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| Benny Green discography... |
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Benny Green was born in Leeds, Yorkshire in December, 1927. He was the baritone sax player who was a regular member of the legendary Ronnie Scott Jazz Group and Ronnie Scott Orchestra from 1953 through to 1956. He also played on a number of recording dates with trumpet player Kenny Baker.A man of many talents who earned a living from his saxophone for twenty years before in 1955 he joined the BBC where for the next 15 years he was a successful BBC presenter for jazz and other musical programs. He was jazz critic for The Observer newspaper for 19 years and a successful author on books as varied as cricket, music and George Bernard Shaw. He wrote musicals, including a collaboration with Johnny Dankworth, as well as other theatre work. He died from cancer at the age of 70 in June 1998. |
(Part-time trombone and bass player Alan Bond remembers Benny Green:
"I had the pleasure of chatting to Benny Green on a number of occasions and his knowledge of all things 'showbiz' was
astronomical - he was always so entertaining and to get him together with Ronnie Scott was a comedy double act par
excellence with the repartee flowing like wine. More recently I was told that Benny didn't like Ronnie Scott which came as a surprise if it were true - sounds a bit like sour grapes from someone somewhere. Benny Green's remit went far beyond jazz and he was a prolific broadcaster on many things 'showbiz', especially musicals. He was a pretty good arranger and, apparently, composer but strangely I don't recall any tunes credited to him. As a journalist he was always as entertaining as he was in person, with a very dry wit similar to that of Ronnie Scott. As a reed man he was far better than his diminutive ego suggested but he always seemed to hide his light 'under a bushel' as they say. He appeared to have an innate shyness which was belied by his broadcasts on the radio but he was certainly, in my opinion, a good solid reed man. It's such a pity that so little of his identified work remains on record. Like quite a number of other jazzers he appeared on occasion on the BBC radio programme 'Jazz Score', a show that is sadly missed. It would be nice to find that at least a couple of these gems of 'jazzical humour' had been saved for posterity". |
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This was an ad-hoc line-up for a BBC World Service broadcast from the Paris Cinema Studio in London. Prophetically it was to form the personnel, within weeks, of the legendary Ronnie Scott nine-piece band. With the exception of Popo this was the first Esquire 12" LP issued. Three further World Service broadcasts appeared on Esquire (32.002, 003 and 006). Ronnie Scott Jazz Group - December 1st, 1952 (Esquire 32.001) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). All The Things You are*^/Pantagrulian*^/Mullenium*^/Nemo^/Got The Message/The Nearness Of You^/The Champ*^#/Popo*^. (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (^Time Music International CD - Ronnie Scott Live at the Jazz Club) (#Giant Steps 2CD set - Soho After Dark 'London's '50s Modern Jazz Scene') (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") Ronnie Scott Jazz Group - February 10th, 1953. A BBC World Service broadcast from the Paris Cinema Studio in London. (Esquire 32.002) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Pete King (ts), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). I May Be Wrong*/On The Alamo*/Day Dream*/Stringin' The Jug/Lullaby In Rhythm/Seven Eleven/What's New?*/S'wonderful/How Am I To Know?/Just One Of Those Things. (*Time Music International CD - Ronnie Scott Live at the Jazz Club) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") Jazz at The Flamingo: - March, 1953 (Decca) (JMC1) Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Tommy Whittle, Don Rendell (ts), Benny Green (bs), Bill Le Sage (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Tony Crombie (d,leader). Jump For Jeff*/Tres Gai*#/All Star Special^. (*Vocalion CD - Don Rendell - Playtime) (#Ember CD - Tony Crombie - A Tribute) (^Fantastic Voyage 2 CD set - Ember Jazz - The Flamingo Connection) Ronnie Scott Orchestra - April 13th, 1953 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Have You Heard?+/Indian Summer+/Lover Come Back To Me*/Compos Mentis*. (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") (+ These tracks have added harp and flute and vocalist for issue on Esquire's 'popular artists' 5.000 red label series). Ronnie Scott Orchestra - August 13th, 1953 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Double or Nothing/Hard Feelings/Stompin' At The Savoy*/Body Beautiful*. (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") February 1st, 1954 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). I Get A Kick Out Of You/Cymbalism/Humble Pie/Dear Old Southland. Ronnie Scott Orchestra - March 17th, 1954. A BBC World Service broadcast from the "Criterion Restaurant" in London. (Esquire 32.003) (JJ4) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Fast And Loose*/Body Beautiful*/Yardbird Suite(1)*/If I Should Lose You*/In The Land Of Nimbupani*/Laura(2)*/Oo-Shoo-Be-Do-Be(rs,pk