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| Harry Hayes... |
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Harry Hayes was born in Marylebone, London on March 23, 1909 the son of a bookmaker. At the age of 11 he won a scholarship to the local grammar school and his parents rewarded him with the gift of a soprano saxophone. He took to the instrument immediately and became a professional musician at 16, taking a job at the Regent Dance Hall, Brighton. In 1927 he joined Fred Elizalde's Orchestra, reputed to be the hottest British dance band of its day, at the Savoy Hotel. A list of the bandleaders for whom he played, and the West End night clubs where they appeared, reads like a society roll-call of the period - Sidney Lipton, Sidney Kyte, Maurice Winnick, Geraldo, Ciro's, the Mayfair Hotel, the Cafe de Paris, Grosvenor House and the Savoy among them. This was a world inhabited by top professional musicians, and jazz formed a very small part of the nightly repertoire. He was called up in 1940, serving in the Band of the Welsh Guards, but continued much of his recording and broadcasting work with Geraldo, whose 1940 version of Sweet Sue, featuring a solo by Hayes, is startlingly fiery for the period. Demobbed in 1944, in the same year he signed a contract with HMV Records and began the series of small-band recordings which established his reputation with the wider public. These bands featured an elegant, cool modern sound which was the forerunner of the new sounds about to engulf British modern jazz in the late 1940s. Based loosely on the small bands drawn from Duke Ellington's orchestra, the band featured such players as George Chisholm, Kenny Baker, Aubrey Frank, George Shearing and Tommy Whittle, and often included compositions by Hayes himself. The band was resident at Churchill's Club from 1945 to 1947 and was something of a sensation with the jazz loving public. However when bebop hit the scene Hayes, although one of the first to embrace its concepts and tried to incorporate bop elements into his own playing, soon admitted his shortcomings in this regard, and reverted to the melodic and harmonic characteristics of his earlier style. He dropped out of band leading and rejoined Geraldo in 1949, then Sydney Lipton in 1950. He opened a musical instrument shop and become a leading saxophone tutor. Hayes was a member of the Kenny Baker Dozen from 1952 until the late 1950s and continued to lead his own bands at various London nightspots into the 1960s. For eight years he was musical director at Winston's Club. In 1965 he retired from regular playing to concentrate on his retail business, which had grown to include three record shops in Fulham. He continued to perform occasionally, his last appearance being at the Birmingham Jazz Festival in 1992. He died in March, 2002 at the age of 92. |
 Harry Hayes was always in demand as a sideman and played in many other prominent groups and the discography below has been expanded to include these recordings with other bands as well as his own. I am not aware that a discography has been prepared for Harry Hayes before, this one is certainly incomplete - any further information would be welcomed... He was highly regarded by top modern jazz musicians. Ronnie Scott said: "Harry was the guv'nor" - Harry Klein: "The best tone in the world" - Benny Green: "He taught me to play". |
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Eddie Sammons has provided the following information: In the early 1990s a 2 CD set covering the HMV recordings made by the Harry Hayes Band from November 15th, 1944 to July 22nd, 1947 was issued privately by Harry. Professionally produced, the 2 CD set was not available in the shops and is now almost impossible to find. The details are listed by session below as: (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) | |
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Valaida Snow acc by Billy Mason and his Orchestra - January 18th, 1935 (Parlophone) Valaida Snow (vcl,tp-1) acc by Duncan White, Louis de Vries (tp), Harry Hayes (as), Buddy Featherstonhaugh (ts), Billy Mason (p), Sam Molyneaux (b), George Elrick (d). Valaida Snow... Poor Butterfly#/I Wish I Were Twins (1)*. (*Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 1 1935 - 1937) (#Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 2 1935 - 1937) January 19th, 1935 (Parlophone) personnel as January 18th,. You Ain't Livin' Right (unissued)/I Can't Dance (1)*. (*Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 1 1935 - 1937) February 20th, 1935 (Parlophone) personnel as January 18th,. It Had To Be You*/You Bring Out The Savage In Me (1)*. (*Harlequin CD - Valaida Vol 1 1935 - 1937) Joe Daniels and his Hot Shots - November, 1935 to May, 1938 (Parlophone) In this period Harry Hayes, playing clarinet and alto sax took part in some fourteen recording sessions recording nearly fifty titles with the Joe Daniels group. Johnny Claes And His Claypigeons - 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. Johnny Claes And His Claypigeons - October 18th, 1941 (Columbia) Johnny Claes, Nat Gonella (tp), Harry Hayes, Gerry Alvarez (as), Reg Owen, Aubrey Frank (ts), Norman Stenfalt (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 (vocal IK, Gonella out). (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) Johnny Claes And His Claypigeons - 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). Melody Maker's Competition Band - May 31st, 1942 (Decca) Dave Wilkins, Kenny Baker, Tommy McQuater (tp), George Chisholm, Woolf Phillips (tb), Harry Parry (cl), Harry Hayes (as), George Evans, Aubrey Frank, Reggie Dare (ts), George Shearing (p), Joe Deniz (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Jock Cummings (d). Red Duster Rag*/Red Duster Rag. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) George Shearing Sextet - February 14th, 1944 (Decca) Kenny Baker (tp), Harry Hayes (as), Aubrey Frank (ts), George Shearing (p), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Cymbal Simon*/Riff Up Them Stairs*/Five Flat Flurry*/Trunk Call*. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (*JSP 5CD set - George Shearing - The Early Years) George Chisholm and his Orchestra - May 23rd, 1944 (Decca) Tommy McQuater, Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Alfie Noakes (tp), George Chisholm, Eric Breeze, Bruce Campbell (tb), Harry Hayes Dougie Robinson (as), Andy McDevitt, Jimmy Skidmore (ts), Jimmy Durant (bs,sop), Billy Munn (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Jack Collier (b), Jock Cummings (d). Mood For Trumpet*/All Is Not Gold That Jitters*#. (#Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (*Timeless CD - George Chisholm - Early Days) (#Retrospective CD - George Chisholm The Gentleman of Jazz - A Centenary Tribute) George Chisholm and his Jive Eight - May 23rd, 1944 (Decca) Tommy McQuater (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Andy McDevitt (cl), Harry Hayes (as), Jimmy Skidmore (ts), Billy Munn (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Jack Collier (b), Jock Cummings (d). Little Earle*/Broadhurst Garden Blues*. (*Timeless CD - George Chisholm - Early Days) (*Retrospective CD - George Chisholm The Gentleman of Jazz - A Centenary Tribute) Harry Hayes and his Band - November 15th, 1944 (HMV) Kenny Baker (tp), George Flynn (tb), Harry Hayes (as), Bill Lewington (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Archie Slavin (g), Tommy Bromley (b), George Firestone (d). My Love/Sequence*#. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) December 13th, 1944 (HMV) Harry Roche (tb) replaces Flynn. Needlenose*#/First Edition#/Five Flat Flurry#. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) February 7th, 1945 (HMV) George Chisholm (tb) replaces Roche. Drop Me Off At Harlem*#. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) April 9th, 1945 (HMV) Jock Bain (tb), Phil Goody (bs) replace Chisholm and Lewington. Merely A Minor*#/Two, Three, Four Jump*#/Up*#/No Script*#. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - May 28th, 1945 (HMV) Jimmy Watson (tp), Jack Bentley (tb), Harry Hayes (as), Bill Lewington (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Archie Slavin (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Billy Lonsdale (d). Three O'clock Jump/Cherry Brandy#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - September 19th, 1945 (HMV) Jimmy Watson, Freddy Clayton (tp), Jock Bain (tb), Harry Hayes (as), Jimmy Williams (ts), Bill Lewington (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Joe Deniz (g), Charles Scott (b), Billy Lonsdale (d). Midnight Prowl#/Playboy#/Homeward Bound#/Swingin' On Lenox Avenue#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - December 31st, 1945 (HMV) Len Whitely, Billy Smith (tp), Nobby Clarke (tb), Harry Hayes, Micky Deans (ts), Bill Lewington (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Alan Ferguson (g), Charles Scott (b), George Firestone (d). Keep Going - Don't Stop (part 1)#/Keep Going - Don't Stop (part 2)#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - March 4th, 1946 (HMV) Kenny Baker (tp), Lad Busby (tb), Harry Hayes (as), Bill Lewington (bs), Pat Dodd (p), Alan Ferguson (g), Charles Scott (b), George Firestone (d). Miss Magnolia#/Out Of Space#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - March 4th, 1946 (HMV) Harry Hayes (as), Pat Dodd (p), Alan Ferguson (g), Charles Scott (b), George Firestone (d). Can't You Read Between The Lines#/I'll Close My Eyes#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - October 7th, 1946 (HMV) Leo Wright (tp), Harry Hayes (as), Tommy Whittle (ts), Bill Lewington (bs), George Shearing (p), Alan Ferguson (g), Bert Howard (b), Billy Wiltshire (d). Familiar Moe#/High As A Kite#/A Flat To C#/Blue Charm*#. (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) (#JSP 5CD set - George Shearing - The Early Years) December 13th, 1946 (HMV) Johnny Wise (d) replaces Wiltshire. Let's Get Acquainted#/Alto Reverie#/Crazy Rhythm#/Rockin' In Rhythm*#. (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes and his Band - April 24th, 1947 (HMV) Leo Wright (tp), Harry Hayes (as), Aubrey Frank (ts), Bill Lewington (bs), George Shearing (p), Alan Ferguson (g), Arthur O'Neill (b), Norman Burns (d). Scuttlebutt#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) May 5th, 1947 (HMV) Alan Franks (tp) replaces Wright. Ol' Man Rebop#/Lucky Number#/Dubonnet#. (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) With the inreasing interest in the new modern jazz sounds at this time, the 'Melody Maker' and 'Columbia Records' held a joint jazz rally at which the Harry Hayes Band and the Woolf Phillips group played. Melody Maker's Jazz Rally - June 29th, 1947 (All issued on Columbia) Frank Weir, Carl Barriteau (cl), Harry Hayes, Bertie King (as), Tommy Whittle (ts), Ralph Sharon (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Jack Collier (b), Jock Cummings (d). Confessin'/C Jam Blues/Thriving On A Riff*. (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) Harry Hayes and his Band - July 22nd, 1947 (HMV) Alan Franks (tp), Lad Busby (tb), Harry Hayes (as), Aubrey Frank (ts), Bill Lewington (bs), George Shearing (p), Alan Ferguson (g), Jack Fallon (b), Norman Burns (d), Lawrence Jackson (vcl). Dinner Jacket#/The Be-bop (vcl). (# Harry Hayes 2 CD set - Harry Hayes and his Band - HMV recordings) Harry Hayes And His Orchestra - c1947 (HMV) Big band including: Harry Hayes (as), Kenny Graham (ts), Tommy Pollard (p). Four titles (details not known). Kenny Baker and his Dozen - May 6th and 10th, 1955 (Baker's Dozen Vol 1 - Nixa NPT19003) Kenny Baker, Freddy Clayton (tp), George Chisholm (tb), EO Pogson, Harry Hayes, Harry Klein, Keith Bird, Freddie Ballerini (reeds), Bill McGuffie (p), Martin Slavin (vib), Joe Muddel (b), Eric Delaney (d). Baker's Boogie*/Ev'ntide*/Phil The Fluter's Ball*/Bugle Call Rag*/Harlem Twist*/Blues I Love To Sing*/Mean Dog Blues*#/Delerium*. (#Castle 3 CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz) (*Vocalion CD - Kenny Baker Presents Baker's Dozen Vol. 1 & The Half Dozen) In 2002 Jasmine Records issued a CD containing 'previously unissued performances' by the Kenny Baker Dozen and Half Dozen. This session does not appear in Kenny Baker discographies although several titles on this CD have been recorded on other dates. The booklet with the CD says only that they are studio recordings made in the mid - 1950s. It does not say who made the original recordings, presumably it is a record company but may even be the BBC, the dozen had a regular late night programme on the BBC at the time... Kenny Baker and his Dozen - c1955 (?) probable personnel: Kenny Baker, Tommy McQuater (or Freddy Clayton) (tp), Keith Christie, George Chisholm (tb), EO Pogson, Harry Hayes, Keith Bird (reeds), Derek Collins (ts) Harry Klein (bs), Derek Smith (p), Bill Le Sage (vib), Joe Muddel (b), Phil Seamen (d). Midriff*/Bugler's Lament*/The Blues I Love To Sing*/The Moon Is Low*/I Can't Escape From You*/Straight Life*/9.20 Special*/In A Sentimental Mood*/We'll Be Together Again*/Plymouth Rock*/Oh! You Beautiful Doll*/Woofti*/My Blue Heaven*/Not Really The Blues*/C'est Ci Bon*/Duke's Jam*. (*Jasmine CD - Kenny Baker's Dozen Play Not Quite Two Dozen) Kenny Baker and his Dozen - February 2nd, 1957 (BBC Light programme "Let's Settle For Music") Kenny Baker (tp,flhrn), Tommy McQuater (tp), Keith Christie (tb,v-tb), George Chisholm (tb), EO Pogson (bs sax,ocarina), Harry Hayes (as), Keith Bird (cl,ts), Derek Collins (cl) Harry Klein (bs), Derek Smith (p), Bill Le Sage (vib,acc), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). John's Idea*/Someone To Watch Over Me*/It's Only A Paper Moon*/Down In Our Alley Blues*/Would You Like To Take A Walk*/You're Lucky To Me*/Sister Kate*/Kansas City Kitty*/Cherry Point*/Love For Sale*/Alice Blue Gown*/Ill Wind*/Swinging On C*. (*Acrobat 2 CD - Kenny Baker's Dozen Live at the BBC 1957) Kenny Baker and his Dozen - February 16th, 1957 (BBC Light programme "Let's Settle For Music") Kenny Baker (tp,flhrn), Tommy McQuater (tp), Ken Wray (bass-tp,v-tb), George Chisholm (tb), Harry Hayes (as), Keith Bird (cl,ts), Derek Collins (cl) Harry Klein (bs), Derek Smith (p), Bill Le Sage (vib,acc), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Autobahn Blues*/Mood for Trumpet*/You're In Kentucky Sure As You're Born*/Charlie The Chulo*/East Of The Sun*/My Sweetie Went Away*/Black And Blue*/Sensation Rag*/I Love You Samantha*/Cottontail*/Progressive Gavotte*/Darn That Dream*/Moten Swing*. (*Acrobat 2 CD - Kenny Baker's Dozen Live at the BBC 1957) Kenny Baker and his Dozen - May 26th, 1957 (Nixa NPT19020) Kenny Baker, Tommy McQuater (tp), Jackie Armstrong, George Chisholm (tb), EO Pogson, Harry Hayes, Keith Bird (reeds), Derek Collins (ts) Harry Klein (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Bill Le Sage (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Bugler's Lament/There'll Never Be Another You/If You Were The Only Girl/Whistle And I'll come To You/Gal From Joe's/Coquette/We'll Always Be Sweethearts/Too cool for The Blues. |