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Derek Neville, Keith Bird
Derek Neville
Saxophonist and clarinet player Derek Neville was born into a musical family at Handsworth, Birmingham in March, 1911. He was brought up in London, taught himself to play and began gigging in the London area in his late teens. He worked in the London clubs in the early 1930s before spending time in Holland, Switzerland and France, at one time working in a band led by Coleman Hawkins. In 1939 he was working with George Shearing at the Nut House Club before going into the RAF from late 1939 until December 1942.
He worked with Harry Parry from 1943 to 1944 and guested with Johnny Claes and then joined a number of bands for short periods before forming his own Boptet in October 1948. He continued to freelance including Club Eleven and the Feldman Swing Club, while gaining "the knowledge" to become a London taxi driver. He gained his licence and then emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand working as a taxi driver while playing occasional gigs. He returned full time to music in 1961, mainly playing baritone sax. He visited England in 1980 and died in New Zealand sometime in 1986. Most of his recordings with Harry Parry are currently available on CD.

Derek Neville (c1948)
Derek Neville c1948 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.

In early December, 1941 the Johnny Claes Band made a twenty minute film short called Happy Rhythm, 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).

Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - December 10th, 1942 (Parlophone)
Dave Wilkins (tp,vocal), Harry Parry (cl), Derek Neville (as,bs), Ken Oldham (ts), York De Souza (p), Joe Deniz (g), Sam Molineux (b), Sid Raymond (d), Primrose Hayes (vocal).
Mr Five By Five (vocal DW)#/I Never Knew (vocal PH).
(#Sunflower CD - Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextets - Crazy Rhythm)

March 23rd, 1943 (Parlophone)
Personnel as December 10th, 1942.
You Are My Lucky Star*#/Blue Train Blues (vocal HP)*#/The Darktown Strutters Ball#/Stardust#.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)
(#Sunflower CD - Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextets - Crazy Rhythm)

Harry Parry and his Radio Sextet - June 21st, 1943 (Parlophone)
Dave Wilkins (tp,vocal), Harry Parry (cl), Ken Oldham (ts), Derek Neville (as,bs), York De Souza (p), Sam Molineaux (b), Sid Raymond (d), Rita Marlowe (vcl).
Polly Put The Kettle On#/Dr.Heckle And Mr. Jibe#/St. Louis Blues (vocal RM)/Body And Soul*.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)
(#Sunflower CD - Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextets - Crazy Rhythm)

July 22nd, 1943 (Parlophone)
Personnel as June 21st, except Stan Roderick (tp) replaces Dave Wilkins.
A Hundred Years From Today (vocal HP)#/Tea For Two#.
(#Sunflower CD - Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextets - Crazy Rhythm)

August 19th, 1943 (Parlophone)
Personnel as July 22nd, except Dave Wilkins (tp) replaces Stan Roderick.
Basin Street Blues/Runnin'Wild*/Rosetta/Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)

October 23rd, 1943 (Parlophone)
Personnel as August 19th.
Blue Lou/No Gin Blues/Hallelujah*/Boogie Rides To York#.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)
(#Sunflower CD - Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextets - Crazy Rhythm)

Harry Parry and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - December 28th, 1943 (Parlophone)
Stan Roderick (tp), Harry Parry (cl), Derek Neville (as,bs), Ken Oldham (ts), York De Souza (p), Sam Molineaux (b), Sid Raymond (d).
Moonglow*/On The Sunny Side Of The Street/If I Had You/South Rampart Street Parade*.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)

March 3rd, 1944 (Parlophone)
Personnel as December 28th, 1943.
Jazz Me Blues/I Surrender Dear/I'll Remember April/One O'clock Jump*.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)

May 26th, 1944 (Parlophone)
Personnel as March 3rd, except Pat O'Neill (p) replaces Yorke De Souza.
Parry Party/Gone With The Wind/Boogie Bounce*/Rocky Mountain Blues.
(*Vocalion CD - Parry Opus - The Harry Parry Sextets)
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Keith Bird
Keith Bird was born in April, 1922 and died in 1983. He played saxes and clarinet and was playing professionally by 1939. Worked with Johnny Claes in 1942 and then joined the RAF where he saw service in Italy. From 1946 he spent seven years with Geraldo and during this period led his own sextet. He was a member of Kenny Baker's dozen in the mid 1950s. Worked freelance in the 1960s and '70s including sessions with Ted Heath.