voc)*/This Can't Be Love(3)*/Dear Old Southland*/El Sino(4)*/I Wished On The Moon*/Nemo* (1) JD, DH + rhythm only. (2) RS + rhythm only. (3) VF (vibes) + b + d only. (4) KW, PK, BG + TC (pno) + b + d. (*Acrobat CD - Ronnie Scott "Fast & Loose (Live in 1954)") Ronnie Scott Orchestra - May 17th, 1954 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Perdido/Cherokee/In The Land Of Nimbupani/Fast And Loose. Ronnie Scott Orchestra - September 7th, 1954 (Esquire 32.006) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Mac Minshull (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Fine And Dandy/Things Ain't What They Used To Be/Humble Pie/'Cuse These Bloos/Perdido/Tenderly/Fuller Bop Man/Tin Tin Deo/Fools Rush In/In The Land Of Nimbupani. (three other titles are without Scott) Ronnie Scott Orchestra - November 2nd, 1954 (Esquire EP31*) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Taboo/Second Helping/Seamen's Mission*#/Lester Leaps In*. (#SWP Records CD - The Late, Great Phil Seamen) Ronnie Scott Orchestra - January 4th, 1955 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Evening In Paris/After You've Gone/But Not For Me/Serenity. Ronnie Scott Orchestra - February 23rd, 1955 (Esquire EP61) (JMC22) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Parisian Thoroughfare/Don't Worry 'Bout Me/Quicksilver+/Time After Time. (+ Different take to original 78) Ronnie Scott Orchestra - April 13th, 1955 (Esquire EP81) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). S'il Vous Plait+*/Jordu+*/Pearl+/This Heart Of Mine. (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") (+ Different take to original 78) In 1955 Scott formed a big band which lasted barely a year, but had four of its library preserved on one Esquire EP as follows: Ronnie Scott Orchestra - October 11th, 1955 (Esquire EP85) (JMC28) Stan Palmer, Hank Shaw, Dave Usden, Jimmy Watson, (tp) Jack Botterill, Robin Kaye, Mac Minshull, Ken Wray (tb), Joe Harriott, Doug Robinson (as), Pete King, Ronnie Scott (ts), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Eric Peter (b), Phil Seamen (d). Bang*#/With Every Breath I Take*/A Night In Tunisia*#/The Big Fist*#. (*Giant Steps CD - Killer Joe: Birth Of A Legend) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") (#Proper Box 4CD set - The Joe Harriott Story) Big Bill Broonzy - October 26th, 1955, (Nixa NJ2016) Broonzy (g,vcl) acc by Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson (tp), Bruce Turner (as), Kenny Graham (as Fred Hartz) (ts), Benny Green (bs), Dill Jones (p), Jack Fallon (b), Phil Seamen (d). It Feels So Good/Southbound Train (two other tracks were rejected). Harry Klein Orchestra - November 28th, 1955 (Nixa NJE1009) (JMC29) Jimmy Watson (tp), Ken Wray, Keith Christie (tb), Jack Ellery (fl), Dougie Robinson (as), Harry Klein, Benny Green (bs), Derek Smith (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Jim Powell (tu), Allan Ganley (d). Big Ben/Nightwork. Kenny Baker and Friends - January 18th, 1956 (Nixa E501) Kenny Baker (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Bruce Turner (as,cl), Jimmy Skidmore (ts), Benny Green (as Fred Hartz) (bs), Dill Jones (p), Ike Isaacs (g), Martin Slavin (vib,xyl), Jack Fallon (b), Phil Seamen (d). Time's A Wastin'*/Three Little Words/Blues For John*. (*Castle 3 CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) Kenny Baker and Friends - January 18th, 1956 (Midnight at Nixa - Nixa NJL3) Bruce Turner, Bertie King (as), Benny Green (as Fred Hartz) (bs), Derek Smith (p), Franke Clarke (b), Phil Seamen (d). Tea For Two* (Baker out). (*Castle 3 CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) (*Vocalion CD - Midnight at Nixa & After Hours - A Session for Kicks) Josh White - January 30th, 1956, (In Memorium - Marble Arch MALS1208) Josh White (g,vcl) acc by Kenny Baker (tp), Bertie King (as), Fred Hartz (ts), Benny Green (bs), Jack Fallon (b), Phil Seamen (d). Kansas City Blues/I Had To Stoop To Conquer You (KB out), How Long, How Long Blues/Mint Julep. In 1956 Scott formed a variation of the nine-piece with Tony Crombie - though with ten members - and was recorded by Decca at the Royal Festival Hall Ronnie Scott/Tony Crombie Orchestra - February 18th, 1956 (Decca LF1261...10" LP) Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Kenny Graham (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Les Condon (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Stan Tracey (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d). Basie Talks*^/It Might As Well Be Spring*/Drop Me Off At Harlem*/Ting-A-Ling*/Straight Life*/Flying Home*. (^Fantastic Voyage 2 CD set - Ember Jazz - The Flamingo Connection) (*Acrobat 2 CD set - Soho Blues - The Ronnie Scott Anthology 1956-62) (*Real Gone Jazz CD - Tony Crombie: Seven Classic Albums plus bonus EP) (*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Scott: Six Classic Albums plus Bonus Singles) Kenny Baker and Friends - February 20th, 1956 (Midnight at Nixa - Nixa NJL3) Kenny Baker (tp), Benny Green (as Fred Hartz) (bs), Derek Smith (p), Frank Clarke (b), Phil Seamen (d). I Can't Give You Anything But Love (take 1)*/I Can't Give You Anything But Love (take 2)*. (*Vocalion CD - Midnight at Nixa & After Hours - A Session for Kicks) | |