BILL EYDEN info
Bill Eyden
(drums)
Veteran drummer, he was born
in London on May 4, 1930. He has played in many bands, mostly in the jazz
camp. He had played with Malcolm Mitchell, Harry Rox, Steve Race or Roy
Fox.
In 1955, he joins Tubby Hayes
Band:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Bobbie Breen (vocals, percussion)
-
Pete
Blannin (bass)
-
Harry South (piano)
-
Ian Hammer (trumpet)
-
Dickie Hawdon (trumpet)
-
Mike Senn (sax)
-
Jackie Sharpe (sax)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
The band is shortened to Tubby
Hayes Quartet in July 1955:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Pete
Blannin (bass)
-
Harry South (piano)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
The album The swinging
giant, volume 1 includes track from the above mentioned lineups.
With Tubby Hayes, Bill also
backed other jazz musicians, such as Dizzy Reece. This was the Dizzy Reece
Quintet in July 1955:
-
Dizzy Reece (trumpet)
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Pete
Blannin (bass)
-
Harry South (piano)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
There's a collective live album
called British Modern Jazz Scene 1956, recorded live in February
1956 by Tubby Hayes & His Orchestra (7 tracks), Vic Ash Quartet (4
tracks) and New Jazz Group (4 tracks). The featured lineup is the one with
Ian Hammer.
In July 1956, the band was
formed by:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Pete Elderfield (bass)
-
Harry South (piano)
-
Dickie Hawdon (trumpet)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
In the spring of 1957, Tubby
Hayes and Ronnie Scott joined forces, as The Jazz Couriers:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Ronnie Scott (sax)
-
Malcolm Cecil (bass)
-
Terry Shannon (piano)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
But, after just one month, they
change the bassist in May 1957:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Ronnie Scott (sax)
-
Phil Bates (bass)
-
Terry Shannon (piano)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
Some tracks by this lineup appear
in The swinging giant, vol. 2.
A different lineup of The
Jazz Couriers was:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Ronnie Scott (sax)
-
Jeff Clyne (bass)
-
Terry Shannon (piano)
Bill Eyden (drums)
This is the lineup of Tubby
Hayes group in 1958:
-
Tubby Hayes (sax)
-
Phil Bates (bass)
-
Terry Shannon (piano)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
He was part of Wee Willie Harris
band when, in October 1964, he joins Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
(replacing none other than Phil Seaman):
Georgie Fame (vocals, keyboards)
Colin Green (guitar)
Tex
Makins (bass)
Peter Coe (sax)
Speedy
Acquaye (percussion)
Bill Eyden (drums)
A new musician is added in November
1964, sax player Glenn Hughes.
Georgie Fame (vocals, keyboards)
Colin Green (guitar)
Tex
Makins (bass)
Peter Coe (sax)
Glenn Hughes (sax)
Speedy
Acquaye (percussion)
Bill Eyden (drums)
And another musician adds in
March 1965, old mate Eddie Thornton:
Georgie Fame (vocals, keyboards)
Colin Green (guitar)
Tex
Makins (bass)
Peter Coe (sax)
Glenn Hughes (sax)
Eddie Thornton (trumpet)
Speedy
Acquaye (percussion)
Bill Eyden (drums)
But around October 1965, Bill
Eyden left (Bill was replaced by Mitch Mitchell). He then joined Stan Tracey
Trio:
Stan Tracey (piano)
Rick Laird (bass)
Bill Eyden (drums)
Some track recorded by them
appeared in two albums: Laughin' and scratchin' (recorded
live in October 1965), as well as in Jazz at Ronnie Scott's.
When backing Ronnie Scott,
they were credited as Ronnie Scott Quartet:
-
Ronnie Scott (sax)
-
Rick Laird (bass)
-
Stan Tracey (piano)
-
Bill Eyden (drums)
He also played with Sonny Stitt,
in the album Live at Ronnie Scott, recorded with:
-
Sonny Stitt (sax)
-
Dick Morrissey (sax)
-
Phil Bates (bass)
-
Harry South (piano)
Bill Eyden (drums)
In September 1966, he's part
of Dick Morrissey Quartet, recording the LP Here and now and sounding
good:
-
Dick Morrissey (sax)
-
Phil Bates (bass)
-
Harry South (piano)
Bill Eyden (drums)
For a while, he was also a member
of Long John Baldry band, Hoochie Coochie Men, but I haven't been able
to find proper info. Any ideas?
