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| Ronnie Chamberlain discography... |
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Ronnie Chamberlain was born in London in May, 1924 and became an accomplished clarinet, alto, soprano and tenor sax player who although he is remembered now for his long stay with the Ted Heath Orchestra his roots were as a genuine jazz musician. In the mid 1940s he played in the The Jive Bombers who were the group reckoned by some to have made the first be-bop style records in Britain. They began life as Ilford Rhythm Club Jam Group, with Ronnie on alto and soprano saxes. Ronnie did not, unfortunately, appear on the records as he was by then working with the innovative band leader Vic Lewis. With Lewis he played and recorded many styles of jazz from chicago style to jam sessions and was a featured soloist on Lewis' large Kenton style band of the late 1940s. He remained with Vic Lewis until 1955. In the early 1950s he attracted a jazz following and success in the Melody Maker readers polls led to him being recorded in the mid 1950s with the Melody Maker All-Stars, groups made up from the poll winners. In late 1957 or early 1958 Ronnie returned to the big band world when he joined the Ted Heath Orchestra for a stay that lasted almost twenty years until the band finally broke up around 1977. He died in September, 1999. |
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In 1944 Ronnie started a long association with band leader Vic Lewis and appeared on numerous recordings with Vic covering all types of jazz from the chicago style of the Lewis / Parnell Jazzmen through to Vic's progressive Kenton type band of 1947/8. All recording details of this period can be seen on the Vic Lewis web page... Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - February 12th, 1944 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - June 9th, 1944 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - August 29th, 1944 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - October 24th, 1944 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis Jam Session - early February, 1945 (Harlequin/Esquire) Vic Lewis Jam Session - February 13th, 1945 (Harlequin/Esquire) Vic Lewis and Sam Donahue's Navy Band - March 12th, 1945 (A.E.F. broadcast) Vic Lewis Jam Session - March 12th, 1945 (Harlequin/Esquire) Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - March 12th, 1945 (Esquire) Johnny Best (tp), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Stephane Grappelly (vln,p), Vic Lewis (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). I've Found A New Baby/I Never Knew. (Both titles unissued until the 1980s - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - March 15th, 1945 (Esquire) Johnny Best (tp), Lad Busby (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as), Aubrey Frank (ts) Gerry Moore (p), Vic Lewis (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Down By The Old Mill Stream/Rosetta. (Both titles unissued until the 1980s - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - March, 1945 (Esquire) Don Jacoby (tp), Harry Roche (tb), Derek Hawkins (cl), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Sam Donahue (ts), Rocky Collucio (p), Vic Lewis (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). S.D. Blues. (Unissued until the 1980s - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell's Jazzmen - March 19th, 1945 (Parlophone/DJM) Carlo Krahmer and his Nuthouse Club Band - May 18th, 1945 (Parlophone) Jimmie Edwards (cnt), Mannie Price (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Ernie Mansfield (ts), Gerry Moore (p), Alan Hodgkins (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Lullaby In Rhythm/Blue Lou/Jazz Me Blues/Muskrat Ramble. Vic Lewis and his Jazzmen - July 20th, 1945 (Parlophone/DJM) Vic Lewis and his Jazzmen - August 8th, 1945 (BBC broadcast / Harlequin HQ3010) Vic Lewis and his Jazzmen - August 22nd, 1945 (BBC broadcast / Harlequin HQ3010) Through 1946 Lewis continued to record for a variety of labels as: Vic Lewis and his Sextet, with Ronnie Chamberlain (as) and Jimmy Skidmore (ts)... Vic Lewis and his Jazzmen, with Ronnie Chamberlain (as) and Jimmy Skidmore (ts)... Vic Lewis and his Sextet - January 5th, 1946 (Boosey & Hawk) Vic Lewis Jam Session - January 6th, 1946 (Harlequin HQ3010) Vic Lewis and his Jazzmen - January 28th, 1946 (DJM) Vic Lewis and his Sextet - probably May 5th, 1946 (Harlequin HQ3012) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - December 17th, 1946. Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - March 1st, 1947 (Vic Lewis Society) Vic Lewis and his Jazzmen - March 23rd, 1947 (Esquire) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - June 23rd, 1947 (Esquire) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - November 24th, 1947 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 19th, 1948 (Harlequin HQ3014) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - November 26th, 1948 (Harlequin HQ3014/DJM) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - early December, 1948 (DJM) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - December 3rd, 1948 (Harlequin HQ3013) Ronnie Chamberlain continued to tour and record with Lewis on numerous recordings through to 1955. All recording details of this period can be seen on the second Vic Lewis web page... Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 7th, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3014) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 25th, 1949 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - June, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3014, recorded in Hamburg) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - June, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3014/DJM, concert Garrison Theatre, Hamburg) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - September, 1949 (probably from BBC broadcasts) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - November 3rd, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3013) Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - January 31st, 1950 (probably from BBC broadcasts) Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - February 16th, 1950 (BBC broadcast) Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - April 24th, 1950 (Parlophone) Vic Lewis and his Modern Concert Orchestra - May 26th, 1950 (Parlophone) The 1951 Melody Maker All-Stars - February 3rd, 1951 (Esquire 10-115) Kenny Baker (tp), Gordon Langhorn (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain, Henry McKenzie (cl), Ronnie Scott (ts), Johnny Dankworth (as), Dave Shand (bs), Victor Feldman (vib), Ralph Sharon (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Brand's Essence*/Marshall's Plan*. (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (*Acrobat CD - Ronnie Scott Not So Fast - The Complete Esquire Recordings 1951) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - February 27th, 1951 (Esquire) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - May 7th, 1951 (Esquire) Vic Lewis and his New Music - March 26th, 1952 (Esquire) The 1953 Melody Maker's All-Stars - March 4th, 1953 (Esquire 20-008) Kenny Baker (tp), Jackie Armstrong (tb), Vic Ash (cl), Les Gilbert (as), Ronnie Chamberlain, (sops), Ronnie Scott (ts), Martin Slavin (vib), Bill McGuffie (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Jack Parnell (d). Ballot Box (2 takes, one take on*)/Anidina/Coronation Jump (2 takes). (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) He did not record with Vic Lewis again until 1954 when he recorded an LP for Decca entitled 'Mulligan's Music' featuring the compositions of Gerry Mulligan and featuring a very young Tubby Hayes. Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 13th/14th, 1954 (Decca LF1157) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 20th, 1954 (Decca LF1157) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 23rd, 1954 (Hep 20) The 1954 Melody Maker's All-Stars - March 7th, 1954 (Esquire 20-031*) Kenny Baker (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Vic Ash (cl), Johnny Dankworth (as), Ronnie Chamberlain, (ts,sops), Ronnie Scott (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Vic Feldman (vib), Bill McGuffie (p), Tito Burns (acc), Ivor Mairants (g), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Eric Delaney (d). For Voters Only# (2 takes, one take on*)/Gallop Poll (2 takes, one take on*)/Swingdido*. (#Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - April 27th, 1954 (Harlequin HQ3014) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - November 18th, 1954 (Esquire) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 9th, 1955 (Decca LF1216) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - February 2nd, 1955 (Philips) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - February 2nd, 1955 (Philips) Melody Maker's All-Stars - March 7th, 1955 (Esquire EP56* others 10-436 ) Kenny Baker (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Vic Ash (cl), Johnny Dankworth (as), Ronnie Chamberlain, (ts,sops), Tommy Whittle (ts), Harry Klein (as,bs), Vic Feldman (vib), Bill McGuffie (p), Tito Burns (acc), Bert Weedon (g), Joe Muddel (b), Eric Delaney (d). (Add Joe Harriott (as) on Waxing The Winners) Gershwin Ballad Medley: (Summertime*/Someone To Watch Over Me*/Love Walked In*/Embraceable You*)/Waxing The Winners (Part 1)/Waxing The Winners (Part 2). (*Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s) Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - July 9th, 1962 (Columbia SEG8202) Johnny Keating All Stars - March 19th and 20th, 1956 (British Jazz - Oriole MG20011) Eddie