The Leofric Hotel Jazz Club

 

The Leofric Hotel Jazz Club

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It was either during the later part of 1960 or early 1961 that the Warwickshire Society of Jazz Music (WSJM) first commenced operating at the Hotel Leofric on Sunday evenings. It was quickly regarded by visiting musicians, and the cognoscente of the jazz world, as one of Europe's finest jazz clubs.

At that time there was already a jazz club based at The Leofric Hotel. The White Lion Jazz Club held gigs in the Grosvenor Room (downstairs) on Sunday evenings. The Warwickshire Society of Jazz Music held their gigs in the Windsor Room (upstairs).

In terms of comfort, décor and surroundings the club was certainly unsurpassed by any other in the British Isles, whilst the list of artistes and groups who have appeared there read like a 'who's who' of British jazz. And that list included such names as Mr Acker Bilk, Chris Barber, Ottille Patterson, The Temperance Seven, Terry Lightfoot, Bob Wallis, Mick Mulligan, George Melly, Don Rendall, Jimmy Skidmore, Keith Christie, Graham Bond, Joe Temperley and Eddie Blair to name only a few.

In March 1962 the Warwickshire Society of Jazz Music, following the acquisition of the Grosvenor Room in addition to the Windsor Room which they were already occupying, began what was seen as a daring experiment of mixing both traditional and modern jazz.

Predictions within the jazz world were of a grim outlook. However, in total contradiction to the prophecy's of the pundits, this merger became a tremendous success and the followers of each idiom shown extreme tolerance and interest towards the other. Yes, there really had been past clashes between the two cultures.

Members of the WSJM were able to move freely between both rooms as they pleased on payment of only one membership fee and the majority allocate their Sunday evenings entertainment on a 50/50 basis between the two.

Only a short while earlier it would have been unheard of for a jazz club to operate in one of the nations leading hotels but the conduct of the Midlands Jazz fans has lead to Mr J.R. Wearmouth, manager of the Hotel Leofric, to say: 'Their behaviour can only be described as exemplary and my staff and I are pleased to see them at any time'. That in itself was a fitting tribute.

The Warwickshire Society of Jazz Music claimed to be the only club in the country that perused both a traditional and modern policy. Both groups play simultaneously. Traditional in the Windsor Room and modern in the Grosvenor Room.

Over time, of course, modern jazz became more popular. At the same time music trends were changing. It all began getting more avant garde. Bands who were more jazz, blues and, later rock, influenced quickly moved in and the venue became more of an underground hangout.

The Grosvenor room remained modern jazz but the traditionalists had moved on. The Windsor Room, now run by Roy Brunt for McKiernans Promotions, saw acts like the bluesy John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, Cream then later the likes of Taste, Spooky Tooth and Family. It even founfd room for soul legends such as Screaming Jay Hawkins and Lee Dorsey.