{"id":505,"date":"2014-03-19T13:04:28","date_gmt":"2014-03-19T13:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/?page_id=505"},"modified":"2015-08-10T21:14:39","modified_gmt":"2015-08-10T21:14:39","slug":"laurie-chescoes-reunion-jazz-band","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/?page_id=505","title":{"rendered":"Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Reunion Band"},"content":{"rendered":"

Further Update 21st<\/sup> March 2014<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

We published this write-up here back in 2012.\u00a0 It needs more updating, to which I shall return.<\/p>\n

Update 20th<\/sup> April 2012<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

On Friday, 20th April 2012<\/b>, we certainly have a treat in store for you in the shape of \u2018Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Reunion Band\u2019<\/b>.\u00a0 The band obviously has Laurie <\/b>on drums, with Lord Arsenal<\/b> on trumpet, Duncan Hemstock<\/b> on reeds, Dave Hewitt<\/b> on trombone, Colin Bray<\/b> on piano, Jim Douglas<\/b> on banjo and Peter Skivington<\/b> on bass.\u00a0 What a line-up!\u00a0 They will definitely \u2018bring the house down\u2019, so you really cannot miss it!\u00a0 I\u2019m sure we will be packed to the gunnels, because \u2018jazzers\u2019 will know a great line-up when they see one.\u00a0 So don\u2019t be late.<\/p>\n

2010<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

On tour and with us here at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on Friday, 17 September 2010<\/b><\/p>\n

Rest of tour:<\/b><\/p>\n

PRE-TOUR TASTERS<\/b><\/p>\n

May 28th<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Corn Exchange, Bury St Edmunds Festival, 1-2.00pm<\/p>\n

July 18th<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Swanage Jazz Festival, 8.30pm \u2013 11pm<\/p>\n

August 1st<\/sup> & 2nd<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Edinburgh Jazz Festival<\/p>\n

TOUR\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n

15th<\/sup> – 26th<\/sup> September 2010<\/b><\/p>\n

Wednesday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15th<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 100 Club<\/p>\n

Thursday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16th<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lains Barn, Wantage<\/p>\n

Friday\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17th<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB, Kent<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday 19th<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Erith & Belvedere Jazz Club – lunchtime<\/p>\n

Sunday 19th<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Colchester Jazz Club – evening<\/p>\n

Monday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20th<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Southend Jazz Club<\/p>\n

Tuesday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 21st<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 22nd<\/sup> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Concorde Club, Eastleigh<\/p>\n

Thursday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23rd<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Electric Palace, Harwich<\/p>\n

Friday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24th<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Runnymede Jazz Club, Chertsey \u2013 evening<\/p>\n

Saturday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25th<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Boston Spa Jazz club,<\/p>\n

Sunday 26th<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Roade Jazz Club \u2013 lunchtime * finale end of tour<\/p>\n

Laurie Chescoe \u2013 leader\/drummer;<\/b><\/p>\n

Laurie started his professional career back in 1957, playing with the \u2018Teddy Layton Band\u2019.\u00a0 In the same band was Pete Strange (Humphrey Littleton\u2019s trombonist)\u00a0who was one of this country\u2019s finest players.\u00a0 Laurie then joined Monty Sunshine\u2019s first band staying for four years.\u00a0 From Monty, he went to \u2018Dick Charlesworth\u2019s Big Blues Band with blues singer, Bobby Breen.\u00a0 He left Dick to join \u2018Bruce Turner\u2019s Jump Band\u2019, appearing at the Edinburgh Festival and Antibes Jazz Festival with Bruce.\u00a0 He had a long stint with Bob Wallis.\u00a0 Then followed a short time with George Webb\u2019s re-formed Dixielanders, after which he became the founder member of \u2018The Midnite Follies Orchestra\u2019.\u00a0 Laurie was also a member of \u2018The Alan Elsdon Band\u2019, several of whom (including Alan) were also in the Follies.\u00a0 Laurie has since toured with Wild Bill Davison, Ruby Braff and Yank Lawson.\u00a0 He has worked with Buddy Tate, Benny Waters, Al Casey, Ralph Sutton, Warren Vach\u00e9 and many other visiting American stars.\u00a0 He joined \u2018The Alex Welsh Band\u2019 in 1979 and worked in Alex\u2019s band for the last two years of it existing, right up to Alex\u2019s untimely death.\u00a0 Laurie has never stopped playing, being in several of Keith Nichols\u2019 groups, \u2018The Alex Welsh Reunion Band\u2019, \u2018Phil Mason\u2019s All Stars\u2019, as well as leading his own band, \u2018The Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Good Time Band.\u00a0 Laurie always has that wonderful smiley face (like Keith – reminding me of the fabulous Gene Krupa grin).\u00a0 The musicians who are playing with Laurie on 17th<\/sup> September are so akin with who they have played with, it makes your mind boggle:<\/p>\n

