Kathy Stobart discography...
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Kathy Stobart discography...
Kathy Stobart - 1969 Kathy Stobart was born into a musical family in South Shields, Co. Durham in 1925. Through a long career she played tenor, baritone and soprano saxes as well as clarinet and flute. She took up the alto sax aged twelve and joined a ladies swing band at the age of fourteen. Initially Kathy Stobart's dreams were of a stage career as an actress and singer and she achieved early success as a singer and saxophone player with youth acts and provincial bands. Problems with her vocal cords led to difficulties with performing and in 1942 she came to London to replace Keith Bird, a well known saxophonist in his quartet and also joined Denis Rose at the Jamboree Club in central London. She later credited Keith Bird for influencing her towards a career as a jazz musician. She had became a professional musician in 1941 and was becoming a featured player on the London club scene. She joined the Art Thompson band in 1943, (subsequently marrying him), and went with the band to Canada and the US before returning to the UK in 1948 to join Vic Lewis whom she continued to play and record with until 1952. She had formed her first band in early 1950.
Her band was musically advanced, playing "Lennie Tristano and other clever stuff", but was not a financial success, having been booked on the ballroom circuit. Although the band had passed the BBC audition, disagreements with BBC heads of Light Music meant that the band never had any real radio exposure either. They therefore disbanded in early 1951.
The band had included Bert Courtley, Derek Humble, Alex Leslie, Pete King, Freddy Syer, Tommy Watt and Dill Jones amongst others.

Having divorced Art Thompson Kathy Stobart married Bert Courtley in October 1951 and following the demise of the Stobart band they returned to Vic Lewis. By the mid 1950s Courtley was playing jazz with Don Rendell and Kathy was off the scene full time, while she gave birth to their three sons. She continued to play in the clubs whenever possible working with Johnny Rogers (1953), Jack Fallon (1954/5), Tony Kinsey and appeared at the 51 Club, and the Flamingo Club as well as playing gigs all over the UK.

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Kathy Stobart
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s she was teaching at the City Literary Institute in Drury Lane, London, an activity she continued for nineteen years. In November 1957 she joined Humphrey Lyttelton as a replacement for Jimmy Skidmore who had serious stomach trouble and stayed for three months. By this time Lyttelton had moved away from trad jazz and had three saxophones in his lineup. In 1959 she was with Tony Kinsey, 1960 with Eddie Thompson and Dizzy Reece and in 1961 worked with Bert Courtley in a new sextet which continued until he joined the Ted Heath band.

Through the 1960s she continued to dep with Humphrey Lyttelton usually for Tony Coe who was now doing a lot of other work and in 1969 she joined the band full time, replacing Tony Coe. The 1970s were a hectic time, the Lytelton band toured extensively, she continued to teach at the City Lit. and continued to play club gigs with her own groups. In 1978 she had a breakdown of sorts and left the Lyttelton band and through the rest of the 1970s gigged with Harry Beckett, John Burch, Lennie Best and others.

Three Mediterranean cruise with the Kenny Baker All Stars followed in the early 1980s as well as work with a variety of other musicians, particularly with other women - Gail Thompson's Gail Force (1986), co led a quintet with Joan Cunningham in the late 1980s and early 1990s before in 1991 she rejoined Humphrey Lyttelton. She played regularly through to the early 2000s and looking to play for as long as she could. By this time she was playing baritone and soprano sax as well as the tenor. She has continued to teach and run jazz courses and is now regarded as the "first lady of British jazz". Two of her three sons are semi-professional musicians.
Kathy's husband Bert Courtley died in 1969 two days after his 40th birthday, leaving Kathy with responsibility for their three teenage sons. In an interview with Martin Richards in Jazz Journal - August 2000 she blamed his death on the stresses of working with the Ted Heath band. See Bert Courtley...
She died, aged 89, July 6th, 2014.. www.kathystobart.co.uk

After much delving around in the Decca files Tony Middleton has discovered that Kathy's first recording was made in 1944 with the Art Thompson Orchestra although, sadly, it was never issued. Tony adds that Lita Roza was singing with the band around the time of the recording and Art and Kathy were also on television in the mid-forties, probably working as a duo..
Art Thompson and his Swing Orchestra - June 20th, 1944 (Decca)
Tommy Balderson, Duncan Whyte, Tommy Spring (tp), Sam Acres, Hamish Christie (tb), Jimmy Paul, Manny Prince, Bruce George, Kathy Stobart (saxes), Art Thompson (p,dir), Arthur O'Neill (b), Micky Greeve (d), Reg Owen (arr).
Deed I Do (unissued)/Breakneck Boogie (unissued).

