Rushden

The earliest record of any jazz following in Rushden comes from the Evening Telegraph of October 1945, which tells us that a meeting of Rushden’s Hot Record Society was held in the Scouts Headquarters in Skinners Hill. This organisation was a discussion group. Enthusiasts would bring along their own records, play them to the meeting and then talk about the merits, or otherwise, of the music.

The Rushden Hot Jazz and Swing Club was formed about two years after this society, and held its meetings at the Alfred Street school. Again the format was similar, with records and discussions. The introduction of a guest speaker was a further innovation. It is interesting to note that local dance band musicians began to attend these weekly meetings. Some speakers were ill-informed on many of the finer points. One good lady delivered a thesis on Charlie Kunz as a fine example of a British jazz piano player.

It was at this time, during the immediate, post war years, that the big bands were at their zenith and such orchestras as Teddy Foster, Ted Heath and Oscar Rabin were frequent visitors to the local Windmill Hall. The jazz enthusiast was able to glean some enjoyment on the occasions when a band within a band, based on the Artie Shaw Gramercy Five, or the Benny Goodman Sextet, broke away from the bigger band to play. Some of these corner men from the big beads in later years were able to form their own smaller groups and enjoyed considerable popularity playing in six or eight piece combinations. Kenny Baker is a good example of this breakaway move.

It was however when the regular small bands of the day came to the town that the jazz fan could grasp his moment of pleasure. Harry Gold, and his Pieces of Eight, Joe Daniels’ Hotshots, Syd Phillips and Freddy Randall all played the occasional gig in the town.

The Rushden jazz scene from 1967-1970 was only kept alive by the happennings at the Skew Bridge Ski Club. In those days the club was just a Nissen hut by the side of disused gravel workings, a far cry from the sophisticated 'West End' establishment which traces the site today. It was on Thursday nights when jazzmen from all over the county used to collect around the piano and play until the early hours. Pianists Jack Balbin or Ray Whittam, assorted banjo players, drummer Taff Parsons or Billy McHarg, Bob Crowhurst on tenor sax, Paul Forsyth flugal horn - a mixed bag of musicians - a mixed bag of music - sometimes exciting, sometimes unforgivable - but surley this is what jazz is still about.

In 1969, Rushden’s most southerly pub, The Compasses, became the meeting place for the county’s jazz followers. Jazz sessions were started on a monthly basis. The band was un-named. The drummer, clarinetist and trombonist travelling from Peterborough, the trumpet player and rhythm section living locally. By this time the standard of musicianship had improved considerably, the band developed a good rapport and soon a good following was built up. Sitters-in were encouraged, and faces not seen since the Green Dragon era, some ten years before, began to appear in the audience. The landlord, Ron Burnett, gave every encouragement to players and customers alike and it was only due to his recent illness that the club has temporarily suspended activities. It is interesting to note that the bands personnel changed during the three years, almost a complete split. The drummer Stuart Seaton, the clarinet player Larry Gains and the trombonist found the journey from Peterborough rather tedious, and with Bev Luton on trumpet formed the nucleus of the 'Golden Leaf Six' - a band which now plays in the Corby and Peterborough area.

The original trumpet player and the rhythm section brought in John Hale, a clarinet player from Creaton and Jake Pressly, the Corby trombone player and as 'The County Jazzmen' have a good measure of success in Northampton and district.

Bill Dickens - leader of Crescent City		Newsclip Trumpeter Bill Dickens was born in Rushden. His band played at venues across the county, and with other bands. For two years they were resident band at Finedon Jazz Club.
Bill Dickens Crescent City Jazzband, 1958 Bill Dickens Trumpet A dedicated George Lewis, Ken Colyer type of band with emphasis on ensemble playing. No outstanding soloists but the band generated a good swing and had a large following in the County. Note: earlier there had been a band of this name (but no connection) Ron Radford Trombone Mick Bunning Clarinet John Burt Banjo Bob Poole Bass
Finedon Jazz Club - at the Mulso Arms .......the club closed after about two years. Following the closure of the Jazz Club, Bill Dickens left the county and played regularly in the south of England, Ireland and later in Norwich. He has currently returned to his native Rushden and now plays on Tuesdays and Sundays with a band in Cambridge. Mick Bunning, Dick Smith and John Burt are now no longer musically active. The trombone player, Ron Radford, at the time of writing (1972), is a stalwart of  the county’s jazz scene and leads his own Ragtime Band in Kettering and Northampton.

The listeners at the Compasses can be classed as true devotees. One man and his wife travel from Market Harborough to listen. This couple were some years ago friendly with the American singer Mildred Bailey and her husband Red Norvo and still maintain their interest in jazz. Another customer who must rate as the oldest jazz fan in the county is eighty-three-year-old Archie Dickens. Archie who used to play ragtime piano accompaniment for the silent films in Wellingborough is reluctant to sit in with the band but will sometimes play a couple of tunes at the end of the evening.

No list of musicians is in the book

The only remaining jazz spot in Rushden is now the Skew Bridge Ski Club where the County Jazzband plays one Thursday each month and a modern quartet, playing George Shearing type of music play on the other three Thursdays.

It is interesting to note that the drummer, Trevor Knight, plays for both groups.

This quartet, a combination of vibraphone, drums, guitar and electric bass, recently had a successful residency at the Red Lion at Raunds, but now, apart from private functions, the Ski Club seems to be their only regular engagement.

However at is pleasing to note, that at the time of writing (1972) both the traditional and the modern jazz fans are still catered for in Rushden.

The Town Band Club, in Manton Road, presented for a short time 'Jazz on Fridays'. This was mainly modern and mainstream music supplied by local dance band musicians. Joining Brian and Jim Riches on alto and tenor saxes, are Stan Bierne on trumpet and Vic Page on trombone played, with the club's regular rhythm trio. The music fell between two stools, neither way out enough for the modernists nor earthy enough for the traditionalists and the venture had only a limited success. The Manton Jazz Group		Unidentified newsclip Band changes at Rushden jazz club THE Rushden Town Band Club, which is successfully combining "trad" and modern jazz in its regular Thursday night sessions, has shown some band changes in the last few weeks. The modern group has added a trumpet and trombpne to the front line which originally had two saxaphones. Joining leader Brian Riches (alto), and Jim Riches (tenor), are trumpeter Stan Beirne and trombonist Vic Page, who also plays in the "trad" group at the club. Several guests sat in at the club last night, including Ray Turner and Kaye Stopps on the drums. Eric Barrett, who plays the trumpet with the Jack Lantsbery Jazzmen at the Green Dragon Hotel, Higham Ferrers, on Monday nights, also joined the traditional jazz band, the Manton Jazz Group, for several numbers.
The Manton Jazz Group, 1962 Brian Riches   Alto Resident at Rushden Town Band Club. Playing mostly Dixieland arrangements of popular tunes. Jim Riches    Tenor Stan Bierne Trumpet Vic Page Trombone Unknown rhythm section