Allan<\/b> Bradley\u00a0<\/b>(Lord Arsenal) – trumpet<\/b><\/p>\n

Allan was born in London and grew up in Kent, where he began his jazz career playing piano in the \u2018Medway Delta Jazz Band’.\u00a0 After moving to Norfolk, Allan played for some time with the \u2018Kenny Ball Jazz Band\u2019.\u00a0 He then formed his own band, known as \u2018Lord Arsenal\u2019s All Stars\u2019, which became very popular in the seventies.\u00a0 Allan\u2019s musical pedigree developed thereafter, with stints in the bands of Cy Laurie, Max Collie and Ken Colyer, amongst others.\u00a0 Allan has proved himself to be an accomplished accompanist, appearing with such great entertainers, as the Professors Jimmy Edwards and Stanley Unwin, Jim Bowen, George Chisholm and Clinton Edwards.\u00a0 Allan joined \u2018Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Good Time Jazz\u2019 in 1992 but left in 2000 to pursue his dream of playing trumpet.\u00a0 Now he is back with the \u2018Good Time Jazz Reunion Band, playing and fronting the band in his own inimitable fashion.<\/p>\n

Dave Hewitt \u2013 trombone, cornet & baritone horn;<\/b><\/p>\n

Dave started playing in brass bands when he was 12 years old.\u00a0 After hearing his first jazz record when he was 14, he immediately searched for and found a local semi-pro jazz band, which he could and did join.\u00a0 He turned professional in the \u2018trad boom\u2019 days with the \u2018London City Stompers\u2019, playing cornet.\u00a0 This band later became \u2018Max Collie\u2019s Jazz Aces\u2019.\u00a0 After leaving the \u2018London City\u2019, he joined \u2018Mike Daniels Big Band\u2019 and gigged with \u2018Kenny Ball\u2019s Band\u2019, \u2018Monty Sunshine\u2019s Band\u2019 and many others, finally joining \u2018Freddy Randall\u2019s All Star Band\u2019 in 1972.\u00a0 This was possibly Freddy\u2019s finest band, including (as it did at that time), both Dave Shepherd and Danny Moss.\u00a0 A high spot for this band and Dave too, was the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1974, when Stephen Grappelli, Barney Kessel and Teddy Wilson were all guests with the band.\u00a0 Dave spent many years with \u2018The Alan Elsdon Band\u2019, joining when Pete Strange left to join Humphrey Lyttleton.\u00a0 He was also used in the \u2018Pizza Express All Stars\u2019 as a regular dep for Roy Williams, whenever the occasion arose.\u00a0 Other bands include \u2018Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Good Time Band\u2019 and \u2018Keith Smith\u2019s Hefty Jazz\u2019.\u00a0 Dave was also on tour for three years in the show \u201cBasin Street to Broadway\u201d, starring Georgie Fame.\u00a0 He has played with many famous musicians, such as Wild Bill Davison, Peanuts Hucko and Kenny Davern.\u00a0 Dave\u2019s favourite jazz is in the Chicago New York style of Cutshall, McGarity, Teagarden etc.\u00a0 His superb baritone horn playing is reminiscent of Dick Cary\u2019s alto horn on some of the Edie Condon records, whilst his ensembles trombone playing is a joy to hear. He eats, sleeps and lives his jazz!<\/p>\n

Ron Drake \u2013 tenor sax\/clarinet<\/b><\/p>\n

Ron began playing clarinet at the age of eleven, taking up saxophone six years later.\u00a0 He spent three years with the \u2018Yorkshire Jazz Band\u2019, before moving to London to join the \u2018Alan Elsdon Band\u2019, along with Campbell Burnap.\u00a0 He was with Alan for ten years, until 1987.\u00a0 In the eighties and nineties, he freelanced with various bands, including \u2018Keith Smith\u2019s Hefty Jazz\u2019, \u2018Bob Bates Band\u2019.\u00a0 He was also with Campbell\u2019s Burnap\u2019s Band\u2019 and they produced a record together, remaining good friends until Campbell\u2019s death.\u00a0 He depped in \u2018Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Good Time Band\u2019, plus depped many times over the years with \u2018The Alex Welsh Band\u2019.\u00a0 Ron was also in the \u2018100 Club All Stars Band\u2019.\u00a0 He toured with the great George Chisholm, played at the Eddie Condon club in New York and was also a regular performer with Georgia Fame, Scott Hamilton and Elaine Delmar.<\/p>\n