Keith Bird and The Esquire Six - October 13th, 1949 (Esquire)
Keith Bird (cl), Tommy Pollard (vib), Ralph Sharon (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Cab Kaye (voc-1).
How High The Moon(1)/Esquire Blues/Tom's Tea Party/Revol.

Kenny Baker Orchestra - March 3rd, 1952 (Melodisc)
Kenny Baker, Harry Lethman, Alan Franks, Freddy Clayton (tp), Harry Roche, Don Lusher (tb), Douggie Robinson, Bill Jackson, Keith Bird, Harry Klein (reeds), Stan Tracey (p), Alan McDonald (b), Johnny Flanagan (d).
The Very Thought Of You/The Night Is Long.

Martin Slavin's Vibrachords - September 3rd, 1954 (Esquire 10-396/416)
Keith Bird (cl), Martin Slavin (vib), Dill Jones (p), Archie Slavin (g), Joe Muddel (b), Roy Cooper (d).
Sweet Georgia Brown/I Surrender Dear/Crazy Rhythm/After You've Gone.

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)

Kenny Baker and his Dozen - May 26th, 1955 (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*.
(*Castle 3 CD box set - Too Hot - The Best of British Mainstream Jazz)

Discographical detail below is not listed in Lord's Jazz Discography and has been taken from Jazz Journal which published the results of work undertaken by Bernard Shirley, Tony Middleton and Pete Lay. The information on the label is incomplete and misleading....
Bix Curtis Jazz Group - July 28th, 1956 (Jazz from Club Basie - World Record Club R46)
Hank Shaw (tp), Keith Bird (ts), Derek Smith (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Four.

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.

George Chisholm and the Magnificent Seven - c1967 (The Magnificent Seven - Columbia SCX6195)
Eddie Blair (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Roy Willox (as), Keith Bird (ts), Tony Coe (ts,bs), Max Harris (p), Lennie Bush (b), Bobby Orr (d).
It's The Talk Of The Town/Point Left Right/It's The Bluest Kind Of Blues/Avroma/Dear Old Southland/Seven Up/Three Four Aft/Tic Tac/The Midnight Sun Will Never Set/I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance../You Turned The Tables On Me.

Ted Heath and his Music - September 27th and 28th, 1967 (Swing is King - Decca)
Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Tony Fisher, Eddie Blair (tp), Don Lusher, Johnny Edwards, Keith Christie, Jackie Armstrong (tb), Roy Willox, Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Keith Bird, Bob Efford (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Lennie Bush (b), Ronnie Verrell (d).
Flying Home*/Cherokee*/Begin The Beguine*/One O'Clock Jump*/Song Of India*/Woodchopper's Ball*/Elks' Parade*/In The Mood*/Two O'Clock Jump*/Take The A Train*/String Of Pearls*/Opus One*.
(*Vocalion CD - "Swing is King / Swing is King volume 2")

The previous album was a success because within a few months a second volume was recorded. Ted Heath died in 1969 so this was the last recording under his leadership...
Ted Heath and his Music - May 30th and 31st, 1968 (Swing is King Volume 2- Decca)
Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Bert Ezzard, Eddie Blair (tp), Don Lusher, Johnny Edwards, Keith Christie, Jackie Armstrong (tb), Roy Willox, Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Keith Bird, Bob Efford (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Lennie Bush (b), Ronnie Verrell (d).
Skyliner*/South Rampart Street*/Intermission Riff*/Jumpin' At The Woodside*/Oh, Lady Be Good*/Don't Get Around Much Any More*/Jersey Bounce*/Harlem Nocturne*/Sing, Sing, Sing*/Contrasts*/Long John Silver*/Apple Honey*.
(*Vocalion CD - "Swing is King / Swing is King volume 2")
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