The double bass players...

"Bass and guitar players have to play nonstop throughout a performance. The acoustic bass strings tear and rip at the player's fingers. The skin quickly hardens, but some players still suffer greatly with damaged fingertips. During a piece of music lasting an average of four minutes the bassist, playing four quarter notes to each bar, can play up to 400 finger strokes or more; at speed perhaps up to double that amount. Producing a sound on the bass entails pulling one of the highly tensioned strings back strongly and releasing it to form the note. This requires strength and skill. Before the advent of bass amplification the amount of power necessary to make the bass audible was considerable. The continuous plucking of strings, often accompanied by the unnatural posture necessary to reach the upper register, also causes spinal problems to the player. Add to this the truly awe-inspiring mental selection of chordal and passing tones he will make at speed from parts mostly consisting of chord symbols, and it is clear that the bassist is the most hard working member of any jazz orchestra." Ron Simmonds (trumpet player) Spike Heatley and Lennie Bush have individual web pages... Included below: Jack Fallon, Joe Muddel, Kenny Napper, Coleidge Goode, Jeff Clyne, Freddy Logan, Kenny Baldock, Tony Archer, John Hawksworth, Stan Wasser, Cliff Ball, Others...(Phil Bates, Pete Blannin, Malcolm Cecil, Spike Heatley). Jack Fallon Born in Canada in 1915, Jack Fallon came to London with the Canadian air force in 1946 and played for Ted Heath's band for six months. His modern style bass playing attracted a lot of attention and he became much in demand when bebop took off in London playing with all the pioneers. He played on the first studio recording by Carlo Krahmer's Esquire record label in 1948. He was in demand for tours by Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Sarah Vaughan and others. He recorded with the top British jazz talent but in 1952 formed his successful Cana Agency booking British bands and other show biz talent. He broadcast as a country and western violinist with Johnny Duncan as well as free lancing with jazz groups, all while running his agency. He was still recording in the 1980s. For details of his extensive recording career see the following discographies: Ronnie Scott, Johnny Dankworth, Tommy Pollard, Victor Feldman, Dizzy Reece, Don Rendell, Ronnie Ross, Joe Harriott, Tubby Hayes, Tony Crombie, Jimmy Skidmore, Tito Burns, Eddie Thompson, Norman Burns, Jack Parnell, Keith Christie, Leon Calvert, . Joe Muddel (Mudele) Born in London in 1920 Joe Muddel was an original Club Eleven bass player. He began playing at seventeen years of age but his musical career was interrupted by war service in the RAF. He played with Tito Burns in 1947 before Club Eleven in 1948. Then in 1950 became a founder member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven. Worked with various groups in the early 1950s before forming his own band in 1952 before long spells with Tommy Whittle and Tony Kinsey in the mid 1950s. He than became, for over thirty years, a prolific free-lance session musician with TV, radio and studio work. His technique was immaculate and his intonation flawless, but like many great musicians, he was never entirely satisfied with his playing. Unlike some of his contempories he never gave up on jazz and for years was the presiding figure at Bexley Jazz Club. He died in March, 2014 at the age of 93. see also the following discographies: Ronnie Scott, Johnny Dankworth, Tommy Pollard, Don Rendell, Jimmy Deuchar, Tommy Whitttle, Harry Klein, Hank Shaw, Jimmy Skidmore, Victor Feldman, Vic Ash, Tito Burns, Kenny Graham, Kenny Baker, Keith Christie, Eddie Harvey, Bill Le Sage, others. ...back Kenny Napper Born in 1933, Kenny served in the Army and after demobilization worked with Jack Parnell (1953-54), after which he freelanced extensively through the 1950s with the top names of British modern jazz including Ronnie Scott, Don Rendell, Alan Clare, Stan Tracey, Tubby Hayes, Tony Kinsey and Tony Crombie. From March 1960 to January 1962 he was with the Ronnie Scott - Jimmy Deuchar Quintet. Susequently with Johnny Dankworth and Ted Heath in 1965. After this he again worked with Dankworth (1967) and Stan Tracey (1966). Through the 1960s he also worked successfully as arranger and composer writing for films, television and radio. In the early 1970s he worked in Germany and Holland as composer and arranger. For details of his recording career see the following discographies: Ronnie Scott, Victor Feldman, Don Rendell, Jimmy Deuchar, Ronnie Ross, Harry Klein, Derek Humble, Stan Tracey, Tubby Hayes, Les Condon, Tony Crombie, Tony Kinsey, Jack Parnell, Bill Le Sage, Leon Calvert, Bert Courtley, Eddie Harvey, Others. ...back Coleridge Goode born into a musical family in