The tracks following were from a BBC Light Programme broadcast "Design for Dancing"
Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - November 26th, 1948 (Harlequin HQ3014*/DJM)
Johnny Shakespeare, Bunny Layzell, Hank Shaw, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Roy Bassett, Jimmy Wilson (tb), Peter Howe (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart, Ken Beckett (ts), Bill Collins (bs), Dill Jones (p), Al Ferdman (g), John Quest (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Minor Riff*/The Folks Who Live On The Hill.

The tracks following were from a film soundtrack for the film "Vengeance is Mine"
Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - early December, 1948 (DJM)
Johnny Shakespeare, Bunny Layzell, Hank Shaw, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Roy Bassett, Jimmy Wilson (tb), Peter Howe (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart, Ken Beckett (ts), Bill Collins (bs), Dill Jones (p), Al Ferdman (g), John Quest (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir) + woodwinds and percussion.
Vengeance Is Mine (part 1)/Vengeance Is Mine (part 2).

Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - December 3rd, 1948 (Harlequin HQ3013)
Johnny Shakespeare, Bunny Layzell, Hank Shaw, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Roy Bassett, Jimmy Wilson (tb), Peter Howe (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart, Ken Beckett (ts), Bill Collins (bs), Dill Jones (p), Al Ferdman (g), John Quest (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Body And Soul.

The tracks following were from a BBC Light Programme broadcast "Design for Dancing"
Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 7th, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3014)
Johnny Shakespeare, Bunny Layzell, Hank Shaw, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Jack Waters, Stan Smith (poss), (tb), Peter Howe (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart, Vince Bovill (poss) (ts), Bill Collins (bs), Dill Jones (p), Al Ferdman (g), John Quest (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Rhythm Incorporated/Interlude.

Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - January 25th, 1949 (Parlophone)
Johnny Shakespeare, Bunny Layzell, Hank Shaw, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Jack Waters, Stan Smith, (tb), Peter Howe, Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart, Vince Bovill (ts), Bill Collins (bs), Dill Jones (p), Al Ferdman (g), John Honeyman (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir) + percussion.
West Indian Ritual/Sunday Girl/High On A Windy Hill/No Orchids.

Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - June, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3014, recorded in Hamburg)
Micky Meene, Norman McCaskill, Johnny Oldfield, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Stan Smith, Mac Minshull (tb), Peter Howe, Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart, Vince Bovill (ts), Jack Phillips (bs), Dill Jones (p), Al Ferdman (g), John Honeyman (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Harlem Holiday. (Fourteen other titles recorded have not been issued).

June, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3014/DJM*, concert Garrison Theatre, Hamburg)
Personnel as above.
Elegy For Alto*/I Told Ya I Love Ya/Collaboration/Metronome Riff. (Eight other titles recorded have not been issued).

Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - September, 1949 (probably from BBC broadcasts)
Big band probably including Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Kathy Stobart (ts), Dill Jones (p), Pete Rugolo (arr), Vic Lewis (dir).
Safranski/You Was (vocal)/Inspiration*/Harem Holiday/Heir To A Chinese Maiden*.
(*BMG CD - Vic Lewis - A Tribute to Stan Kenton)

Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - November 3rd, 1949 (Harlequin HQ3013)
Micky Meene, Harry Finch, Paul Berman, Harold Luff (tp), Don Lang, Stan Smith, Tony Russell (tb), Peter Howe, Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop), Kathy Stobart (ts,vcl), Vince Bovill (ts), Bill Collins (bs), Arthur Greenslade (p), Alan McDonald (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Don't Smoke In Bed (vcl KS).

