Photos and Information provided by Peter Jezard - Essex, England
RAFA carnival parade that coincided with RJC jazz festival in 1961. Peter said "we put this float in to advertise some of the bands appearing."
Photos by Derek Richardson
Photos by Derek Richardson
Photo provided by the gazette
information provided by gene jarred & frankie wales
THE list of performers who played Redcar Jazz Club reads like a musical "who's who?" From jazz legends like Kenny Ball and John Dankworth to rockers like The Who and Rod Stewart, they flocked to it.
It began in 1957 as a hardcore traditional jazz venue. During its nomadic early years, it began at the Royal Hotel and stopped off at the Red Lion before settling down at the old Windsor Ballroom in the Coatham Hotel. To get more punters in at the bigger venue, it kept its name but moved away from jazz to blues, then rock - and boy, did it take off. Acts included Stevie Winwood, Cream, Manfred Mann, Free, T Rex, Bee Gees, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, The Move, Traffic, Joe Cocker...the list goes on. Whitesnake frontman Redcar rocker David Coverdale even signed his first professional recording contract there. When crowds dwindled and bands stopped turning up, time was called in 1973, with the cancellation of a gig by Wizzard one of its last acts. There was a brief revival in 1984.
Frankie Wales, is constantly exploring ways of bringing people into the town. So after hearing of the jazz club’s legendary status in the town, he decided the time was right to bring it back with the help of two musicians who were in at the start - South Bank saxophonist Ray Dales and trumpet player Gene Jarred both of which still play regularly across the North-east.
Ray, was in the Royal Tank Regiment staff band in 1957 when, with colleague Julius Hasford, he used to pop up from Catterick to play Redcar Jazz Club. “Ray and J” went down a storm and helped the fledgling club get a foothold and now the Ray Dales Quartet are regulars at the club. “I don’t think jazz has ever made a lot of money - that’s why they started getting rock groups in - but it’s coming back at the moment and I think it could really take off.”
Gene, is also enthusiastic, recalling how the original jazz club - with the legendary Johnny Rogers its prime mover - flourished in a smoky room at the Royal. “It was just a Sunday night session for some of the lads to get together and have a blow without an audience then people started watching and it went from there." “In those days, the audience was 60% local musicians who knew Johnny Rogers’ reputation and we all fed on it and hopefully we'll go back to the spirit of 1957."
Frankie said the idea for reviving it came during a walk with Redcar historian Vera Robinson MBE. “She mentioned the Redcar Jazz cClub and, after I looked into it, I found out bands like The Who played there. “It’s an excellent chance to bring in musicians who want to perform in a nice, friendly atmosphere."
It began in 1957 as a hardcore traditional jazz venue. During its nomadic early years, it began at the Royal Hotel and stopped off at the Red Lion before settling down at the old Windsor Ballroom in the Coatham Hotel. To get more punters in at the bigger venue, it kept its name but moved away from jazz to blues, then rock - and boy, did it take off. Acts included Stevie Winwood, Cream, Manfred Mann, Free, T Rex, Bee Gees, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, The Move, Traffic, Joe Cocker...the list goes on. Whitesnake frontman Redcar rocker David Coverdale even signed his first professional recording contract there. When crowds dwindled and bands stopped turning up, time was called in 1973, with the cancellation of a gig by Wizzard one of its last acts. There was a brief revival in 1984.
Frankie Wales, is constantly exploring ways of bringing people into the town. So after hearing of the jazz club’s legendary status in the town, he decided the time was right to bring it back with the help of two musicians who were in at the start - South Bank saxophonist Ray Dales and trumpet player Gene Jarred both of which still play regularly across the North-east.
Ray, was in the Royal Tank Regiment staff band in 1957 when, with colleague Julius Hasford, he used to pop up from Catterick to play Redcar Jazz Club. “Ray and J” went down a storm and helped the fledgling club get a foothold and now the Ray Dales Quartet are regulars at the club. “I don’t think jazz has ever made a lot of money - that’s why they started getting rock groups in - but it’s coming back at the moment and I think it could really take off.”
Gene, is also enthusiastic, recalling how the original jazz club - with the legendary Johnny Rogers its prime mover - flourished in a smoky room at the Royal. “It was just a Sunday night session for some of the lads to get together and have a blow without an audience then people started watching and it went from there." “In those days, the audience was 60% local musicians who knew Johnny Rogers’ reputation and we all fed on it and hopefully we'll go back to the spirit of 1957."
Frankie said the idea for reviving it came during a walk with Redcar historian Vera Robinson MBE. “She mentioned the Redcar Jazz cClub and, after I looked into it, I found out bands like The Who played there. “It’s an excellent chance to bring in musicians who want to perform in a nice, friendly atmosphere."