
e-mail :-
Editorial
pjscardiff@btinternet.com
Tel :- 029 20625639
Our Programme
19th March sees the welcome return of the Vic Partridge Quartet, with Vic, Norman,
John Davies and Paul Hillman - most enjoyable last time – if you missed them they
are well worth a listen.
26th March :- From Hibernation in deepest West Wales the Memphis Seven emerge
to entertain you.
April 2nd The John Davies Quartet. Two excellent reed players John D and Ian
Jameson backed by superb rhythm section Vic Partridge & Mike Gale
April 9th :- We welcome a return to Cardiff of the excellent New Orleans Trumpeter
John Hummerstone, who will be one of the Anglo Welsh Stompers with Lynn
Saunders. John used to play with Lynn in the Mike Harries Band back in the 60’s
and to my knowledge, every Aberaeron Carnival parade since.
April 16th :- We have the postponed visit from Hot Club Gallois, who are a Welsh
group inspired by the music of Django Rienhardt and Stephane Grapelli. Their music
evokes the style and elegance of 1930's Paris and draws on passion and romance
of the gypsy Jazz tradition.
23rd April :- A return visit for “Rivercon” , a band made up of ex members of the Icon
and Riverside bands.
Finally on the 30th we have John Scantlebury Quartet.
7th May :– The Vic Partridge Quartet
14th May : – The New Georgia Jazz Band. A treat for New Orleans fans. The whole
Georgia Band are coming with Dave Smith, cornet, Ian Woods clt., Stan Stephens
tbn., Ian Dalziel bjo., David Johnson, string bass, & Alan Jones drums.
21st :- The Dick Williams Six. Cardiff & Bristol musicians with Bob Tunnicliffe, John
Evans and Co.
28th :- The Preservation Rhythm Kings. This is a newly formed band led by Roy
Davies on banjo – full line up unknown at time of printing.
So over the March to May period some excellent musicians and good music to look
forward to. Please do you best to attend.
Many Thanks to all those who have renewed their membership of the PJS and sent
donations – all of which are gratefully received.
If you have the Internet why not have the FT delivered to your “in box”. Just send an
email to the address at the top of the page and I’ll do the rest.
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk
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Edwin McGarr
1929 - 2013
Edwin appeared on the world stage on 6th June 1929 at Durham, one of four boys
he grew up in the area and developed an interest for music. He joined a brass band
at an early age and caught the ‘Jazz Bug’. He later formed the Edwin McGarr
Orchestra which had the privilege of supporting international stars such as Louis
Armstrong, Humphrey Lyttleton and others in the Co. Durham area. Like many
people of Irish decent he was a born natural comic and had a second career as a
stand-up comic around the clubs under the name Con Martin.
Edwin came to South Wales in the 1970’s and worked at Avana Bakeries as a
Health Inspector. Later he became tenant of the ‘Cross Keys’ in Llantrisant, where
his passion for jazz allowed him to put on twice weekly sessions of jazz, both
traditional and mainstream. He encouraged many young musicians and on his 50th
birthday had the American Bee Bop trumpeter Red Rodney. Other International
guests were also featured such as Kenny Davern and Digby Fairweather as well
numerous local musicians.
The Cross Keys were also famous for Edwin’s Curries and many a pleasant time
was spent by musicians first playing and then sampling the delicious food.
Edwin was a member of the Adamant Marching band and later the Arcadian’s. One
memorable occasion was when the Adamant went to the Cross Keys, Geoff Palser,
on opening his trombone case, to his horror, found it empty. It was later retrieved it
from the Bosun Pub in Cardiff where Geoff had left it on the window ledge of the
pub. -That wouldn't happen today - it would be on e-bay within the hour.
Edwin’s career continued in Public Health alongside all of this and he became Chief
Environmental Health Officer at Taff Ely Council.
Edwin retired in the 90’s and lived in France for a few year looking after a chateau
and making food for the guests and later living in Australia where he joined a local
brass band before returning to the UK.
More recently Edwin would spend the winter months in Australia and it was on his
visit this year that he died peacefully at his daughter’s house.
We extend our sympathy to Edwin’s family and friends at their sad loss.
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk
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Edwin with Geoff Palser and son Simon, on drums, for Edwin’s 50th birthday in
Switzerland, when they had a sit in with Colin Dawson’s Onward Band.
Nearer home, Geoff and Edwin play the last number at the Star Inn Dinas Powis
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk
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Edwin with Ron King -Adamant Marching Band circa 1990
It was also sad to learn of the death of Pat Halcox and Kenny Ball who died recently,
Pat Halcox (1930 – 2013) had been with the Chris Barber Band since the early
1950’s and actually played in the Barber Band for 54 years retiring in 2008. One of
the most memorable concerts was at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 1954
Kenny Ball (1930 – 2013). Coincidentally Kenny died the same age as Pat Halcox.
One of the Three “B’s” Barber, Ball and Bilk. Kenny was perhaps the most
commercial of the three, having such hits as ‘Midnight in Moscow’, ‘Samantha’, ‘I’m
the King of the Swingers’ with the chimpanzee impressions by Clarinettist Andy
Cooper
Kenny Ball
Pat Halcox
Taken at Upton upon Severn Jazz Festival
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk
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Nostalgia
Many years ago in the early 90’s we used to have sessions in the Bottleneck Bar of
the Philharmonic Hotel in St Mary Street.
Here are a few reminders
Sarah Thatcher or Sarah Roofe as she was then
Bill Kemp leading the Oriel Jazz Band
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John Coles drummer with the Oriel
Bill Nichols playing at the Golden Cross
All the Bottleneck photographs were taken by Paul Dunleavy and produced from
scanned transparencies.
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk
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PJS
Gig List
March
19
26
Vic Partridge Quartet
Memphis Seven
April
2
9
16
23
30
John Davies Quartet
The Anglo – Welsh Stompers
Hot Club Gallois Django Style Jazz
Rivercon
John Scantlebury Quartet
May
7
14
21
28
Vic Partridge Quartet
The New Georgia Jazz Band
The Dick Williams Six
The Preservation Rhythm Kings
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Just send a note to :- pjscardiff@btinternet.com
Café Jazz - The Sandringham Hotel, St. Mary Street, Cardiff
Admission - unless otherwise stated
P.J.S Members & Concessions £4 00 Non Members £4.50, Students £2.00
The PJS Acknowledge assistance from Dutton Hotels
Visit the PJS Website :- www.pjscardiff.co.uk
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