Message Board 2008

Monday 25th May

MESSAGE FROM: Wolfgang Zinken, Troisdorf, Germany
Last weekend I visited the Cotton Club in Hamburg, where Ken played sometimes. On the pin-board there was a ticket “Ken Colyer Jazzmen and Skiffle Group. Auditorium Maximum, Hamburg - 21 0ctober 1969". Does anybody have a tape or cassette of this concert?
Editor's comment: If you do have a recording of this concert and are prepared to give a copy to Wolfgang, he can be contacted by email at wolfgang.zinken@bdo.de

Wednesday 22nd May

MESSAGE FROM: Vic Moont, Harrow
The Dixieland Country Show at Radio Northwick Park will be paying tribute To Ken Colyer next Thursday 29th May at 7.00pm. Would it be possible for a Trust official to join me on my show so that I can conduct an interview about the Trust?
Best Regards, Vic Moont, Programme Controller.
Radio Northwick Park.Org
Editor's Comment: I shall be with Vic on the 29th: went to Northwick Park with Bill Stotesbury to meet Vic some years back. Should be another memorable and pleasant experience.

Tuesday 21st May

MESSAGE FROM: Albert Webb, Brisbane, Australia
I was in the RAF stationed at Gibraltar 1953 to 1957. During that time Ken Colyer gave a performance in a hanger at North Front for service men and civilians.
There was dancing to his music and it was from then on I got to enjoy traditional jazz.
The way it echoed through that hanger, I have not heard anything like it since. If only someone had thought to record it, it would have made a mint.
Was anyone there now reading this letter? I would very much like to hear from them.
Regards.
Albert Webb
Editor's Comment: Don't know much about that event, Albert. If anyone can help, Albert can be contacted by e-mail awe83487@bigpond.net.au

Tuesday 22nd April

MESSAGE FROM: Laurie Fox, Billericay
I was very pleased with the Radio 3 Tribute which was extremely well presented and, as you so rightly said, far better than the previous "Lonnie Donegan Appreciation Society" programme, although it was lovely to hear Ken's name repeated.
The Concert on Sunday at the Arts Theatre was really, really good and my thanks and appreciation go to everyone involved with this production. I know that I will be one of many who send you their congratulations. Well done The Trust and to all those who work so hard for our enjoyment.

Monday 21st April

MESSAGE FROM: Alan Murray
Thanks for the info on Radio 3's Jazz Library. A fine programme with a wealth of music, but could be nothing less in the hands of Messrs. Shipton and Pointon. Superb Night in New Orleans too - The Legacy Band were certainly blowing well last night with some great guests, and all masterly held together by M. Pointon! A fitting tribute to 'The Master'.

Monday 21st April

MESSAGE FROM: Tony Crowe, Eltham
Thanks for letting us all know about the BBC broadcast on Friday night, a very enjoyable programme and a great tribute to Ken. I enjoyed the broadcast, the music was great and the presentation brought back fond memories of the 51 Club.

Sunday 20th April

MESSAGE FROM: Ted Cross, Broadstairs
Many thanks for your email about the Radio 3 Jazz Library programme. Had you not given me this advance information I would certainly have missed this excellent hour. It fulfilled your claim that it would be better than the earlier one by Billy Bragg (who does not seem to be able to speak the Queen's English properly). I taped the programme and am now listening to it again with pleasure. Apart from the music, I learned a great deal from the two speakers who talked quite naturally about Ken Colyer.

Saturday 19th April

MESSAGE FROM: Ian Larner, Carlisle
I enjoyed the Alyn Shipton/Mike Pointon "Jazz File" very much. It covered every part of KC's bandleading career and managed to produce quite a few new things (for me at any rate). Thanks again for telling me about it. Cheers

Saturday 19th April

MESSAGE FROM: Geoff Broom
Many thanks for letting me know about the Ken Colyer broadcast Fri. night. It was truly 1st class entertainment and so interesting. Alyn & Mike put it over so well and the selection of music was so typical and told a lovely story. I could have listened to another hour of that; when is the next one?.

Saturday 19th April

MESSAGE FROM: John Cockle, Yeovil
I listened to the Radio 3 programme and enjoyed its autobographical tone and illustrative choice of Ken's music. If I have a carp it was Shipton's dominance of the programme and his tiresome and, I thought, needless repetition of disc details. An aura of commerce hung over the show which Ken might not have approved of having failed to benefit greatly from when alive.

Saturday 19th April

MESSAGE FROM: Ron Plyer, Royston
Many thanks for advanced notice of Radio 3 programme. Well worth staying up for. So much better than the Billy Bragg effort.

Wednesday 16th April

MESSAGE FROM: Bernard King, Wigan
Only just discovered your site. I first saw Ken Colyer in the fifties here in Wigan in the old swimming baths. They laid a dance floor across the pool, God knows how they did it. But they were great times and I loved his style of playing.
I just wondered if you had heard of him playing here before.
Editors comment: Can't say that I have. If anyone out there knows, please pass on the information to us.

Wednesday 16th April

MESSAGE FROM: Bob Grange, Creaton, Northants, UK.
Drove in to work this morning listening to a CD of so called 'Classic' tracks by a number of Ken's contemporaries. Nothing like listening to the opposition to remind us just how good he was. Happy Birthday Ken!