Some of these titles were issued with the Esquire 5 prefix* to the number, (i.e. not really jazz), and none have been re-issued.
Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - May 7th, 1951 (Esquire)
Ronnie Simmonds, Stan Reynolds, Bert Courtley, Terry Lewis (tp), Johnny Keating, Ken Goldie (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,cl,sop), Derek Humble (cl,as), Kathy Stobart (ts,vcl), Pete Warner (ts), Jimmy Simmonds (bs), Arthur Greenslade (p), Pete Blannin (b), Peter Coleman (d), Marion Williams (vcl), Vic Lewis (dir,vcl).
Vic's Riff/Everywhere/Be My Love*/The Apple/Festival riff/The Moon Was Yellow/Foggy Day/Tea For Two* (vcl MW, JK + rhythm section only).

Kathy Stobart recalls that her band was recorded sometime in 1951 in Manchester by Johnny Roadhouse. He had a shop with a studio underneath and he recorded her band. The records were issued on the Decibel label but the recordings have never been re-issued and the masters were presumably lost. Site visitor Charles Cox has discovered a 78rpm record, (Decibel P3), that contains Idaho and Old Black Magic and has kindly forwarded an audio transcription that is available to anybody with an interest in Kathy's early records. Please use e-mail at the bottom of the page...
Kathy Stobart & her Orchestra - October, 1951 (Decibel)
Bert Courtley (tp), Derek Humble (as), Kathy Stobart, Pete King (ts), Alex Leslie (bs), Dennis Armitage (p), Len Harrison (b), Pete Bray (d), Franklin Boyd (vcl).
He Was A Good Man/Idaho/Old Black Magic (FB vocal)/Lover Come Back To Me.

Vic Lewis and his New Music - March 26th, 1952 (Esquire)
Bert Courtley (tp), Tommy Smith (frh), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sops), Kathy Stobart (ts), Jimmy Simmonds (bs), Clive Chaplin (p), Martin Gilboys (b), Peter Coleman (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Why Do I Love You*/JD to VL*/Street Scene*/Heru*.
(*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...)

Vic Lewis and his Orchestra - July 30th, 1954 (BBC)
Johnny Brown, Ronnie Baker, Dave Loban, Johnny Harris (tp), Bobby Lamb, Johnny Watson, Alec Gould, Rusty Hurran (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,cl,sop), Bernard Allen (as), Kathy Stobart , Terry Fahey (ts), Brian Rodgerson (bs), Pete Moore (p), Dave Willis (b), Kenny Hollick (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Strictly For Kix.

'In Town' Jazz Group - January 9th, 1955 (Decca LF1217)
Dizzy Reece (tp), Johnny Rogers (as), Kathleen Stobart (ts), Eddie Thompson (p), Jack Fallon (b), Don Lawson (d).
I've Got You Under My Skin/I Can't Get Started/Good Queen Bess/52nd Street Theme.

Kathy Stobart joined the mainstream band of Humphrey Lyttelton in 1957 as a temporary replacement for Jimmy Skidmore when the latter had a spell in hospital. She played on and off with the band for many years and as recently as the 1990s was still appearing and recording with him. Her modern style fitted very well and she gets plenty of solo opportunity on the Lyttelton records.
Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - November 25th, 1957 (Kath meet Humph - Parlophone PMD1052)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Eddie Harvey (tb), Tony Coe (as,cl), Kathy Stobart (ts), Ian Armit (p), Brian Brocklehurst (b), Eddie Taylor (d).
Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You*.
(*Calligraph 2 CD set - Triple Exposure - Humphrey Lyttelton and his band)

November 26th, 1957 (Kath meet Humph - Parlophone PMD1052)
Personnel as November 25th, except John Picard (tb) replaces Eddie Harvey.
Packet Of Blues*/Rain*.
(*Calligraph 2 CD set - Triple Exposure - Humphrey Lyttelton and his band)

December 3rd, 1957 (Kath meet Humph - Parlophone PMD1052)
Personnel as November 26th.
In A Mellotone*/Kath Meets Humph*/Moten Swing*.
(*Calligraph 2 CD set - Triple Exposure - Humphrey Lyttelton and his band)

December 5th, 1957 (Parlophone R4392)
Personnel as November 26th.
Buona Sera/Blues In The Afternoon.

