Any Jazz fans left in Sheffield?

[jubs 10]

hi texas i am doing a bit of research on behalf of my cousin who lives in australia. she came across an article you and fleetwood were having back in 2010 about a ron wooding. My cousins dad was of this name and he was my uncle. you mention he was a fantastic dancer and dresser always in fashion and you were wondering what has happened to him. also later on you and jazzman were discussing a jazzband called the rotherham jazz hounds who played at the cross keys in rotherham,and they were led by a duncon banentyne who was a top doctor, well my uncle ron was in this band as he was a great fan of jazz, he played the drums. now my cousin is in a bit of shock to be reading this article of yours because uncle ron passed away some years ago in australia. they emigrated out there in the early to mid 60s . she would love for me to get more info of her dad as i am going out to see her in january 2014. do you think it could be the same person we are talking about, i do have photos of my uncle ron when he was in the band and when he was dressed up for his nights out. my mum also said that he was always a snappy dresser and loved his jazz music. could you please let me know if you think it is the same ron wooding we are both talking about. many thanks jean

 

---------- Post added 09-11-2013 at 09:49 ----------

 

Hi Boofie

As I am one of the last of the Stompers, I can tell you that as far as I can remember.we made two recordings. Both were made at Curtis Studio on London Rd. There may be somebody who taped us but I think that is highly unlikely.

Who are you?

 

hi jazzman, i am trying to find out more about my uncle who was in a jazzband called the Rotherham jazz hounds i think from the late 50s early 60s. his name was Ron wooding and i know that a Dr banatyne was also in the band. i have got this infomation from my mum, i also have had a message from my cousin in australia who has found a blogg on the sheffield forum about a Ron Wooding by a fleetwood and a texas discussing how he was a great dancer and a very sharp dresser. i have sent both these people a message and as you have mentioned the rotherham jazz hounds i felt i needed to contact you also. if you have any more info i would be very greatfull as my cousin is so excited to find out if this is indeed her late father. many thanks jean[color="Silver

Report Post Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote Multi-Quote This Message Quick reply to this message

Edited November 9, 2013 by jubs

[fleetwood 10]

Hi jubs - I'm sure you have made 'Texas' and myself very proud by reading our meanderings down memory lane on the 'jazz' and the 'Ron Wooding' threads. I have some information from 'hillsbro' given to me a couple of years ago, which naturally I have misplaced, somehow I don't think we are talking about the same person but I could be wrong. I am going to gather my thoughts together and do some hunting and will reply on the 'Wooding' thread in due course, maybe we will all find something new out and be surprised. fleetwood

[jubs 10]

Hi jubs - I'm sure you have made 'Texas' and myself very proud by reading our meanderings down memory lane on the 'jazz' and the 'Ron Wooding' threads. I have some information from 'hillsbro' given to me a couple of years ago, which naturally I have misplaced, somehow I don't think we are talking about the same person but I could be wrong. I am going to gather my thoughts together and do some hunting and will reply on the 'Wooding' thread in due course, maybe we will all find something new out and be surprised. fleetwood

 

Thanks ever so much for getting back to me about Ron wooding I do hope it is the very same person . it would mean so much to my cousin and also myself if it was. I would be very greatful to you for anything you can find out for me, as I say he was in the Rotherham jazz hounds band back in the 50s/60s as my mum has confirmed to me. jean

[Texas 10]

Hello jubs. First I'm going to say I'm with Fleetwood on the subject of Ron Wooding being a relation, simply by the fact that the Ron Wooding of Fleetwood's and my own acquaintance was a 'bopper'. That is to say that back in the days we were relating to there were two schools of jazz fans, traditional and modern and the Ron Wooding I knew was very definitely of the latter school of fan. But on saying that, it was quite possible he was a 'closet' fan of the older type of jazz. I know I was, but I never admitted it.

[jubs 10]

Thank you so much for getting back to me about this subject I do appreciate it .I will still try and get some info about my uncle as I know someone somewhere will be able to tell me about my uncle rons early days in the jazz band thank you again. Jean

[Jazzman 10]

Many years ago Radio Sheffield had a jazz programme one night a week during which Dave Brennan who ran the show, interviewed some of the musicians who played in Sheffield at that time. After much searching I found amongst my tapes an interview with Phil Wade who was the drummer with the Jazz Hounds. He tells of the Rotherham Jazz Hounds starting to play at the Cross Keys in 1949 In that year a group of chaps got together at the home of Duncan Ballantyne to play for their own amazement. Within a short time they had moved to the Cross Keys and before you knew it the place was heaving. I do seem to think that I heard that the band started before the war but I cannot find any proof of that. In 1949 the band members were Duncan clt, Colin Marner tpt, Kenny Blakemore tmbn, Don Waterhouse pno, Mat Hoople bnjo, Ellis Devine tuba Phil Wade drums. The band did have changes as time went by. Andy Walker, Mal Bramley,Tiny Smith, Dave Howitt came in as others left.

I hope that this recollection might help in your search.

[jubs 10]

hi jazzman

thankyou for getting back about the subject of the Rotherham jazz hounds, my uncle according to my mum played in the band as a drummer along with her doctor at the time doctor ballantyne. she says she used to go dancing when the band played at the cross keys and also baths hall in Rotherham. mum says that it would be in the 50s when uncle ron played in the band. he emigrated to Australia in the early 60s where he died young at the age of 56yrs. it would be great if you know any more about this as I am going to visit my cousin (rons daughter) in January and she is desperate to know more about her fathers days in the band. yours greatfully jean

[Texas 10]

Back again to the obituaries. I see that Stan Tracy has gone. I only found out a couple of days ago. The press seems to have overlooked the fact, or at least, I never saw a report of his demise. His 'Under Milk Wood Suite', I think, was his greatest contribution to jazz. I remember reading a revue of the album many years ago, and going to Sheffield Central Library to find out who Dylan Thomas was. So you see, the guy was inspirational. Then coming down the years, and getting the wherewithal together, I bought the album. I play it a lot. I remember seeing Bobby Wellins playing in a club one night in Nottingham, but he didn't have the same sound then as he has on the 'Under Milk Wood Suite' album. That haunting quality. Always a listenable piano man was Stan, influenced by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. I like to listen to him play because you get three great musicians in one.

[bazjea 10]

Had the pleasure of seeing and listening to Stan Tracey at the Crucible

Theatre last January.

He made the long walk home in the snow well worth it

[fleetwood 10]

Jim Hall famous jazz guitarist died recently in New York, think he was about 83 or so, he played with all the greats including Ella when she was in her prime. Texas, I think I saw Stan Tracey playing with a small group over here a few years ago at the annual Vancouver Jazz festival, it seems to me he had a son playing with him also.

[bazjea 10]

When Stan Tracey played at the Crucible he had a quintet, and his son

Clarke Tracey played drums.

[Texas 10]

I read of another jazzman gone. Probably one of the greatest first trumpet big band men of all time. Al Porcino.