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| Johnny Claes... |
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Trumpet player Johnny Claes was born in London in 1916. His father was Belgian and his mother was Scottish. He toook trumpet lessons from Nat Gonella and by 1935 was working at the Nest Club in London and in 1937 recorded with Gerry Moore for Decca in 1937. He then played in various bands in various European countries including Switzerland, Holland and Belgium. While in Holland in 1937 he played in The Coleman Hawkins Band from August to September. He returned to the Boogie Woogie Club in London from March to August, 1940 and then, from August, 1940 to February, 1941 he was with the Teddy Joyce Orchestra. In May 1941 he formed his first band and subsequently led a band for various periods until the end of 1945. Carlo Krahmer became deputy leader and started to play the vibraphone seriously, a unique step for a bliind musician. Soon every set played by the band contained one solo spot played on a huge three and a half octave vibraphone Carlo had acquired. The bands were notable for the number of high quality future modern jazz musicians that were employed. These included, amongst others, Tommy Pollard, Denis Rose, Norman Stenfalt, Ronnie Scott, Harry Hayes, Aubrey Frank, Pete Chilver and Kenny Graham. After a few one nighters in southern England in September, 1945 Johnny Claes disbanded for the last time and returned to the family business in Brussels. He ran The Esquire Club in Blackenburg and wrote for the Belgian Jazz Hot magazine. In 1948 he took up professional motor racing and between 1950 and 1955 competed in 23 Grand Prix. He was a popular and under-rated driver but died in Belgium in 1956 whilst awaiting an operation for cancer. Other sources suggest that he died from TB. Bill Barker was pianist in the band in 1945 and his son Clive says that the band appeared in a George Formby film made in 1946. Titled "George in Civvy Street" the whole band are shown and Bob Barker plays piano-accordion in some scenes with George. Since Johnny Claes had disbanded in 1945 it would appear that the band reformed fo the film or possibly those sequences were made in 1945. |
 "I was about sixteen when I did an audition for the Johnny Claes Band. The thing was I couldn't read - never been much of a reader. I couldn't really play jazz to any degree. Johnny was very nice to me, he said ' we really need someone who can read which was a nice way of putting it because I just couldn't play. When I was seventeen I did join Johnny and went on the road for the first time ever. Denis Rose was in the band, played second trumpet. We used to get V discs and Denis took things down off them. It was a forward looking band. I left the 'Orchard Club' to join Johnny Claes' band, I think I replaced Tommy Whittle. This was my first experience of touring and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Johnny was an excellent jazz musician and the band was one of the best of the period - a little rough but with great spirit and enthusiasm. I think perhaps the nine piece band that I led a few years back owed a lot to Johnny Claes' group".Ronnie Scott... "The Johnny Claes Band was way ahead of it's time. Johnny was a jazz musician way ahead of his time. I'd never heard a band before where a solo was allowed to extend more than one chorus. Ronnie could come to the front and play four or five choruses. Completely unheard of when I look back on it". Don Rendell "Johnny Claes was a good jazz player. Bit Harry James, bit Ziggy Elman. Bit Flary. Not a good trumpet player. Has all the feeling, all the know how but didn't have too much command. It either came or fell flat you know". Carlo Krahmer "I came to London in 1942 - then Johnny Claes hired me, I never expected to get so soon into the best little swing combo of it's day. So many of the good British sax players went through that band. It really swung and everyone was so jazz orientated". Coleridge Goode Johnny Claes died in the '60s. He was having a minor operation and never came out of the anaesthetic, he was always a little bit sickly, very white. He had a funny career nothing seemed to go right for him. His family had money, so he had his band and played some nice jazz. Tony Crombie |