Colin Bray \u2013 pianist<\/b><\/p>\n

When we first met Colin, he was playing a soprano sax (I think it was soprano, might have been alto).\u00a0 He was running his own band, \u2018The Colin Bray Jazz Band\u2019.\u00a0 It must have been about 20 years ago, when we ran the club at The Badgers Mount Hotel.\u00a0 We called him \u2018the singing raincoat\u2019, because he always wore a shabby old raincoat (his trademark).\u00a0 I remember when he arrived at the club; he waltzed straight past me and onto the stage.\u00a0 I thought he might be a weirdo, thinking I was in for some bother to deal with.\u00a0 I approached him and said the stage was for band members and he gently replied that he was with the band (he didn\u2019t even say he was the band leader!).\u00a0 He then produced this tiny sax and when he played it, oh wow – what a fantastic sax player.\u00a0 Now he is playing piano and by all accounts, he plays it wonderfully.\u00a0 How amazing that so many musicians can bounce into playing any instrument.\u00a0 When we see him on Friday, I shall hopefully be able to obtain more about his career.\u00a0 However, most greats do not brag about themselves, so might have a hard time obtaining any info.<\/p>\n

Pete Skivington \u2013 bass guitar<\/b><\/p>\n

Pete played guitar from the age of eighteen until switching to bass guitar in 1963, to join a commercial band playing everything from pop to blues.\u00a0 Always a jazz lover, Pete got his first opportunity to play the music he loves with the \u2018Stan Greig Trio\u2019 in 1970.\u00a0 Pete stayed with Stan (who became pianist in Humphrey Lyttleton\u2019s great band) until joining Terry Lightfoot in 1972.\u00a0 Pete joined Alex Welsh in 1974 and stayed with Alex until Alex\u2019s death in 1982.<\/p>\n

Since 1982, Pete has worked with \u2018Five-A-Slide\u2019, Stan Greig\u2019s Boogie Band, and touring with American musicians, both here and abroad.\u00a0 Pete has played Nice Festival with Vick Dickinson, Pee Wee Irvin and Johnny Mince, The North Sea Festival and Breda Festivals with Bud Freeman and Ruby Braff.<\/p>\n

Pete is the only electric bass player who has played with Yank Lawson (used to Bobby Haggart\u2019s fine playing) and Kenny Davern (whose dislike of electric sounds is well known) and then to have been invited back to work again with these great players.\u00a0 Pete\u2019s sound is unique.<\/p>\n

Tony Pitt \u2013 banjo\/guitar<\/b><\/p>\n

The number of good guitarists who play rhythm as well as solo guitar is small and the number who also play banjo is smaller.\u00a0 The number who do both well in the UK, is very limited.\u00a0 Tony Pitt is one of the top three.\u00a0 Tony has been a long serving member of at least three of England\u2019s top bands, playing for many years in \u2018Alex Welsh\u2019s Band\u2019, followed by years in \u2018Acker Bilk\u2019s Band\u2019, and then by two stints with the \u2018Kenny Ball Band\u2019. Tony is a real swinging player on both instruments and his playing knits the rhythm section together superbly.\u00a0 Tony has also played with the \u2018Alan Elsdon Band\u2019, \u2018Terry Lightfoot\u2019s Band\u2019 Stan Greigs Boogie Band\u2019 and the \u2018M4 Band\u2019 (a band of ex-Acker sidemen).\u00a0 He Tony is no musical snob and his love of music is wide ranging, but his particular feel for the blues is evident in his playing.\u00a0 Tony has toured widely, playing at all the major jazz festivals all over the world.\u00a0 He has also done countless TV and radio sessions.\u00a0 He first appeared here at Farnborough when he was with \u2018Phil Mason\u2019s All Stars\u2019 and again more recently\u00a0on 16th July 2010, with his own band, ‘Tony Pitt\u2019s All Stars’ (see his own write-up in his band page).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Further Update 21st March 2014 We published this write-up here back in 2012.\u00a0 It needs more updating, to which I shall return. Update 20th April 2012 On Friday, 20th April 2012, we certainly have a treat in store for you in the shape of \u2018Laurie Chescoe\u2019s Reunion Band\u2019.\u00a0 The band obviously has Laurie on drums, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":270,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-505","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=505"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2204,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/505\/revisions\/2204"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farnboroughjazz.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}