Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Piano, and Vocals
The story of some of Pat’s exploits away from the Chris Barber Band: contributed by Julian Purser
Pat’s stature as one of the best trumpeters this country has produced is undoubted, but because he has played with Chris for fifty years, he is almost unknown as a player in his own right. (This is not unusual: Trummy Young was never asked to record for anyone else during his long tenure in the Louis Armstrong All Stars.) The band plays over two hundred dates a year, and this leaves little time for doing much else. However, as I shall show, over the years Pat has had many other musical adventures. This brief survey is by no means complete, but aims to give a flavour of some of the guest appearances and other activities he has enjoyed.
It was only some two months after the Chris Barber Band started that Pat took part in his first non-Barber recording. Ian Wheeler had requested John R.T. Davies (he of the Temperance Seven, maestro of 78 rpm record restoration, and now co-producer of the Chris Barber Collection CDs on the Timeless label) to record a session with his colleagues in the Barber Band (minus Chris). This took place in the London Jazz Centre in Soho on 8 August 1954. It was possibly the only time Ian and Monty Sunshine played together, prior to the 1990s reunions of the old and new Chris Barber bands. There have been many requests for this session to be issued; so far no joy, a great pity. (Click here for session details.)
that Pat took part in his first non-Barber recording. Ian Wheeler had requested John R.T. Davies (he of the Temperance Seven, maestro of 78 rpm record restoration, and now co-producer of the Chris Barber Collection CDs on the Timeless label) to record a session with his colleagues in the Barber Band (minus Chris). This took place in the London Jazz Centre in Soho on 8 August 1954. It was possibly the only time Ian and Monty Sunshine played together, prior to the 1990s reunions of the old and new Chris Barber bands. There have been many requests for this session to be issued; so far no joy, a great pity. (Click here for session details.)
Pat has on occasion been asked to deputise for other band leaders. Two notable times occurred in 1964 and 1978. In 1964 Pat was asked to sit in for Alex Welsh when his band did a club session at the Georgian Jazz Club in Cowley. In the band were Roy Crimmins on trombone, John Barnes on saxes and clarinet (he later joined Humph’s band), the excellent Fred Hunt on piano, Jim Douglas on banjo and guitar (more of Jim later), Ron Mathewson on bass, and the slightly eccentric Lennie Hastings on drums. A marvellous session.
Humphrey ‚Humph‘ Lyttelton was asked to appear at the 1978 Prague Jazz Festival (7 April) but had to pull out two days before flying out to Prague, and asked Pat to take over. This meant that Pat had to rush around sorting out a visa (it was in the days of the Iron Curtain) and a flight, but he made it, and joined Bruce Turner (again we will meet Bruce later), Malcolm Everson (baritone sax), Mick Pyne (piano), Dave Green (bass), and Tony Mann (drums). What Pat had not expected was to have to make all the introductions! He thought Bruce Turner would do those, but Bruce quietly reminded Pat that as Humph normally made them, and he was Humph’s dep it was Pat’s job! Another excellent performance.
The first album to include Pat away from the Barber band was Don Ewell Quintet. (Click here for session details.) Don was an American pianist, much recorded by George Buck for both his Jazzology and GHB labels. The recording was by Dave Bennett (at the time a school teacher, but now a full time record producer and recording engineer), recorded in February 1971 at the White Hart, Willesden. Besides Pat, some other familiar jazzmen were in the group: on clarinet was ‚Creole‘ John Defferray, now a member of the Big Chris Barber band; on bass was Jackie Flavelle, at the time a member of the Chris Barber band; and on drums was Barry Martyn, who later moved to New Orleans, where he still lives.
In 1974 Pat played the first gigs with his ‚Summer Band‘, basically a busman’s holiday. The idea was to play a few gigs during the Barber Band’s summer break. The first year it was the normal personnel of the time without Chris. The band played a more mainstream-slanted repertoire, and this become more pronounced as the personnel changed over the next few years. In 1974, the band brought back such items as ‚Worksong‘, and added titles such as the Hodges tune ‚Squatty Roo‘, and an acoustic guitar piece, ‚Plenty of Nothing‘. Guests at the New River Club in Andover that year included local band leader Dave Morgan (trombone) and his banjo player Roger Dee.
The personnel in 1975 and 1976 remained as before except that Pete York replaced Graham Burbidge on drums. 1975 tracks included ‚Shanty in Old Shanty Town‘, ‚That Old Feeling‘, and ‚Your Eyes Say Yes But…‘ Guests at The Lord Raglan in Wolverhampton were vocalist and band leader Sheila Colyer, and pianist-vocalist Tommy Burton. 1976 gave us ‚All My Eggs In One Basket‘, ‚Looks Like Another Winter’s Here‘ (Jackie vocal), ‚Sam‘ (Jackie again) and ‚Cowbell Blues‘. There was a change in personnel in 1977: Campbell Burnap was added on trombone and vocals, and Jackie Flavelle was replaced by Roger Limb on bass (he worked for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop on projects such as Doctor Who). Numbers included ‚Blues in the Closet‘ (a feature for Roger Limb), ‚Hot Step And Jump‘, ‚What’s The Racket‘, ‚Theme From Black Orpheus‘, and two Campbell vocals, ‚I Want A Little Girl‘ and ‚Lock My Heart‘.