Jamaica Coleridge Goode came to Glasgow University in 1934 to study electrical engineering. He joined the University orchestra playing violin but began to collect records by Count Basie and Duke Ellington and was smitten with the jazz bug. He started with the double bass on a few local gigs and in 1941 came to London. His first jobs were with Dick Katz and Johnny Claes and from 1942 he was with the Eric Winstone showband, touring the country and making his first records, until in 1944 he joined the Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson all coloured band. By 1946 he was also broadcasting with George Shearing, Stephane Grapelli and Django Reinhardt and became a member of the Ray Ellington Quartet. Work followed with the Tito Burns Sextet in 1953 and in 1954 he met Joe Harriott and began a long association that lasted through to the late 1960s. Through the 1970s he had a long spell, (ten years or so), with his quartet at Churchill's Hotel. He continued to play well into his 90s and passed the age of 100 in 2014 and died on 2nd October, 2015 a few months after the death of his wife. In 2002 he wrote his autobiography Bass Lines, A Life In Jazz. see also the following discographies: Joe Harriott, Tito Burns, Black British swing bands ...back Jeff Clyne Jeff Clyne was born in London in 1937 and during Army service in 1955/7 played alongside Alan Branscombe in the Third Hussars Band. After demobilization worked with Stan Tracey and Tony Crombie before eventually joining the Jazz Couriers with Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes in late 1958 where he stayed until May 1959. Then toured US bases in France with Bobby Wellins returning to the UK to work with Vic Ash in 1959 before a longer stay with the Tubby Hayes Quartet from 1959 to 1961, subsequently working with Hayes on and off through the 1960s. Other jazz work included Terry Shannon Trio in 1962, Tony Kinsey Trio in 1963 and from 1965 Gordon Beck's trio. He was a house musician at Ronnie Scott's club from 1966 often as part of Stan Tracey's group. During the late 1960s, among other jazz names he worked with the Don Rendell - Ian Carr Quintet and many other names from the jazz avant garde as well as accompanying many visiting US musicians. During the 1980s and 1990s he worked with singers Annie Ross and Norma Winstone as well us undertaking extensive freelance work. Prominent in jazz education he taught at the Guildhall School and The Royal Academy. He continued to play until his death from a heart attack in November 2009 at the age of 72. see also the following discographies: Tubby Hayes, Stan Tracey, Gordon Beck, Harold McNair. ...back Freddy Logan Freddy Logan was born in Holland c1930 and after touring Europe came to London in the mid 1950s where he recorded with Kenny Graham in 1954 and Harry Klein and Derek Smith in 1954/5. He left for Australia in 1955 and was quickly acknowledged as the best in the country. In 1960 he formed the highly acclaimed "The 3-Out" trio with Mike Nock and Chris Karan. In 1964 he returned to London and with his fantastic technique and huge sound quickly became Tubby Hayes bass player of choice, working with Tubby's big band and quintet until 1965. He recorded with other bands but disappeared from the London jazz scene after 1966. "The 3-Out" trio made two LPs in Australia and Logan is heavily featured. Freddy died in May, 2003 following a long battle with cancer. James Gaunt has written an article about Freddy available to read here... The 3-Out - September 28th, 1960, Sydney, Aust - (Move - Columbia 33OSX 7639 (Aust) Mike Nock (p), Freddy Logan (b), Chris Karan (d). Autumn In New York/Softly As In A Morning Sunrise/Squeeze Me/Primitive/Freshwater. October 14th, 1960, Sydney, Aust - (Move - Columbia 33OSX 7639 (Aust) Personnel as September 28th. Little Niles/If I Were A Bell/Way Back/Move. The 3-Out + others - May 2nd, 3rd and 10th, 1961, Sydney, Aust - (Sittin'In - Columbia 33OSX 7650 (Aust) Mike Nock (p), Freddy Logan (b), Chris Karan (d) + Ron Falson (tp-1), Colin Jones (tp-1), Don Burrows (as,bs-1), Errol Buddle (ts-1). I Love You/New Jade/Autumn Leaves/Night In Tunisia/The Lady Is A Tramp/Sittin' In Blues(1)/Dizzy Pipe(1)/Loganberries(1)/Nock Out(1). see also the following discographies: Kenny Graham, Derek Smith, Johnny Keating and Vic Lewis ...back Kenny Baldock Kenny Baldock was born in Chiswick, London in 1931 and started playing piano at the age of six. After service in Canada with the RAF he studied piano and double bass at the Guildhall School of Music in London. After work in France and Germany he returned to London and began to specialize on the bass. In the early 1960s he toured Europe with singer Rosemary Clooney. After TV and club work he began to freelance and worked with top jazzmen such as Bill Le Sage in 1965, then Pat Smythe, Brian Lemon and Alan Branscombe. In