Forum 2025
Correspondence from our readers this year
Bill Brunskill
Our thanks to Marcus Holt who writes to tell us that the 1984 documentary Whatever Happened To Bill Brunskill is now available on YouTube here. At just under an hour long, George Melly narrates this film about trumpet/cornet player Bill Brunskill. You will also find an article for Sandy Brown Jazz by Don Coe about Bill Brunskill here.
AI and Copyright
Chris Hodgkins writes that musicians' (and others') intellectual property rights "are at risk of being undermined to the benefit of generative artificial intelligence (AI) companies." Chris points out that consultation is currently taking place - until the 25th February and urges people to write to their MP on the issue. "The creative industries thrive on the power of imaginative minds to tell stories through music, film, imagery and art, all underpinned by copyright protections. However, certain generative AI developers are calling on the UK government to weaken copyright protections, threatening creatives’ livelihoods" Chris says. Information on the issue is in a briefing paper from UK Music here and a statement from PRS For Music here.
The Family Hall
Our 'Jazz Remembered' feature about trumpeter Albert Hall (here) mentioned that Albert's family were / are very involved in music, his brother Cliff playing piano with The Shadows, for example. Amanda Hall has seen the article and writes about another of Albert's brothers, her father, Henry: "Hello I was reading your article on Albert Hall Remembered and his brothers. My father was Henry Hall who sadly passed in 2011 he was a trumpet player and played the tenor horn in the British Airways Band for many years. Henry was also a trumpet player in the The Royal Airforce Western Band and he played in the Queens 1953 Coronation. After serving several years in the military he was medically discharged with a severe injury to his leg which affected him for the rest of his life. I miss my dad and uncles a lot. My grandad Gilbert Hall was a musician too and became a music teacher in a school. This was where my dad and his brothers learnt to play in Brass Bands in the 1930s with their father."
Rosetta Howard
Stephanie Bradford has seen our recent page on vocalist Rosetta Howard (here) and writes that she has come across an old 78rpm record by Rosetta and the Big Three Trio that we write about. It is nice to know that Rosetta's original recordings are still out there.
How To Listen To Jazz - Ten Tips
Our thanks to Tim Rolfe who has written to tell us about this publication from Bob Karcy of Arkadia Records. Their website has a number of different elements and a link to items on YouTube. To download the Ten Tips (free) you need to fill in an online form. Tim has done this and passed me a photocopy of the booklet that looks worth exploring. Take a look at the details here.
James Reese Europe
Thanks to clarinettist Alvin Roy who tells us of this YouTube video from Noble Sissle about James Reese Europe who formed the African American army band in World War I and brought a different sound to the American forces. The video (7.39 minutes) is here.
Requests For Information
We have received requests for information about the following topics - can you help?
The Folk Barge, Kingston-upon-Thames
Oscar Rabin
The Viaduct Pub, Hanwell