Soon after, Georgie Fame
dissolved his Blue Flames, and tried a new direction, playing jazz. He
formed a combo with The Harry South Big Band, and they recorded the album
Sound venture, with these people:
Georgie Fame (vocals, keyboards)
Harry South (arranger, conductor)
+
Colin Green (guitar)
Phil Bates (bass)
Stan Tracey (keyboards)
Dick Morrisey (sax)
Tubby Hayes (sax)
Ronnie Scott (sax)
Alan Branscombe (sax)
Harry Klein (sax)
Jackie Sharp (sax)
Ray Warleigh (sax)
Roy Wilcox (sax)
Kenny Wheeler (trumpet)
Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet)
Bert Courtley (trumpet)
Tony Fisher (trumpet)
Ian Hammer (trumpet)
Keith Christie (trombone)
Ken Goldie (trombone)
Phil Seaman (drums)
Bill Eyden (drums)
Strangely enough, his most remembered
work wasn't made in jazz music, but in rock. He was the drummer in the
original recording of Procol Harum's 'A whiter shade of pale', even
though he wasn't a member of the band. He was just hired in a session basis.
And then, I haven't been
able to find info about him for the next years... Any help with additional
info would be welcomed.
In 1977, he teams with two
great jazz players in the Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis - Harry 'Sweets' Edison
Quintet:
Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis (sax)
Harry 'Sweets' Edison (trumpet)
Bill LeSage (piano)
Spike Heatley (bass)
Bill Eyden (drums)
They appear in 1 live track
in a collective live album Jazz Na Koncertnom Podiju Vol. 3,
released in 1979.
In 1981, he's backing clarinet
player Tony Scott:
Tony Scott (clarinet, sax,
piano)
Hank Shaw (trumpet)
Bill LeSage (piano)
Spike Heatley (bass)
Bill Eyden (drums)
In 1986, we can find him as
part of Charlie Watts Orchestra. Don't hold your breath while reading the
personnel list: :)
Charlie Watts (drums)
+
Jack Bruce (cello)
Ron Matthewson (bass)
Dave Green (bass)
Stan Tracey (keyboards)
Jim Lawless (vibes)
Bill Lesage (vibes)
Colin Smith (trumpet)
John Huckeridge (trumpet)
Steve Sidwell (trumpet)
Harry Beckett (trumpet)
Ted Emmett (trumpet)
Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet)
Dave DeFries (trumpet)
Paul Rutherford (trombone)
Annie Whitehead (trombone)
Chris Pyne (trombone)
John Picard (trombone)
Alan Skidmore (sax)
Don Weller (sax)
Evan Parker (sax)
Bobby Wellins (sax)
Danny Moss (sax)
Courtney Pine (sax)
Peter King (sax)
Ray Warleigh (sax)
Willie Garnett (sax)
Gail Thompson (sax)
Olaf Vass (flute, clarinet)
John Stevens (drums)
Bill Eyden (drums)
We can find all these people
in the live album Live at Fulham Hall. Some months later,
they appeared in the Jazz-Fest in Berlin, in October 1986, with a slightly
different personnel:
Charlie Watts (drums)
+
Mario Castronari (bass)
Lennie Bush (bass)
Mike Pine (keyboards)
Colin Smith (trumpet)
John Huckeridge (trumpet)
Steve Sidwell (trumpet)
Ted Emmett (trumpet)
Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet)
Dave DeFries (trumpet)
Mike Hough (trombone)
Annie Whitehead (trombone)
Chris Pyne (trombone)
John Picard (trombone)
Alan Skidmore (sax)
Don Weller (sax)
Evan Parker (sax)
Bobby Wellins (sax)
Danny Moss (sax)
Jan Battermy (sax)
Olaf Vass (flute, clarinet)
Jim Lawless (vibes)
John Stevens (drums)
Bill Eyden (drums)
Subsequent tour, during June-July
1987, shows again some changes, but still with Eyden:
Charlie Watts (drums)
+
Mario Castronari (bass)
Lennie Bush (bass)
Colin Smith (trumpet)
John Huckeridge (trumpet)
Steve Sidwell (trumpet)
Ted Emmett (trumpet)
Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet)
Dave DeFries (trumpet)
Mike Hough (trombone)
Annie Whitehead (trombone)
Chris Pyne (trombone)
John Picard (trombone)
Peter King (sax)
Ray Warleigh (sax)
Alan Skidmore (sax)
Don Weller (sax)
Evan Parker (sax)
Bobby Wellins (sax)
Danny Moss (sax)
Jan Battermy (sax)
Gail Thompson (sax)
Olaf Vass (flute, clarinet)
Jim Lawless (vibes)
John Stevens (drums)
Bill Eyden (drums)
In year 2000, we find him playing
with Bill LeSage's Bebop 2000 with bass virtuoso Laurence Cottle:
Bill LeSage (piano)
Laurence Cottle (bass)
Steve Waterman (trumpet)
Gilad Atzmon (sax, clarinet)
Bill Eyden (drums)
They recorded the album Confirmation.
