From the Portsmouth Evening News. 5/2/1958 - Seeing the dancers have a good time Vic Abbott IF you ask a bandleader what his chief aim is you might being forgiven for expecting a complictated technical answer involving harmonies, chord 'sequences. and revolutionary new sounds.' You would be disappointed therefore with Vic Abbott who would probably answer simply, "to keep the dancers happy." Alto-saxist Vic, a newcomer to the local music scene has been leading his band at Kimbell's 'Ballroom, Southsea since October last year. "Although the dancers often don't realize it," Vic explained to in me the other evening "'the band play a great part in helping them have an enjoyable time. " A band's job is not just to provide rhythmic music the public can dance to it is to give the customer a good time to get them into the spirit of the thing." And Vic should know for he has been playing for dancing continually since the age of 15 - and he is now 32. During his 17 years on the stand he has played for both palais and society audiences, the latter including the present Queen, Princess Margaret and the late. King of Denmark. ON PENNY WHISTLE And it all began on a penny whistle, for that was the instrument Vic: learned to read music with when he was 13. Born in Chelsea, he. took up the flute when he was lad, and the alto sax and clarinet a year later. He was leading his own band, before he left school, and one of the first jobs of his career was playing at the Covent Garden Opera House when it was a ballroom. Vic studied music at the Guildhall School of Music in London, and early jobs included playing at Brighton and freelancing in London. When he was only 17, he was playing with Lou Preager at the Hammersmith Palais in London. Joining the Royal Air Force in 1943 when he was 18, Vic served as flight engineer in the Coastal Command. Immediately on his demob however he went back to music playing lead Alto for a while at a holiday camp at Blackpool. Next came a short spell on the transatlantic liners during which time he played with number of musicians who were later to become famous jazz stars. One of these was drummer Tony Kinsey. From 1950 to1951 he was with is such well-known groups as those, of Carol Gibbons, Sidney Lipton, Ambrose, And Harry Roy and a little later played in a London restaurant where an unknown trumpeter called Eddie Calvert was also appearing. Tours of American Air Force bases with his own band followed, and later he led groups at big ballrooms in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Luton. At Kimbells, Vic is fronting a five piece group consisting of Jack Lennox (piano), Danny Brushwood (bass), Ray Kaye (drums), and Bob Lambie (tenor, and violin). On Saturdays this line-up is augmented by an additional trumpet and sax. Star Solo I was probably not the only one who was pleasantly surprised by the vibraphone playing of jazz star Tubby Haves when he appeared at Farlington Modern Jazz Club on Monday. "Tubby- the tenor." (he may soon have to change: that nickname) used the mallets in a swinging " Hamptonish" style. He revealed plenty of exciting ideas and his limited technique helped to curb his tendency of over embellishing which was the major fault of his tenor-playing. On both instruments he showed that his style is, becoming more beauty than it used to be, and there is no doubt that it iwent over well with the Farlington audience. Chiz Bishop supplied some powerful piano backing , with George Austin on guitar, Ray Lott on, bass and Tony Hare on drums. Capable as the group was, however, it failed to provide the really swinging accompani meet which Tubby merited. Top Form THE lack of commerciality of the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra never ceases to surprise me. At the Savoy on Friday, Johnny was is top form especially with his swinging Count Basie style numbers. An interesting version of the M.J.Q.'s "Bluesology" featured flute , bass clarinet, French-horn and alto. Dickie Hawdon's French horn playing was a highlight for me, with its gurgling blasts it brought back memories of Keith Christie's days with the Dankworth Orchestra. Small point of criticism, Kenny Clare was too heavy with his drum accentuations. "Live" Session After enjoying an amazing amount of success as a jazz record club, Gosport Community Association's Downbeat Club held its first live session on Thursday. Music was provided by a local group, the Sid Heaton Quartet featuring Sid on piano and trumpet, Pete Edwards on bass, Dave Davis guitar, and Mick Hug on drums. Return to the previous page