In 1978 an album, Pat Halcox All Stars, was recorded by Nigel Pegrum, who at the time was a member of Steeleye Span. That year the personnel had changed again, with Johnny Parker added on piano, and Vic Pitt replacing Roger Limb; also John Slaughter dropped out. In 1979 the band remained the same, and new tracks included ‚High on An Open Mike‘, ‚5 O’clock Drag‘, ‚Rag Time Dance‘, and ‚Three Four The Blues‘.
An added attraction during some of the 1980 shows was the inclusion of the vocal group Sweet Substitute (at this time they were Angie Masterson, Terri Leggett and Kate McNab, with their musical director and altoist Andy Leggett, Terri’s husband). Sweet Substitute were a Bristol group who were quite well known. They had recorded for Decca and Black Lion. I have always thought that they never achieved the success they deserved. Sweet Substitute sang Ellington tracks, show tunes, and pieces from the Swing Era. Numbers included ‚Uncle In Harlem‘, ‚Sleepy Suzy‘, ‚The Monkey Song‘, ‚Heebie Jeebies‘, and ‚I’ve Got Ford Engine Movements In My Hips‘, among many others. Pete York was unavailable, and Jimmy Garforth took the drum stool. New band numbers included ‚Charlie The Chula‘, a Johnny Parker piece, ‚Tribute To Big Bill (Broonzy)‘, and a clarinet feature, ‚Dusk‘. The mix was similar in 1981, but without Campbell Burnap. Mel Thorpe joined on reeds, and Roger Munns replaced Johnny Parker (Mel and Roger were members of Pete York’s Band at the time). The band name became The Pat Halcox-Pete York All Stars. Sweet Substitute were as the previous year. Further new titles included ‚Cherry‘ and ‚Take It Upstairs‘.
The final year that Pat took the band on tour was 1982, and the members of the band were Pat, John Crocker, Mel Thorpe, Roger Munns, Johnny McCallum, Bill Coleman (bass), and Pete on drums. Bill Coleman was Helen Shapiro’s bass player at the time. Sweet Substitute again sang at some of the gigs. The programme was far removed from the music and style as played in 1974! Titles included ‚The Hawk Talks‘, ‚An Ordinary Thing‘, ‚Apple Honey‘, and ‚Segue In C‘. This was the end of a long run of very different concerts, which I and many others enjoyed during our younger years! There were at least two specials, the first in 1978, at the Chris Barber Party Night on 30 December at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, London. Pat’s band that night was Pat, John, Jim Shepperd (trombone), Johnny Parker, Johnny, Vic, and Pete. They signed off with their signature tune, ‚The Theme From The Flintstones‘. The other appearance was at the Repertory Theatre, Birmingham, on 13 December 1981. The reissued album is on Lake and should be available through them.
Returning to guest spots and other appearances, on 17 December 1977 the Chris Barber Band were at the Rep in Birmingham. The Strathallan Hotel ran a very successful weekly jazz club at the time, and issued a series of limited issue cassettes on the Neovox label. They hosted a session with well-known, mainly local, musicians, including Norman Field (reeds) and Ray Foxley (piano). Pat and Pete rushed over to the hotel and joined in on the last number, ‚Bourbon Street Parade‘.
In 1989 George Buck asked Pat to put a band together to record an album, There’s Yes! Yes! In Your Eyes, again for Jazzology. He was free to choose his own musicians. The album was recorded over two sessions, 16 June and 14 July. The second session was required as the piano at The Bull’s Head, Barnes, was flat — hence the final blues on the record, ‚Joanna’s Flat Blues‘! The producer and engineer was our old friend Dave Bennett. This is a wonderful album, and we find Bruce Turner in fine form, but only playing clarinet. John Beacham on trombone had played with many bands, including a long stint in the 1970s as part of the horn section of the pop group ‚The Kinks‘. Dick Smith’s brother Ray Smith was on piano (Dick was a member of the Chris Barber band for ten years from 1956). Jim Douglas (previously noted in the Alex Welsh Band), Vic Pitt on bass, and Geoff Downes on drums rounded out the personnel.
Pat has continued to guest with bands both in the UK and abroad (the Lake Records All Stars, and with John Service of the Piccadilly Six in Switzerland, among many others).
Pat has been a good friend for many years. Thanks Pat, for both the friendship and all the wonderful music you have provided over the last half-century!
Copyright © Julian Purser 2004. Copyright publishing license to chrisbarber.net.