Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: All Night Jazz Session, Coventry Locarno 1961

All Night Jazz Session, Coventry Locarno 1961

by Pete Clemons.

For a while I was under the assumption that the first all night music event, to have been held in Coventry, was during 1966 at the Locarno. Then I found information that confirmed there had been a slightly earlier all night event that involved John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.

More recently I came across some information that substantiated there had been an all night jazz session, again at the Locarno, but this time during 1961.

This event involved regulars to the then Mercers Arms jazz club scene. In fact the bands involved seemed to be permanently on the road. These bands were incredibly hard working. All night events were not a new thing to these guys as they had been involved in other all night jazz sessions up and down the country.

The Locarno event began at 11pm and went through the night till 6am. It had been organised jointly by The Abracadabra Jazz Club based at the Mercers and The White Lion Jazz Club at the Leofric and involved the following bands:

The Clyde Valley Stompers

Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1952. From 1954 they were led by Ian Menzies and soon became a full-time professional group. Their popularity extended throughout the U.K. during the '50s trad jazz boom and they had several minor hit records. The band had a U.K. Top 30 success in 1962 with 'Peter and the Wolf', but although they appeared on television, including playing on The Morecambe and Wise Show, the days of trad pop were over. The group disbanded in 1963.

Ken Colyer's Jazzmen

Trumpeter Ken Colyer loved ensemble oriented New Orleans jazz, and he never really veered from that path throughout his career. Colyer also worked with the Crane River Jazz Band from 1949-51. He joined the Merchant Navy where he jumped ship in America to go to New Orleans and play with local musicians. After making some recordings, he was caught and deported from the U.S. During 1953-54 he formed the Ken Colyer Jazzmen along with trombonist Chris Barber. Musical differences resulted in the rest of the group leaving and forming Barber’s classic group.

Alex Welsh and his Band

Alex Welsh began his musical life in Leith on the smaller cornet, later switching to trumpet. He moved to London in the early 1950s, forming a new band. Welsh made sure every position in the band was filled with an expert, exciting player. The band frequently toured, including several trips to the United States.

Mickey Ashman's Ragtime Band

Bass player and former member of the Chris Barber Band. Mickey Ashman first played with Chris Barber in one of the latter’s amateur bands in the early 1950s. By 1955 he was working in Humphrey Lyttelton’s band and then in 1956 he joined Chris Barber once more. In the early 1960s he was leading his own outfit.

The Cy Laurie Jazz Band

Cy Laurie initially trained as a draughtsman. He began playing on a soprano saxophone which had been left at a pawnbroker’s shop owned by his father; but he soon swapped it for a clarinet, on which he was self-taught. Cy's band gained a reputation for getting 'wildly carried away' while on stage.