Sandy Brown Jazz
Jazz Photographic Memories
Album 1
These album pages contain all kinds of photographs and memories sent us by readers of this website. If you have a photograph with a memory and a story, please let us know if you would like to add it to these pages.
Diz Disley
This photograph comes from Johnny Johnstone's memories of a Jazz All-Nighter held at the Royal Albert Hall in London from 10.00 pm on January 18th to 6.00 am on January 19th, 1957. The picture is from Johnny's Souvenir programme that cost him 2/-. Johnny points out that when guitarist Diz Disley signed his name, Diz the musician / cartoonist inevitably added the curled moustache.
August 2012
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Jimmy Thomson, Acker Bilk, Scott Hamilton
Jimmy Thomson writes of the photograph below: "This is me with Acker Bilk in 1959 - Ian Richardson is in corner. I last saw Acker in 1999.; he was having lip problems, but he always remembered me over the years. At that concert he allowed me to blow his horn. He was with Scott Hamilton at Dundee Rep. He told me he was painting watercolours. All that from my first encounter in 1959 at Dundee Palais. I still cherish that memory."
Scott Hamilton has recently celebrated his 70th birthday by releasing an album Looking Back (here). and we have featured him several times in videos with the Sant Andreu Youth Jazz Band who he has been working with for some time (here).
February 2025
Denny Ogden Octet
This picture comes from trombonist Mike Hogh. The musicians in the picture are:
L-R: Ron Humphries, Eddie ? (bass), Mike Hogh, Willie Garnett, Dennis Ogden, Alan Stuart and, behind Willie Garnett, the pianist is possibly Alan West. The question is - who from the Octet (presumably the drummer) is missing? The picture comes from the 1970s. Mike played with Denny through the 1960s, '70s and '80s until Denny became ill and the band was taken over by Alan Stuart. We have been able to find very little information about Denny who was clearly a presence on the UK jazz scene during those years. Can anyone tell us any more about him? Our profile of Mike Hogh is here.
December 2013
Dick Charlesworth's Brothers
Leon Breckman sends us the photograph below and asks: 'Have you heard of The Brothers, which was a pseudo Masonic fraternity run by Dick Charlsworth of 'City Gents' fame of which there were some 500 members of semi-pro musicians from the London area. It would be very interesting to know who are still surviving?" Clarinettist Alvin Roy, who was a member of The Brothers for a while, remembers the group meeting up at the 100 Club in London once a quarter: "It was a get-together, no instruments, so no playing. When there was a new member, Dick Charlesworth would sprinkle the four corners of the room from his whisky glass which encompassed the new initiates and also the onlooking members."
Trumpeter Digby Fairweather writes about The Brothers in his book Ace Of Clubs : A Celebration Of The 100 Club : "One of the great institutions of the 100 Club was 'The Brothers' a community of musicians and singers who met at the club on Monday nights once a quarter .... I wasn't very keen to begin with ... There was a real 'initiation' ceremony and the existing brothers used to quite like winding up new members about what they'd have to go through .... there was dear James Asman ... I said "What's the matter Jimmy?" He said "I think I've got to bare me bum!" .... I think It's safe now to reveal that you didn't have to do that; just stand on one leg and turn round in a 360 degree circle and then sing The Brothers' anthem which was 'Benignity - which was pronounced ben-igg-nity - is not beneath your dignity' and so on, to the tune of The Red Flag .... But to be honest I didn't go to The Brothers more than once I don't think ... on my night (trombonist Jim Shepherd) came down in a furious temper: "Some bloody traffic warden's just given me a ticket" and so on. And we had to remind Jim; "Don't forget - ben-igg-nity! Ben-igg-nity! Come on!".​
October 2022
Trumpets At Richmond
Hugo Strötbaum in Holland sent us these pictures and says: "I came across some stuff I thought you might be interested in.
Apart from seeing Sandy Bown and Al Fairweather at the Six Bells, Chelsea, I also attended the Richmond Festival in 1965 (entry 5/-) and took a picture of Ken Colyer and Kenny Ball (not my cup of tea) parading around the grounds." (It is Pat Halcox nearest the camera). "Seeing that Terry Lightfoot had shuffled off to the Departure Lounge saddened me. He made a terrific LP (New Orleans houses on the sleeve). Green for Danger?"