Bill LeSage died soon after, and some of his friends kept on with the band
name as a tribute to him. This was their lineup in 2002, with LeSage's
pupil John Critchinson:
John Critchinson (piano)
Alec Dankworth (bass)
Steve Waterman (trumpet)
Gilad Atzmon (sax, clarinet)
Bill Eyden (drums)
In 2003, Bill is still playing
(hey, he's 73!), now with Ken Baldock Quintet:
Ken Baldock (bass)
John Critchinson (piano)
Henry Lowther (trumpet)
Stan Sulzmann (sax)
Bill Eyden (drums)
QUESTIONS:
1. xx
2. xx
Albums by Tubby Hayes:
-
Tubbs (1962)
-
Introducing Tubbs
(with Jeff Clyne)
-
The eight wonder
(1959, with Jeff Clyne, Phil Seaman)
-
The Swinging Giant, vol.
1 (with Pete Blannin)
-
The Swinging Giant, vol.
2 (with Harry South)
-
Portrait (with
Ronnie Scott)
Albums by Dizzy Reece:
-
A new star (1956, with Tubby Hayes,
Pete Blannin,
Harry South, Phil Seamen, Ronnie Scott)
Albums by The Jazz Couriers:
-
Tubby Hayes & The
Jazz Couriers featuring Ronnie Scott (with Ronnie Scott)
-
The Jazz Couriers in concert
(1958, with Ronnie Scott)
-
The couriers of jazz
(1958, with Ronnie Scott, Jeff Clynne)
-
The first and last words
(with Ronnie Scott)
-
Some of my best friends
(with Ronnie Scott)
Albums by Georgie Fame &
The Blue Flames:
-
Two faces of Fame (1967, with Georgie
Fame, Rick Brown, Tony Coe, Ian Hammer,
Lyn Dobson, Eddie Thornton, Derek Wadsworth, Derek Watkins, Kenny Wheeler,
John Marshall, Dick Morrisey, Jeff Clyne, Tony Oxley)
-
Third face of fame (1968, with Georgie
Fame, John McLaughlin, Terry Smith, Gordon Beck, Tony Coe, Arthur Greenslade,
Ian Hammer, John Marshall, Ronnie Scott, Derek Watkins)
Albums by Stan Tracey:
-
Laughin' and scratchin' (with Rick Laird)
(live)
Albums by Ronnie Scott:
-
The night is Scott and you're so swingable
(with Ronnie Scott, Rick Laird)
Albums by Sonny Stitt:
-
Live at Ronnie Scott (with Dick Morrissey,
Harry South)
Albums by Georgie Fame &
The Harry South Orchestra:
-
Sound venture (Oct 66, with Georgie
Fame, Colin Green, Ian Hammer, Kenny Wheeler, Dick Morrisey, Ronnie Scott,
Ray Warleigh, Phil Seaman)
Albums by Charlie Watts:
-
Live at Fulham Hall (1986, with Jack
Bruce, Charlie Watts, Ron Matthewson, Steve Sidwell, Harry Beckett, Annie
Whitehead, Chris Pyne, Don Weller, Alan Skidmore, Ray Warleigh) (live)
Albums by Bill LeSage:
Jazz Sessions:
-
VVAA (British Modern Jazz Scene 1956,
with Tubby Hayes, Pete
Blannin, Harry South) (live)
-
Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynair (Blue Bogey,
1959)
-
The Jazz Five (The five of us, 1960)
-
The Jazz Five (The hooter)
-
The Indo-British Ensemble (Curried jazz,
1969, with Chris Karan, Kenny Wheeler, Jeff Clyne)
-
Jimmy Skidmore (Skid marks, 1972)
-
VVAA (Jazz Na Koncertnom
Podiju Vol. 3, Jun 79, with Spike
Heatley) (live)
-
VVAA (Retrospect through
21 years of BBC Jazz Club, 1968, with Gordon Beck, Tony Coe, Ian
Hammer, Dick Morrissey) (2 songs with The Harry South Big Band)
-
Spike Robinson (Spring
can really hang you up the most)
Rock Sessions:
-
Procol Harum (Procol Harum, 1967, with
Gary Brooker, Ray Royer, Matthew Fisher)
-
VVAA - Gail McDermott (Two gentlemen of Verona,
1973, with Helen Chappelle, Derek Griffiths, Diane Langton, Bobby Stignac)
Related links:
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at mterol@myrealbox.com
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Page created
by Miguel Terol on: 02/October/2003. First published on: 02/October/2003.
Last modified on: 02/October/2003.
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