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Gerry Moore and his Chicago Brethren - February 22nd, 1937 (Decca) Johnny Claes (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Jimmy Williams (cl), Reg Dare (ts), Gerry Moore (p), Jim Reid (b), Ben Edwards (d). Oh Lady Be Good*/Honeysuckle Rose*#. (*Timeless CD - George Chisholm - Early Days) (#Retrospective CD - George Chisholm The Gentleman of Jazz - A Centenary Tribute) Valaida, The Queen of Trumpet with Swing Accompaniment - July 7th, 1937 (Parlophone) Valaida Snow (vcl,tp-1) acc by Johnny Claes (tp), Derek Neville (as,bs), Reggie Dare (ts), Gun Finlay (p), Norman Brown (g), Louis Barreiro (b), Ken Stewart (d). Valaida Snow... The Mood That I'm In (1)*/Sweet Heartache (1)*/Don't Know If I'm Comin' Or Goin'#/Where Is The Sun (1)#. (*Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 1 1935 - 1937) (#Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 2 1935 - 1940) July 8th, 1937 (Parlophone) personnel as July 7th. Some Of These Days (1)#/Chloe#/Swing Is The Thing (1)#/Nagasaki (1)#. (#Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 2 1935 - 1937) July 9th, 1937 (Parlophone) personnel as July 7th. I Wonder Who Made Rhythm#/I Got Rhythm (1)#. (#Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 2 1935 - 1937) July 14th, 1937 (Parlophone) personnel as July 7th. I Can't Believe That your In Love With Me (1)#/Tiger Rag (1)#. (#Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 2 1935 - 1937) Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Stompers - April 3rd, 1939 (Days Rhythm Style) Johnny Claes (cnt), Derek Neville (cl,ts), Reggie Dare (ts), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Wilky Davis (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Exactly Like You/Runnin' Wild Blues/I Never Knew/7th Avenue At 51st. Street. "JOHNNY CLAES DISCOGRAPHY AND BIOGRAPHY" March to May, 1941 The first band engagement was at the Beach Underground Club in London under the title Johnny Claes and his Band The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Dave Wilkins (tp), Rube Stoloff (tb), Reg Owen, Reggie Dare, Spike Hornett (ts), Hetty Booth (p), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocals). On March 27th the band recorded I Got Rhythm with a vocal by Benny Lee and other titles at the Star Sound Studios. These were private recordings and were never issued commercially. At the end of March Reg Owen and Hetty Booth were replaced by Freddy Grant (ts) and Art Thompson (p). During this period the band made a number of film shorts for Pathe. May to August, 1941 the band was at the Montparnasse Club in London as Johnny Claes and his Band The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Dave Wilkins (tp), Rube Stoloff (tb), Gerry Alvarez, George Harrison (as), Reggie Dare, Spike Hornett (ts), Art Thompson (p), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocals). During this engagement Dave Wilkins and Rube Stoloff left and were not replaced. Harry Hayes (as), Aubrey Frank, Andy McDevitt (ts), and Doreen Villiers (vocal), worked with the band. The band made their first record for Columbia (FB2688) during this booking. The band was now known as the Clae Pigeons. Pianist Tommy Pollard had by now replaced Art Thompson... Nat Gonella presents Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons - July 12th, 1941 (Columbia) Johnny Claes, Nat Gonella (tp), Harry Hayes, George Harrison (as), Aubrey Frank, Gerry Alvarez (ts), Tommy Pollard (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal). How Am I To Know (vocal BL)/Stompin' At The Savoy. August to September, 1941 the band, now reduced to a quintet, was at the Cotton Club in London as Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Gerry Alvarez, (saxes), Tommy Pollard (p), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). In August, 1941 the larger version of the band recorded a BBC Forces programme for Radio Rhythm Club and also appeared in a Jazz Jamboree at the London Palladium on September 7th, 1941. Sunday, September 7th, 1941 the band performed at the London Palladium in a Jazz Jamboree. Besides the leader there were ten other musicians plus a vocalist. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Geoffrey Gilbert (fl), Harry Hayes, Gerry Alvarez, George Harrison (as), Andy McDevitt, Aubrey Franks (ts), Tommy Pollard (p), Charlie Short (b), Ivor Mairants (g), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal). circa September to October, 1941 the band, was at the Nuthouse Club in London as Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Gerry Alvarez, (saxes), Derek Neville (as,bs), Tommy Pollard/Norman Stenfalt (p), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Doreen Mann (vocal). Norman Stenfalt replaced Tommy Pollard sometime in this period. There is a suggestion that Johnny Claes replaced Nat Gonella for a Columbia record date by Gonella's New Georgians on September 26th, 1941. Gonella was by now in the Army. Johnny Claes' second recording date for Columbia. Fascinating Rhythm and Do I Worry? are on FB2724, the other two titles are on FB2741... Johnny Claes and his Clay Pigeons - October 18th, 1941 (Columbia) Johnny Claes, Nat Gonella (tp), Harry Hayes, Gerry Alvarez (as), Reg Owen, Aubrey Frank (ts), Norman Stenfalt, Tommy Pollard -1 (p), Joe Deniz (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal), Irene King (vocal). I Heard (vocal BL)*/Do I Worry? (vocal BL & IK)/Fascinating Rhythm (vocal IK)/My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean (1)(vocal IK, Gonella out). (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) circa late November, 1941 the band took part in a feature film called Escape to Justice. The film was made by Piccadilly Productions and Johnny Claes and his band appeared in a night club setting. Johnny Claes had a small acting role. circa early December, 1941 the band made a twenty minute film short called Happy Rhythm, again for Piccadilly Productions. The on screen musicians were: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Frank Weir (cl,as), Gerry Alvarez, (ts), Derek Neville (as,bs), Unknown (ts), possibly Alfie Kahn (ts), Norman Stenfalt (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Unknown (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). The band played a number of one night stands in December 1941, including Ilford Town Hall on December 10th, 1941. The band now had five saxes plus rhythm with just Johnny Claes on trumpet. The vocalists were Irene King and Benny Lee. This was Johnny Claes' third and final recording session for Columbia. (*FB2765 other titles on FB2774(or 5). Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons - January 15th, 1942 (Columbia) Johnny Claes (tp), Harry Hayes, Gerry Alvarez (as), Andy McDevitt (cl,ts), Aubrey Frank (ts), Norman Stenfalt (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal), Irene King (vocal). *Chattanooga Choo-choo (vocal BL)/*Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (vocal BL)/Watch The Birdie (vocal IK)/The Whistler's Mother-In-Law (vocal BL). January to early August, 1942 the band appeared at the Panama Club, and the Cuba Club as well as broadcasting for the BBC Home Service for the Forces and on BBC Radio Rhythm Club. The personnel varied regularly, Keith Bird, clarinet, came in and Tommy Pollard and Bernie Fenton, both future Club Eleven pianists, had spells with the band. Kenny Graham, Coleridge Goode and Lauderic Caton were other top jazz musicians who made their mark in the band. mid August to early October, 1942 the band, was at the Embassy Club in London as Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Gerry Alvarez, Dougie Robinson (as), Kenny Graham, George Harris (ts), Bernie Fenton (p), Lauderic Caton (g), Coleridge Goode (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Billie Campbell (vocal). During his time with the band Kenny Graham used to be known as Tex Kershaw... From late September to early October, 1942 Johnny Claes led his Clae Pigeons on a short British tour entertaining American troops. Following this tour Claes broke up the band. The war was making it impossible to keep a band going, not only were there fewer gigs available but musicians were being called up for war service. The personnel for the tour was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Gerry Alvarez (as), Kenny Graham (ts), Bernie Fenton (p), Lauderic Caton (g), Coleridge Goode (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). During December 1942 Johnny Claes made a series of six programmes for BBC Forces under the title of Tea and Trumpets. They were fifteen minutes long and were shown at weekly intervals at 5pm on Thursday afternoons through December and into January 1943. The group was listed as Johnny Claes and his Rhythm Sectionand the personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Tommy Dummar (p), Lauderic Caton (g), Teddy Wadmore (b), Bobby Richards (d). From January 9th to March 31st, 1943 Claes reformed his band for an engagement at the Astor Club in London as Johnny Claes and his Band. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Jackie Bonser (as), Frank Freedman (ts), Tommy Dummar (p), Lauderic Caton (g), Reg Davis (b), Bobby Richards (d), Billie Campbell (vocal). During the period of this engagement Claes took part in a couple of radio broadcasts - one with a band with two violins, another a quintet with a vibes player and two guitars. The next long term engagement was from April to November, 1943 at the Potomac Club and from May, 1943 the band doubled at the Princes Restaurant as Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons. This was with a smaller band than usual and the personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Reggie Dare (ts), Barry Mills (p), Frank Deniz (g), Maurice Leslie (b), Tony Lytton (d), Billie Campbell (vocal). Work seems to have dried up after this booking although the band may have taken part in a feature film Star for a night in mid 1943, but other bookings seem meagre although Tommy Whittle (tenor sax) and Denis Rose (trumpet) played on some gigs during the summer of 1944. For the month of September, 1944 the band were resident at Neales Ballroom in Coventry as Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Denis Rose (tp), Ronnie Chandler (as), Gerry Alvarez (as,bs), Tommy Whittle (ts), Jimmy Henney(?) (p), Roy Dexter (b), Freddy Crump (d), Billie Campbell(?) (vocal). On Saturday 30th September a BBC Saturday night at the Palais programme was broadcast on the Home Service from 11pm to midnight. In early October, 1944 Ronnie Scott replaced Tommy Whittle. A residency from October to early December, 1944 followed at the Gliderdome in Boston, Lincs. as Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons. The personnel was: Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Denis Rose (tp), Ronnie Chandler (as), Gerry Alvarez (as,bs), Ronnie Scott (ts), Jimmy Henney (p), Roy Dexter (b,vocal), Freddy Crump (d). In March, 1945 another bebopper Terry Brown replaced Denis Rose and the band did a series of one nighters around southern England, returning to the Gliderdome from late April to late May, 1945. In July 1945 the band appeared in a feature film George in Civvy Street starring George Formby and played one title Mop Mop as well as miming to some incidental music and having minor acting roles. In July, 1945 Johnny Claes and his band appeared in a George Formby film titled George in Ivy Street. The film soundtrack was recorded at Denham Studios in Middlesex and the band recorded one title (Mop mop). Other musical sequences that are mimed on the screen by the band were recorded in a studio by Harry Bidgood and his Orchestra. The band comprised: Johnny Claes (tp,ldr), Denis Rose (tp), Ronnie Chandler (as), Ronnie Scott (ts), Gerry Alvarez (as,bs), poss. Jimmy Henney (p), Roy Dexter (b), Freddie Crump (d) + George Formby. This was the recording debut of Denis Rose and Ronnie Scott. More than three years after his last recording session for Columbia the Johnny Claes Clae Pigeons recorded at the Victor Buckland studio in Derby. A small studio audience was present and other titles may have been recorded. For some reason none of the recorded titles were ever issued... Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons - August, 1945 (Unissued) Johnny Claes (tp,dir), Terry Brown (tp), Gerry Alvarez (as,bs), Ronnie Scott, Dennis Hughes (ts), Bill Barker (p), Roy Dexter (b), Freddie Crump (d). Chelsea Bridge (unissued)/C Jam Blues (unissued). Ralph Sharon and Roy Willox played on some gigs in 1945 and Ronnie Scott left the band at the end of August, 1945. After a few one nighters in southern England in September, 1945 Johnny Claes disbanded for the last time and returned to the family business in Brussels. He ran The Esquire Club in Blackenburg and wrote for the Belgian Jazz Hot magazine. In 1948 he took up professional motor racing and between 1950 and 1955 competed in 23 Grand Prix. He was a popular and under-rated driver but died in Belgium in 1956 whilst awaiting an operation for cancer. Other sources suggest that he died from TB. | |