Wednesday 19th March

MESSAGE FROM: Trevor Todd, Great Missenden, Bucks.
I did listen to the programme and found the early parts extremely interesting. The further you got into it though, the more I found it wandered off the right track.
I expect Ken would be spinning in his grave if he were thought to have influenced pop music!

Wednesday 12th March

Harry and Rachael Chant, Helston, Cornwall.
Re the recent broadcast. I listened but thought it was more about Lonnie than Ken! It's good to be reminded of their influence, though.

Monday 10th March

MESSAGE FROM: Robert Coward, London.
It was disappointing to read some of the messages re the radio programme. It was an interesting tribute to Ken's influences on contemporary music. He was never going to be mainstream and, as Billy Bragg said, he understood the roots. He knew. I think that the others were commenting about a hagiography not a contextual summary.

Sunday 9th March

MESSAGE FROM: Mac Robinson, Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, UK.
As I'd noted, the programme started well: pretty accurate and with some very good remarks included. It fell apart, of course, when it was claimed that the split with the Barber lot occurred because of disagreements between Ken and Lonnie concerning approaches to skiffle. This misleading assertion was just a ploy so that the rest of the programme could be turned into yet another diatribe about Donegan's influence on development of the British rock scene; not to mention the prominence given to the likes of Nancy Whisky who, on her own admission, hated skiffle (see McDevitt's Book).

It was noted, quite correctly, that Ken was trampled under-foot when the lesser lights rushed for fortune and glory on the skiffle ticket. Had the producer continued with Ken's story, it could have been shown that Ken was sidelined a second time when his approach to jazz was picked up and dismembered by so-called musicians who should have known better; as they once again rushed for a quick buck and chart success with their horrid trad boom (so called). Once again, it's a pity that a good opportunity to tell the truth was missed. Hopefully, Messrs. Shipton and Pointon can help set the record straight.
Editor's note: Mike Pointon and Alyn Shipton have made a soon to be broadcast programme about Ken Colyer. Watch-out for it.

Friday 7th March

MESSAGE FROM: Robert Coward, London.
Thanks for alerting me to the radio broadcast, which I have just managed to catch up with, on the internet. It was wonderful to hear a proper tribute to Ken’s influence and mirrors my first introduction to jazz at a Colyer gig at the Hot Club of London in 1955. Although my jazz interests now encompass Coltrane and Miles it is all down to Ken Colyer. As Billy Bragg said “Ken understood the roots. He knew.”

Thursday 6th March

MESSAGE FROM: Pete and Dot Hammersley, Tiptree, Essex, UK.
We did listen to the programme but were quite disapponted with it. Not overmuch concerning Ken and his music although there were some pertinent details. I do wish that when music tracks, or usually snippits of tracks, are broadcast that presenters would not talk over them though. I did make a couple of calls, and received a couple too, to let people know about the programme but the sentiments expressed by those I've spoken to since are much the same as mine. Still we shouldn't grumble should we? At least there is still some exposure of Ken, his music and his influence.

Thursday 6th March

MESSAGE FROM: Ted Cross, Broadstairs, Kent.
Many thanks for your email about the Radio 2 programme. Thanks to your help I was able to listen to it. It was not so interesting as the Radio 3 documentary broadcast some time ago. I was not impressed with the way Billy Bragg handled the topic: he was more interested in skiffle than in New Orleans jazz!

Wednesday 5th March

MESSAGE FROM: Robert Grange, Creaton, Northants, UK.
Well, what a cheek and what a disappointment!! Using Ken's name to sell Lonnie Donegan and Skiffle! Wouldn't have been so bad had Billy Bragg let us hear even one complete track of Ken's, (Jazz or Skiffle). I can see the logic. Ken's name has a gravitas and carries a respect that Lonnie threw away with 'My Old Man's a Dustman' and 'Does my Chewing Gum..........' but really!! The Trust should sue Bragg and the BBC for misrepresentation. What a wasted opportunity!

Wednesday 5th March

MESSAGE FROM: Mac Robinson, Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, UK.
Disappointing radio programme on Ken last evening. It started well but then degenerated into the usual diatribe on Donegan and his influence on the rock generation; turgid stuff!

February

MESSAGE FROM: Paul Rohde, Burgdorf, Hannover, Germany
Hallo. Ken died on 8th March 1988. Exactly 20 years later we have a workshop with Jochen Schwarmann in Burgdorf about Ken's life and music. We will show photos also of Ken's gig in Burgdorf on 11th November 1975. We will hear the very fine music of this great musician. We love him.

January

MESSAGE FROM: Bryan Scott, Baildon, West Yorkshire
Wonderful to recall memories of my teenage years. Ken was my favourite of many great bands at the time. Great memories of the band playing on Merseyside in the North West. I will buy some CDs in due course. So sad to read of Ken’s final years. R I P

January

MESSAGE FROM: Glen Page, Delta, Canada
Help please. Is “When Dreams etc.” going to be available in print again? This is something that I have to have. In the mean time I will read here but that is no substitute for the real thing.
Editor's Comment: We have no plans at the present to re-issue When Dreams Are In The Dust but are heavily involved in the production of a biography. Keep looking in the second-hand market, it does appear on eBay from time to time.

January

MESSAGE FROM: Joe Croll, Eastleigh, Hampshire, UK
I just would like to thank the Ken Colyer Trust for bringing the band to the Barton Peverill College on November 27th to give the musical students an afternoon tutorial followed by an evening concert which included the students. Joe Croll (Promoter of the New Yellow Dog Jazz Club)