THE ALVIN ROY QUARTET
Alvin's introduction to jazz was at the age of 17 when he was in the sixth form at grammar school. He'd never heard the music until his fellow students played him a Chris Barber recording of Duke Ellington's “Creole Love Call” and he immediately fell in love with the sound of the clarinet and then proceeded to pester his mother to buy him one. It was, coincidently, at this time, that clarinet lessons were started at his school and he attended three classes but as his teacher was not a jazz lover and because he played a blues instead of the tune he was supposed to learn, he was asked to leave……end of clarinet lessons!
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It was shortly after this that he joined a local amateur traditional jazz band that rehearsed in a church hall in London's Balls Pond Road (very glamorous) and it was from here that he went on to form his own band, which won the 1960 Soho Jazz Contest. The band turned professional and billed as Britain's youngest professional jazzband, toured this country and Europe, appearing in clubs, concert halls and theatres. His band was resident at the Marquee in London and appeared at the first two Reading Jazz Festivals.
By the late 70's the band's style had changed to a more mainstream approach to jazz and began to broadcast on BBC Radio 2's Jazz Club and was featured as resident band at the “Prospect of Whitby” in London with regular appearances at the 100 club, the Barbican and many other clubs and festivals up and down the country.
Alvin admits that, as a musician, he is a “primitive,” as he still cannot read music and knows nothing about chords, with every tune he has ever played being learnt by ear. His jazz background is firmly entrenched in the traditional form of the music and the early recordings of his trad band on Ember, Decca and Riverside Records demonstrate the initial influence of the New Orleans style of clarinet but this CD shows that he has clearly developed his own sound. |
This album contains three originals by Alvin. “Blues for Sandy” is a tribute to the late Sandy Brown, whom Alvin greatly admired and “Isis Blues” a nod in the direction of Oxford where Alvin now lives……albeit 20 miles from the city. “Hedonism” is a bossa nova that he wrote (although wrote would be an exaggeration as he can't write music, as previously stated) and the rest of the tunes are ones that he always enjoys playing.
The trio backing Alvin comprises pianist Roger Barnes, who played with Alvin's band in London and has also played with Tubby Hayes and Joe Harriott. “He's the ideal pianist for me,” says Alvin “and I love playing with him”.
Pete Billington, on bass, is one of the country's growing crop of brilliant young musicians who studied piano and bass on a Royal Academy postgraduate course, his introduction to jazz coming through the NYJO. He's played with most of the leading jazz musicians and Alvin feels privileged to have him on this record. On drums is Mark Doffman who has played with many of the top musicians and plays at and helps to run, Oxford's Spin jazz club. He frequently works with Sir Willard White in his acclaimed tribute to Paul Robeson and is currently involved in doctoral research with the Open University. |
You will enjoy this record, which contains unpretentious swinging jazz played by musicians who obviously had a ball during the session and hope you have a ball listening to it. |