August 2013
DEXTER GORDON'S BODYGUARD
Trumpeter Seppo Lemponen in Finland sent us this photographic memory: "In 1970, the City of Vaasa decided to arrange a youth festival 'Vaasan kesä' (Vaasa summer festival). It was a success artistically, but not financially. We didn't realise until now that it managed to get together the cream of those Finnish musicians who rose to fame much later. Vaasa Jazz Club (founded 1968) helped to organise the occasion. Someone knew that both Griffin and Gordon were then staying in Europe (Dexter Gordon in Copenhagen). They were contacted, but because Dex was much cheaper and agreed to have a local (Helsinki) rhythm section, a deal was made with him. I was asked to act in different roles with Dex. The picture shows me (chairman of the club) on the left, and the late Timo Lappalainen (secretary) on the right as Dex's 'bodyguards' - I think we were about 36 and 24 respectively at the time. The picture was taken by Harry Swanljung, a club member, in Hietasaari ('Sandisle') a mile off the city centre.' Rehearsal spaces are always a challenge, but Seppo seems to have found a solution: "I have started cycling with my pocket trumpet,' he said. 'The activity will continue, at least, I hope, until October. You see, one must reserve rehearsal territories early enough. Birds, hares and squirrels at least seem to like sharing them!'
May 2012
Ron Weedon Gets Married
Trumpeter Bunny Austin sent this photographic memory and says: "This picture was taken in the late 1950s when pianist Ron Weedon was married. Matt Monro was a guest and sang with our quartet which included George Cox, a very fine pianist. One of the guests had a reel-to-reel tape recorder and taped Matt singing with the band - someone has a collector's item!' Left to Right: Matt Monro, Mr & Mrs Weedon, Bunny Austin.
June 2010
Bruce Turner and Jim Bray Rambled
Jazz and Folk musicicians together: Alex Balmforth sent us this picture of Folk musicians Alan Lomax and the Ramblers with Jazz musicians Bruce Turner and Jim Bray.
Back Row: Alan Lomax, Bruce Turner, Jim Bray, Brian Daly. Front Row: Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Shirley Collins.
Chris Duff had come across the photograph and wrote: "'Regarding the photograph of Alan Lomax and The Ramblers sent to you by my friend, Alex Balmforth, I forwarded the page with the photograph to a good friend of mine in the folk world who knows Shirley Collins well and to my knowledge, has presented her in folk clubs since the 1960s. He tells me he has seen the photo before and can confirm the line-up as Alex states."
September 2010
Mike Coney
Mike Coney's daughter Carolyn writes: "I have just finished reading your article online about The Dancing Slipper, West Bridgford. I stumbled across it as I have been searching for articles about my dad, Mick (Mike) Coney who was a superb drummer back in the day with John Johnstone All Stars and Johnny Hobbs, along with other bands. I remember him playing regularly at The Britannia, and The Fiveways, but don't recall the Dancing Slipper, though I have to admit I was a young child and was more into Wham! than Jazz! Dad passed away, after a short illness, last Monday, 18th December, aged 86 and we want his send off to be a Tribute to him. When he and his wife Sue Coney got married, their Reception was a great affair. It was like an Open Mike night where musicians were coming and going, up on the stage, play a few numbers and then another would join them or take their place. Sue would like something like this for dad, and she does have a contact in the now dwindled trad jazz world, but when I read your article I thought I'd get in touch to see if you had any other articles that mention my dad? I was delighted that one of your writers, Bob Jackson, included a picture of the Jazz Spectrum band, and my dad is on drums! Precious, precious memories. I would be thrilled to receive any further info/articles/mentions of my dad, and would be very grateful." [If anyone remembers Mike, please let us know and I'll pass your memories on to Carolyn and Sue. Ed]
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Jazz Spectrum. L-R: Ken Sansom (trombone/banjo); Bob Jackson (vocals/trombone); Ralph Laing (piano/leader); Mike Coney (drume); Dave Leithead (trumpet); Jerry Williams (clarinet/alto sax); Bill Cole (basss). Probably taken at the Old General in 1970/1971 Photograph © Bob Jackson​
January 2024
Freddy Randall at Cooks Ferry Inn
John Capes sent us this picture taken on a Sunday circa 1965 at Cook's Ferry Inn. John said: "'I did not note the date. The band led by Freddy Randall on trumpet was a pick up group with Lenny Felix (piano), George Chisholm (trombone), Ian Wheeler (I think) (clarinet) and Tony Allen (drums). They played for a couple of hours that Sunday lunchtime. It looks like night but that is because all curtains were closed and the band was lit with red lighting making it like a darkroom."
Tony Cash clarified the question of the clarinet player: 'The Cook's Ferry Inn photo is intriguing: the bearded clarinetist is almost certainly my old, much lamented, friend, Alan Cooper. I didn't know that he'd played with Randall. In 1956, Alan was studying at the Royal College of Art, so any London gig was feasible."
January 2011