In Autumn, 1958 Kathy Stobart appeared in a BBC Jazz Club broadcast featuring the Humphrey Lyttelton Big Band with Jimmy Rushing. This has been released on an Upbeat CD with the same title...

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - February 9th, 1959 (London LL3132)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Tony Coe (cl), Kathy Stobart, Jimmy Skidmore (ts,cl), Ronnie Ross (as,cl), Joe Temperley (bs,b-cl), Ian Armit (p), Brian Brocklehurst (b), Eddie Taylor (d).
Sleepy Time Down South*/Blue And Sentimental*.
(*Vocalion CD - Humphrey Lyttelton and his band - Humph dedicates)

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - February 16th, 1959 (London LL3132)
Humphrey Lyttelton, Eddie Blair, Bert Courtley, Bobby Pratt (tp), John Picard, Eddie Harvey, Keith Christie (tb), Tony Coe (as,cl), Ronnie Ross (as), Jimmy Skidmore, Kathy Stobart (ts), Joe Temperley (bs), Ian Armit (p), Brian Brocklehurst (b), Eddie Taylor (d).
Swingtime In The Rockies*/I Can't Get Started*/For Dancers Only*/Alligator Crawl*.
(*Vocalion CD - Humphrey Lyttelton and his band - Humph dedicates)

Humphrey Lyttelton / Buck Clayton - May 25th, 1966 (Le vrai Buck Clayton Vol 2 - "77" LEU12/18)
Humphrey Lyttelton, Buck Clayton (tp), Chris Pyne (tb), Kathy Stobart (ts), Eddie Harvey (p,tb), Dave Green (b), Tony Taylor (d)
Say forward, I'll March*/Russian Lullaby*/Talk Back*/One For Buck*/An Evening In Soho*/The Jumpin' Blues*/Blue Mist*/The Swingin' Birds*/Poor Butterfly*/Bernie's Tune*.
(*Lake 2CD set - Le vrai Buck Clayton)... this session makes up the second CD...)

In 1969 Kathy Stobart joined the Humphrey Lyttelton band full time and made a number of records until her departure in 1978...

On March 12th, 1972 The Humphrey Lyttelton band recorded a live concert at the Musikhalle in Hamburg for the German Wam label. The band comprised: Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,cl), Kathy Stobart (ts,bs), Bruce Turner (as,cl), Colin Purbrook (p), Dave Green (b), Tony Mann (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK...

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - November 5th, 1973 (South Bank swing session - Black Lion BLP3460233)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,cl), Bruce Turner (as,cl), Kathy Stobart (ts), Mick Pyne (p), Dave Green (b), Tony Mann (d).
Let's Get In*/Late Night Final*/PTQ Rag/Dadbo*/The Comet*/Blues At Dawn*/Let's Get Out*.
(*D A Music CD - Let's Get In)

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - July 3rd, 1974 (Kansas City woman - Black Lion BLP30163)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,cl), Bruce Turner (as,cl), Buddy Tate (ts,cl) Kathy Stobart (bs,cl), Mick Pyne (p), Dave Green (b), Tony Mann (d).
Kansas City Woman*/The One For Me*/Pamela*/Candyville*/Outswinger*/Steevos*/Clarinet Lemonade*/Swinging Scorpio*.
(*D A Music CD - Buddy Tate session with Lyttelton (part))

David Courtley, son of Kathy remembers that around 1975 Kathy worked with Eddy Grant and played baritone sax on his 1975 album released by Torpedo...