the mid '60s he toured with Dakota Staton and gigged with the likes of Vic Ash, Tony Kinsey, Stan Tracey, Gordon Beck, Phil Seamen, etc. In 1965 he began a long association with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, toured with Ronnie Scott and began a long period working at Ronnie Scott's club. Continued to work with prominent jazz groups such as the Danny Moss Quartet, Bob Burns / Kathy Stobart, Colin Purbrook and Brian Lemon. In the early 1970s he again worked with Stan Tracey and accompanied many visiting US artistes including Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, Al Haig, Blossom Dearie, Ernestine Anderson, etc.From February, 1975 until December, 1976 he was in the Ronnie Scott Quartet and also worked on the Oscar Peterson Trio for two TV series. He led his own band in the late 1970s and worked regularly with Bobby Wellins from 1981 until 1986. He died of cancer on March 22nd, 2010. Kenny Baldock himself, (via e-mail), added the following comments: "I have worked for BBC radio and TV with Phil Seaman during the 1960s and on tour with Dick Morissey Quartet, Radio and TV with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine for many years, similarly with Ronnie Scott, also with a galaxy of visiting American Jazz musicians and singers at Ronnie Scotts Club plus touring and recording. I was with the Oscar Peterson trio in the late 1970s for two BBC TV Series and I also worked at various Jazz venues for four evenings each week for the last five years of Phil Seaman's life until his untimely death in 1972. The four decades I worked at Ronnie Scotts ended in 2003, but 'Ken Baldock Quintet' with Henry Lowther (tpt), Stan Sulzmann (tnr sax), John Critchinson (pno), Martin Drew (drums) and myself playing double bass, will appear at the Ealing Jazz Festival on Sunday 2 August 2009 commencing 2.00pm - 3.15pm." see also the following discographies: Peter King, Bobby Wellins, Gordon Beck, Phil Seamen. ...back Tony Archer Tony Archer was born in Dulwich, London in 1938 and in the early 1960s worked with prominent jazz musicians including Stu Hamer, Harold McNair, Bobby Wellins-Ken Wray Quintet and Peter King. In the mid 1960s he worked with Don Rendell, Eddie Thompson and Dick Morrissey and through the 1970s onward he was regularly with pianist Tony Lee notably at the Bull's Head in Barnes. He said of Lee: "we worked together for 40 years and he had a fantastic musical ear... he never played like Erroll Garner just for effect. He just loved that style and was one of the few who could do it properly, in fact he was so good you could hardly tell the difference. When Tony played you never lost sight of the melody..." His first recording was in 1961 with the New Don Rendell Quintet that contained Graham Bond and John Burch. From 1968 to 1979 he made several albums with the Tony Lee Trio in various guises. Other major recording dates were with Eddie thompson (1970), Tommy Whittle (1977) and Dick Morrissey (1988/9). From the 1980s to the present Archer has freelanced regularly. ...back John Hawksworth John Hawksworth was born in London in 1924 and studied piano at school. After service in the RAF where he played bass with Buddy Featherstonhaugh in an RAF band he joined the same leader after demobilization at the Gargoyle Club in London in 1947. After brief spells with Tommy Sampson, Joe Saye and Tito Burns he joined Ted Heath in 1951 where he remained until 1965 with some freelancing when possible. He led his own sextet for a while in 1964 before becoming musical director for Thames Television and had some success as a composer. He continued to freelance on bass through the early 1970s before settling in Sydney, Australia where he freelanced, often playing piano, during the 1990s. During his career he played with many of the top names in British jazz and recorded under many leaders, and was frequently featured in recordings with Ted Heath. Hawksworth-Verrell Jazz Group - November 18th, 1955 (Decca FJ10663) Eddie Blair (tp), Don Rendell (ts), Frank Horrox (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Get Happy/Always (unissued)/Ring Dem Bells (unissued)/RJ Boogie. Hawksworth-Verrell Jazz Group - March 5th, 1956 (Decca FJ10726) Eddie Blair (tp), Don Rendell (ts), Bill Le Sage (p,bells), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Always/Ring Dem Bells. Johnny Hawksworth Trio - May, 1963 (Accustomed To My Bass - Columbia 33SX1654) Dill Jones (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Terry Cox (d). Invention A/You took Advantage Of Me/Just Squeeze Me/Boeing 707/Two Sleepy People (tc out)/Invention B. Johnny Hawksworth Trio - May, 1963 (Accustomed To My Bass - Columbia 33SX1654) Stan Tracey (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d). Time Was/Sounds Like That/Music To Kiss By. Johnny Hawksworth Trio - May, 1963 (Accustomed To My Bass - Columbia 33SX1654) Tommy Whittle-1, Bob Efford-2 (ts),Bill Le Sage (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Misty/My Mother's Eyes-1/It's You Or No One-2. Johnny Hawksworth Quartet - February, 1968 (Johnny Hawksworth Quartet - RCA RD(SF)7953) Tony Coe (cl), Jim Lawless (vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Terry Cox (d). Dawn Chorus/Before The Streets Are Aired/English Breakfast/Get Me To The Office On Time/The Trivial Round, The Common Task/Coffee Break/Sunlight-A View Of The Park/Lunchtime Bustle/Siesta/Goin' Home/Best Bib And Tucker/Table Talk/Thinking Back/Night. ...back Stan Wasser Stan Wasser was born in London in 1928 and studied at Guildhall School of Music. In the early 1950s he worked with Kenny Graham and Harry Klein and through the rest of the decade got to work with many jazz names: Cab Kaye, Norman Burns, Tony Kinsey, Tito Burns, Vic Lewis, Phil Seamen (1957), Dizzy Reece, Vic Ash and the Ronnie Ross / Allan Ganley Jazzmakers (September 1958 to January 1960 including a tour to USA). He made a number of records during the 1950s all of which are detailed under the band leader names on other pages of this website, notably Kenny Graham (1952), Tommy Whittle / Tony Kinsey (1953), Tito Burns (1954), Vic Lewis (1954), Phil Seamen (1956), Allan Ganley / Ronnie Ross (1958). He died in London in April 1961 at the early age of 32, an unexplained death, when his body was found in a gas filled room. (The picture is of the Jazzmakers in 1958. Stan Wasser is back row right.) ...back Cliff Ball (The photo of Cliff Ball is part of the personal collection of William Morrison, nephew of Cliff and it shows Cliff with Kenny Graham and was taken during Cliff's time with Graham's Afro-Cubists in 1951) Cliff Ball, son of bass player Dick Ball, was born in Fulham in January, 1927. Originally taught by his father he played double bass and bass trombone for the Royal Ordnance Band during Army service. Leaving the Army in 1948 he gigged in south London and briefly had his own band before joining the innovative Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists in 1951. He recorded on two dates with the Afro-Cubists and was regarded as a star of the future when he was selected to record with The Melody Maker New Stars in 1952. Work followed with the dance bands of Johnnie Gray and Oscar Rabin and in 1953/4 he was with the Kenny Baker Quartet, a group that included a young Stan Tracey playing piano. He also recorded with this group, but this seems to be his final jazz recording. Freelance work followed before he joined Johnny Wiltshire and the Trebletones but he eventually gave up full time playing to work in his father's news agency business, although he continued to play double bass and bass-guitar with various groups in the Folkestone and Dover area. He died in October, 2003. His recorded legacy is small although these records were all made with top musicians of the day. All are long deleted. Full details are given below: Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - February 10th, 1951 (Esquire) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Jack Honeybourne (p), Roy Plummer (g), Cliff Ball (b), Dickie Devere (d) + maracas, conga and bongo. Mango Walk*#/Pina Colada*#. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (#Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s) Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists - June 4th, 1951 (Esquire) Jo Hunter (tp), Kenny Graham (ts), Ralph Dollimore (p), Roy Plummer (g), Cliff Ball (b), Dickie Devere (d) + maracas & conga. Chloe*/Over The Rainbow*/Skylon*/Dome Of Discovery*. (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) the Melody Maker's New Stars were the choice of the Melody Maker critics and columnists who conducted their own poll of what could be described as 'up and coming talent'. Jimmy Walker later became involved with the 'Polka Dots' vocal group and Geoff Taylor drifted out of jazz when he adopted an 'Earl Bostic' style that for a while brought him some success. The others continued in the jazz world... Melody Maker's New Stars - May 8th, 1952 (Esquire 10-234/237) Ken Wray (tb), Vic Ash (cl), Geoff Taylor (as), Jimmy Walker (ts), Ralph Dollimore (p), Cliff Ball (b), Don Lawson (d). Searchlight/The Fifth Man*/Mike's Choice*/St. Maurice. (*Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s) Kenny Baker Quartet - October 15th, 1953 (Parlophone GEP8658) Kenny Baker (tp), Stan Tracey (p), Cliff Ball (b), Don Lawson (d). Hayfoot Strawfoot/That's My Desire/The Continental/Stompin' At the Savoy. Cliff's father Dick was a renowned bass player from an earlier era and worked with the legendary Ambrose Orchestra. An excellent website details Dick's career and family in some detail: www.jabw.demon.co.uk/ball1.htm ...back More bass players...

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