Pye-Nixa NJE 1004
Nixa Jazz Today Series
7” EP
Recorded 27/9/55

TRACKS

New Orleans Hop Scop Blues (Thomas)
Here Today (Fawkes)
Viper Mad (Bechet & Williams)
Roses of Picardy (Haydn Wood)

SLEEVE NOTES

The Twin Talents of Fawkes and Turner

This recording spotlights the combined and individual talents of two stalwarts of the famous Humphrey Lyttelton Band clarinettist Wally Fawkes and Bruce Turner, alto saxophone. Wally is a product of the post-war New Orleans revival; indeed, one of its most distinguished adherents – a player whose every nuance reflects the potent influence of the “fat” clarinettists of the old school, to borrow a term coined by Hughes Panassié to describe jazz pianists.

Sidney Bechet and the late Johnny Dodds were the supreme “fat” men of the clarinet, their playing hallmarked by a broad, expressive vibrato and powerful trumpetic phrasing. Since he made his debut with George Webb’s pioneer revival group in 1943 Wally’s playing has consistently improved, and in recent years undergone a subtle refinement – the influence of the late Jimmy Noone. Yet withal he retains his early enthusiasm, and in the blues especially his playing has vibrant force and the majestic sweep of phrase we always associate with the playing of that much admired veteran – Sidney Bechet.

Though Fawkes and Turner have so close a musical association as fellow members of the Lyttelton Band (and indeed their mutual sympathy is exemplified on this record) Bruce’s musical antecedents are very different, largely by virtue of the instrument he plays. Benny Carter and Johhny Hodges are the alto kings most frequently mentioned in any appraisal of his playing, though overtones of another fine mid-period saxophonist, Pete Brown, are clearly reflected in the infectious “jump” style which Bruce adopts for his solo feature, “Roses of Picardy”.

The twin talents of Fawkes and Turner apart, this record serves to introduce “Jazz Today” listeners to another remarkably gifted musician-pianist Lennie Felix, another player whose inspiration like Bruce Turner’s lies in the mainstream of creative jazz of the thirties.

PERSONNEL

Wally Fawkes – clarinet
Bruce Turner – alto saxophone
Fitzroy Coleman – guitar
Lennie Felix – piano
Jim Bray – bass
Stan Greig – drums

Sleeve:
Ian Bradbery (design)
Walter Hanlon (photography)

Recording:
Joe Meek (balance)
Denis Preston (supervision)

MEDIA/MENTIONS

For Your Turntable
The Daily Telegraph 26/5/56
Fawkes-Turner (E.P.). Nixa NJE 1004. Two of “Humph’s” musicians – fluent traditional jazz.