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - June 23rd, 1975 (Take it from the top - Black Lion BLP12134)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Kathy Stobart (ts,bs,sop), Bruce Turner (as,cl), Mick Pyne (p), Dave Green (b), Tony Mann (d), Elkie Brooks (vcl).
Take It From The Top/Madly/Big O'l Tears/Sprauncy/Lion Rampant/Very First Kiss (vcl)*/Oh Babe Maybe Someday (vcl)*/We Fell Out Of Love*/Rain/Don't Get Around Much Anymore(vcl)*/I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (vcl).
(*D A Music CD - Let's Get In)

Kathy Stobart & Joe Temperley Quintet - March 8th, 1976 (Saxploitation - Spotlite SPJ503)
Kathy Stobart (ts,sop,bs), Joe Temperley (bs,ts), Mick Pyne (p), Dave Olney (b), Tony Mann (d).
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise*/My Funny Valentine*/Tickletoe*/Drop Me Off At Harlem*/In A Sentimental Mood*/Blues In The Closet*/Crazy He Calls Me*/Cottontail*.
(*Spotlite CD - Saxploitation)

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - May 13th, 1976 (Hazy crazy and blue - Black Lion BLP12160)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,cl), Kathy Stobart (ts,bs,sop), Bruce Turner (as,cl), Mick Pyne (p), Dave Green (b), Tony Mann (d).
Mo Pas Lemme Ca*/Triple Exposure (Hazy/Crazy/Blue)/Ory's Story*/Vive Le Roy/Blues In Bolero*/You're Lucky To Me/Mezzrow.
(*D A Music CD - Blues in Bolero (part of CD))

Kathy Stobart & Harry Beckett - February 28th and March 1st, 1978 (Arbela - Spotlite SPJ509)
Harry Becket (tp,fhrn), Kathy Stobart (ts,sop,f), Martin Blackwell (p,el-p), Harvey Weston (b,el-b), Tony Mann (d,cga), Marion Williams (vcl).
Arbela*/Detour Ahead (vcl)*/Pieces Of Dreams (vcl)*/As Is*/2HS*/If I Thought you'd Ever Change Your Mind (vcl)*/Enchanted Into Cry Of Triumph*.
(*Spotlite CD - Arbela)

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - January 6th, 1983 (Movin' and groovin' - Black Lion BLCD760504)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Roy Williams (tb), Bruce Turner (as,cl), John Barnes (cl,ts,bs), Kathy Stobart (ts,bs), Mick Pyne (p), Dave Green (b), Adrian McIntosh (d).
Rockin' In Rhythm/Yorkville/Late night Final/One For Buck/Never No Lament/Movin' And Groovin'/Basin Street Blues/South Winds.

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - July 2nd and 4th, 1991 (Rock me gently - CalligraphCLGCD026)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,cl), Pete Strange (tb), Alan Barnes, Kathy Stobart (reeds), Stan Greig (p), Dave Cliff (g), Paul Bridge (b), Adrian McIntosh (d).
Rock Me Gently/Top N'Tail/Jack The Bear/My Funny Valentine/Frankie And Johnny/Sea-lions' Siesta/Lester And Herschel/Heads Or Tails/Royal Flush/Sydney My Man/Tribal Dance/If We Never Meet Again/The Lady Of The Lavender Mist/St. Louis Blues.

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - May 12th and 14th, 1993 (Hear me talkin' to ya - Calligraph CLGCD029)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp,cl), Pete Strange (tb), Jimmy Hastings (cl,fl), Kathy Stobart (ts,bs,cl), Stan Greig (p), Paul Bridge (b), Adrian McIntosh (d).
Hear Me Talkin' To Ya/Someone To Watch Over Me/Madly/Blues For Chloe/Serenade To Sweden/The Lord Is Listenin'/A Good Buzz/One For Al/The Swinging Scorpio/Beale Street blues/Moten Swing/St. James Infirmary/Mezzrow/I Got Rhythm.

Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band - October, 1996 (Lay 'em straight - Calligraph CLG33)
Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Pete Strange (tb), Jimmy Hastings (cl,fl), Alan Barnes (as), Kathy Stobart (ts,bs), Joe Temperley (bs,sop), Ted Beament (p), Paul Bridge (b), Adrian McIntosh (d).
(Titles not known).


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