Pye Nixa NJT 507
Nixa Jazz Today Series
10” LP
Recorded February/March 1957

Tracks

Side 1
(a) Ostrich Walk (La Rocca & Shields) (recorded 14.3.57)
(b) Buddy’s Habit (Oliver) (recorded 14.3.57) (c) Winin’ Boy Blues (Morton) (recorded 11.3.57)
(d) Cornet Chop Suey (Armstrong) (recorded 11.3.57)

Side 2
(a) I’m Coming Virginia (Heywood) (recorded 4.2.57)
(b) Up Jumped You With Love (Waller) (recorded 11.3.57)
(c) Queen Bess (Hodges, Ellington) (recorded 4.2.57)
(d) Mandy (Clark, Turk, Meyer & Johnston) (recorded 4.2.57)

Sleeve notes

Meet Alex Welsh by Steve Voce

ALEX WELSH descended upon London from his native Scotland in 1955, skimmed the cream of local jazz talent and came up with a band which speedily won a big reputation and a big following.

In Roy Crimmins on trombone and fellow Scot Archie Semple on clarinet he has two of the most original and accomplished jazzmen in the country. Fred Hunt at the keyboard helps weld the rhythm section into the solid unit which it is, and adds an effective solo voice to the front-line display. And as successor to the band’s original percussionist – Lennie Hastings – newcomer Billy Lock fills the drum chair with admirable consistency. Finally, there’s “old faithful” Nigel Sinclair on guitar, to complete this really swinging rhythm team.

Alex himself leads the band with refreshing lightness: his sometimes lyrical, sometimes fiery solos contrasting well with the thoughtful improvisations of trombonist Crimmins and the startling inspirations of Archie Semple.

Each of the numbers in this album (Alex’s first 33-1/2 presentation, by the way) was recorded as a tribute to some great figure or group in the world of jazz. Starting ‘way back with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band the Welsh-men romp happily through Ostrich Walk, a “classic” of white New Orleans Style. The mighty contribution of King Oliver to the New Orleans jazz scene is acknowledged in Buddy’s Habit, in which the twin horns of Welsh and Semple share solo and ensemble honours.

Winin’ Boy – a pensive Jelly Roll Morton blues – was arranged by Roy Crimmins, whose trombone playing is herein spotlighted-with added contributions from Alex and Nigel Sinclair.

Alex Welsh himself is the soloist in Cornet Chop Suey, a tribute to that greatest of jazz greats-Louis Armstrong, whose thirty-year-old Hot Five recording was the inspiration of this present performance. Another jazz immortal inspired the recording of I’m Coming Virginia – the late Bix Beiderbecke, a brass man whose influence may often be felt in Alex’s own playing.

Up Jumped You With Love is perhaps one of the late Fats Waller’s best compositions, though by no means one of the best-known. With this swinging new version the Welsh-men pay their tribute to one of jazz music’s most beloved personalities.

No jazz tribute would be complete without a deep bow in the direc tion of Duke Ellington – jazz composer and bandleader extraordinary. Queen Bess, originally recorded by alto king Johnny Hodges with a unit of the Ellington Orchestra, is here turned into a feature for clarinet and trombone, and romps along in a manner which would surely delight the Rabbit himself.

Finally, a dedication to Eddie Condon in the form of Mandy – a title the Condonites themselves recorded a few years ago. And very appropriate a dedication this is, coming as it does from a band – one of the best of its kind outside the United States – which owes so much to the inspiration of the original Chicagoans.

Personnel

Alex Welsh-trumpet;
Archie Semple-clarinet
Roy Crimmins-trombone;
Fred Hunt-piano
Chris Staunton-bass;
Billy Lock-drums
Nigel Sinclair-guitar

Alex Welsh does not play on Queen Bess
Roy Crimmins does not play on Buddy’s Habit

Sleeve:
Designer: Ian Bradbery
Photography: Ron Cohen

Recording:
Balance: Joe Meek
Supervision: Denis Preston