Blair, Bobby Pratt (tp), Jimmy Wilson (tb), Ian Powell (tu), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Don Rendell, Tommy Whittle (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d), Dizzy Reece (bgo-1). Gibraltar Rocks*/Piccadilly Jumps* (1). Eddie Blair (tp), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bill Le Sage (p,vib), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Lazy*. (*Vocalion CD - British Jazz & Swinging Scots) (*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks) In late 1957 Ronnie Chamberlain joined the Ted Heath Orchestra where he remained for nearly twenty years. He played on several recording dates during the remainder of the 1950s, those with some jazz content are shown below. Details are listed on the third Ted Heath web page. Details of Heath recordings for 1960 onwards are on Ted Heath... Ted Heath and his Music - End of December, 1957 and early January, 1958 (Our kind of jazz - Decca) Ted Heath and his Music - June 26th, and July 3rd and 17th 1958 (Ted Heath swings in Hi-Stereo - Decca) Ted Heath and his Music - February to April, 1959 (My very good friends the bandleaders - Decca) Ted Heath and his Music - July, 1959 (Ted Heath in concert - Decca) Ted Heath and his Music - May, 1963 (Satin Saxes and Bouncing Brass - Decca) Johnny Keating & his Band - 1964 (Swing revisited - London SP44034) Bert Courtley, Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar, Stan Reynolds (tp), Keith Christie, Johnny Edwards, Maurice Pratt (tb), Maurice Gee (b-tb), Jim Buck, Ian Beers, Brian Brett, Charles Blomfield (fhrn), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sop), Roy Willox (as,f), Duncan Lamont (ts,cl), Tubby Hayes (ts,f), Dan Halliwell (bs,as), Reg Guest (p), Jim Sullivan (g), Freddy Logan (b), Ronnie Verrell (d), Barry Morgan (cga). Night Train*/When The Saints Go Marching In*/The Stripper*/What'd I Say*/Li'l Darlin'*/Opus One*/I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo*/Tuxedo Junction*/Oh, Lonesome Me*/Headin' North*/Hallelujah Gathering*/One O'clock Jump* . (*Vocalion CD - Swing revisited) Ted Heath and his Music - October 24th, 1964 recorded at Kingsway Hall (Palladium revisited - Decca) Ted Heath and his Music - September 27th and 28th, 1967 (Swing is King - Decca) Ted Heath and his Music - May 30th and 31st, 1968 (Swing is King Volume 2- Decca) Stan Tracey - July 17th, 1968 (The Latin American Caper - Columbia SX6358, SCX6358) Ronnie Chamberlain, Derek Collins (cl), Don Rendell (cl,b-cl), Chris Taylor, Roy Willox, Ray Swinfield (fl), Alan Branscombe (vib,mar), Stan Tracey (p,arr,cond), Lennie Bush (b), Barry Morgan (d,perc), Denis Lopez, Stuart Gordon (perc). One For Sass/Come Out And Meet Me Tonight. Bobby Lamb/Ray Premru Orchestra - March 7th, 1971 (Live at Ronnie Scott's - BBC REC116) Gus Galbraith, Tony Fisher, Derek Healey, Ronnie Hughes, Kenny Wheeler (tp,fl-horn), Cliff Hardie, Chris Payne, David Horler, Jack Thirwell, Bobby Lamb, Ray Premru (tb), John Jenkins (tu), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Alan Branscombe (as,cl), Jimmy Philip, Tony Roberts (as,fl), Ken Dryden (bs,fl), Nick Busch, Colin Horton, John Jpigneguy, Tony Lucas (hrn), Steve Gray (p), Arthur Watts (b), Kenny Clare (d), John Dean (perc). The Great White Whale/Soliloquy/Round And Round And Round/Roots/A Winter's Tale/Cuchulainn. Tony Kinsey Big Band - February 17th, 1974 (Thames suite - Spotlite SPJ504) Leon Calvert, Les Condon, Hank Shaw (tp), Keith Christie, Dave Horler, Geoff Perkins, Chris Smith (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (sop,as), Peter King (as), Jimmy Hastings, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Pat Smythe (el-p), Dick Abell (g), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Kinsey (d). Sunbury Seminar*/Chertsey Mead*/Kingston Reach*/Backwater*/Henley Ho*. (*Spotlite CD - Tony Kinsey: Thames Suite) Stan Reynolds - September, 1975 (The Greatest Swing Band In The World...is British - Pye NSPL18469) Big band including: Leon Calvert, Kenny Baker (tp), Vic Ash (cl), Ronnie Ross, Ronnie Chamberlain, Danny Moss (saxes). (13 Titles). Tony Kinsey Big Band - March 17, 1976 (Thames suite - Spotlite SPJ504) Tony Fisher, Les Condon, Hank Shaw (tp), Keith Christie, Dave Horler, Bill Geldard, Maurice Pratt (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (sop,as), Peter King (as), Jimmy Hastings, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Pat Smythe (el-p), Louis Stewart (g), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Kinsey (d). Hard Times*/Cookham Bridge*/Beachey Head*/Good Friday*. (*Spotlite CD - Tony Kinsey: Thames Suite) Ted Heath Band - 1977 (The Ted Heath Band in concert - Decca) Ted Heath The Don Lusher Big Band - c1986 (Pays tribute to the great bands - Horatio Nelson SIV110) Don Lusher |
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