History 1946 - 1960
History 1946 - 1960
Jazz in Dundee really began to grow a presence after the 2nd World War. The Radio was the social media of the day and as well as Vera Lynn, the Music of America had arrived alongwith US troops stationed in the Uk. The sound of the Glen Millar Orchestra filled the airwaves and Dance Halls and the Gypsy guitar of Django Rheindhart and Stefan Grappelli's unique style epitomised the resistant Jazz soul of France and the fusion of genre’s defined the style we call Swing. Charlie Parker, a leading light in the creation of Bebop had been and gone by 1955, yet his influence would spread worldwide for decades, spurring on the musical development of local saxophonists, like Douglas Gow.
The Chalet 1933
Dundonians had been dancing at the Palais since 1928 to live dance Orchestra's and the Andy Lothian Dance Orchestra took up a residency in 1938 that lasted 35 years finishing in the Palais around 1973. Pre the 2nd world war the dance music was quite formal, dances followed a strict choreography and dancers were familiar with the Rhumba, the Foxtrot, the Quickstep, the Waltz, Tango etc and Dance Orchestra's played notated arrangements, often lengthened by Improvised solo's!
The Empress Ballroom 1950's
National Service existed long after the war and Dundonians were drafted into all sectors of the Forces. Those of the enlisted that were musicians were quickly volunteered into servicing the social needs of the armed forces in peacetime, via social events, mainly dances. Dundee's ballrooms and Dance halls soon echoed the swing music of the USA and as demand grew, so did the numbers of musicians required to keep the town dancing. Those who had entertained the troops in uniform, were now able to play a lot of the Swing and Jazz they had consumed in service, in local bands and Dance Orchestra’s. Dave Fimister, Trumpet and Bandleader of the East Coast Jazzmen, Jock Stout, Bassist from the Chalet in the 60's and Jimmy Deuchar, Trumpet/Flugelhorn and Composer/Arranger all did National Service, as did many other Dundonian musicians, several of whom served on transatlantic Liners hearing the best of modern Jazz in New York. Harry Morrison, who drummed for the East Coast Jazzmen elected to do his National service in the USA, bringing back iconic Jazz records.
Depending on where they had been stationed, some Dundonian musicians made contacts and big impressions with the wider British Jazz scene. Johnny McLevy - Trumpeter and Jimmy Deuchar - Trumpet, Composer and Arranger, lived and worked in London and all over Europe for most of their working musical lives and many other Dundonian musicians also found that travel and opportunities beyond the city, sharpened their skills and broadened their musical horizons. On returning to the City, they raised the musical standards and roofs of the likes of the Chalet, the Locarno, the JM Ballroom and many more dancehalls as well as providing a soundtrack and atmosphere that encouraged romances, marriages and future citizens of the city.
From 1946 - 1956, while the mostly charted Swing was played for Dancing in Dundee, across the pond, the influence of musicians like Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller were evolving from Dixieland and New Orleans Jazz and in New York, Charlie Parker had defined Bebop and Miles Davis was emerging from that genre to take Jazz in a variety of different directions.In 1950 Jimmy Deuchar completed his National service and began his life as a professional Jazz musician, Composer and Arranger, joining the Johnny Dankworth 7 as a Trumpet player. During the 1950s, Jimmy Deuchar and Victor Feldman recorded extensively together in London, providing a foundational blueprint for British modern jazz. Their collaborative sessions spanned major labels like Esquire and Tempo between 1954 and 1956, when Feldman relocated to the USA.
In Dundee and across the UK, a growing student population had fallen in love with both Dixieland and New Orleans Jazz and while smaller venues like Kidds and Grays hosted dances and crooners, demand led to the opening of Parkers Bar and Dundee's 1st regular Jazz gig around 1958. In the same year Jimmy Deuchar was with the Johnny Dankworth Seven touring the USA and wowing American Jazz musicians and fans and establishing a respect and relationship, that in time brought many Jazz greats to the Ambassador and the Sands (formerly the Chalet) throughout the late 70's and 80's.
You can hear the personal musical histories of Dundonian Jazzers and family members on our Audio and Video Page!
Dundee was well served with Dance Halls Like the Empress, The Locarno, the Chalet and the Palais and all had either visiting Dance bands and/or resident bands. This was the Post war and 'Baby Boomer generations era and a bountiful time for live music. Many of the city's emerging Jazz musicians had completed national service and there were lots of opportunities for gigging in the local Dance halls. Many of the musicians serving in the Dance halls and Bands were laying the foundations of the ‘Jazz Scene’ in Dundee.
Trumpet player Harry Hall was inspiring the young Dave Fimister and Bruce Kiddie to stretch their musical chops and the Swing of Glenn Miller and count Basie had travelled from USA via the radio and imported records, to drive their musical ambitions towards the study and practice of improvisation via Jazz.
As the 50's ended, Jazz in Dundee was growing a small but enthusiastic scene.
