| |
The Creek City Six
Faversham in Kent, the garden of England, in the late 50's - the Tin Roof
Jazz Club
was formed at Delbridge House, in the out building in the gardens,
apparently it had
a corrugated tin roof hence the name of the
club, then with various changes in
personnel
this fine band with the latest member John Deffray, changed the name to
John Deffray's
Creole Jazzband.

Tin Creek City Six circa 1957
Roger Link and Frank Webster
band members left to right :
Dave Link tpt, Brian White drms (hidden), Roger Link tuba,
Frank Webster bnj, Mick Honey clt, Harmer Johnson piano and Bob Boorman tmb
(out of sight)

Bob
Boorman
Bob Boorman tmb, Dave Link tpt,
Bob Boorman and Dave Link
Brian White drs, Mick Honey clt
and Harmer Johnson piano
more early pictures from the Bob Boorman collection circa
59/60's
Index
-----------------------------------/////////----------------------------------
In the early sixties 'The
Invincible Brass Band' was formed
and performed at all major functions
in the UK and abroad.
band members left to right: band members left to right:
Bill Cole tuba, Dave
Carpenter tpt, Roger Link sausa, Parade Marshall Councillor Bob Amor, Bob Boorman tmb, Nelson cym,
Brian ( Jockles ) White
snare, Ivan Wells tpt, Nelson cym, Charlie Webster tmb, Brian ( Jockles ) White snare, Dave Carpenter tpt,
Frank Webster bass drm,
John Beckenham snare (behind Frank) Frank Webster bass drm, Charlie Shields tmb, Bill Cole tuba, Dave Link tpt,
Bob Boorman tmb, Malcolm
Ing clt, Charlie Webster tmb, Malcolm Ing clt, John Beckenham snare, Ivan Wells tpt and Roger Link sousa,
Charlie Shields tmb
and Parade Marshall Councillor Bob Amor and not forgetting Brian Sheppard collecting money in the barrow
The Guildhall, Faversham circa 1961/62 Preston Street, Faversham circa 1961/62

Above three pictures at Faversham circa 1964
From the Bob Boorman collection

band members from left to right:
Derek Guiver clt Ivan Gandon clt, Dave Carpenter tpt,
Dave Link tpt,
Bill Cole tuba, Ivan Wells tpt,
Frank Webster bass drum,
Brian ( jockles ) White snare,
Mick Lay snare, Nelson
? cvm, Roger Link sousa,
Charlie Shields tmb, Charlie Webster tmb
and Bob Boorman tmb.
Hazebrooke, France circa 1961/62
The Invincible
Brass Band in Faversham, Kent circa late 50's / early 60's
Index
---------------------////////////-------------------
The New Eagle Brass Band
Birchington carnival 1963
Mark Alexander tpt, Brian White b/drm, Bill Cole sousa,
Bob Boorman tmb
Norman Halliday
clt and Ted Chappel tmb.
-----------------------------////////------------------------------

band unknown but Faversham based
band members are left to
right:
Brian Boorman bnj, Bob Boorman tmb, Derek Cook bass,
Mark Alexander tpt, Lawrence Potter drms and Norman Halliday clt.
taken at the Duke of Kent , Thanet Way, Faversham, Kent
----------------------------------/////////--------------------------------
The Creek City Jazz Band was then formed from 1962 - 1965
original band members :
Dave Link tpt,
Norman Halliday clt, Bob Boorman tmb, Harmer Johnson piano
Brian White gtr, Roger Link bass and Mick Lay drms
tpts Dave Carpenter, tmb Gilbert Warner and then
Barry Weston, bass Bill Cole
this band toured Belgium twice and broadcast on Belgian radio
Index
-------------------------------//////--------------------------------

band members of the Colyer band from left to right:
Roger Link bass, Tony Pyke clt, Ken Colyer tpt, Brian Etherington drms, John
Bastable bjo.
Faversham has always been the in place of jazz, here is an early photo of
the
Fleur de Lys Jazz Club, Preston Street. This club was the
follow on from Delbridge
House, This photo is probably about 1965, with Roger
Link on bass with the Colyer band.
This recording was made by Pete
Lay at the Fleur-de-Lys, Faversham Jazz Club , Faversham, Kent. 2nd October
1966.
band members:
Dave Carpenter tpt, John Defferary clt, Roger Link
string bass, Brian White gtr, Harmer Johnson piano, Mick Lay drms
and guesting on trombone Bob Boorman
click on to Apex Blues to hear recording
Apex Blues

Do you recognise any of these musicians at the Faversham Jazz Club
1966
top three: Harmer Johnson, Brian ( jockles ) White, Mick Lay
Middle Row
Standing : Mick Murphy, Tony Pyke,
Pete Treager, Kay Finch, Rudy Ballieu, Dave Carpenter,
Mark Alexander,
Mike Pointon, Preacher Hood (Dennis Jones), Roger Link ( peeping )
Bill Stagg, John Finch, Eric
Webster, Derek Cook ( just see top of his head behind Eric)
Bottom Row kneeling:
Dave Link, Norman Halliday, Bill Cole , Greg Gibson (his farewell bash at
the Fleur De Lis
before moving to Greece to take up a position at the Australian Embassy)
Index
-----------------------------------/////////--------------------------------------
The John Deffray's Creole Jazzband
1965 - 1968

top row Roger Link bass,
John Deffray clt/leader, Brian White gtr, Mick Lay drms.
bottom row
Dave Carpenter tpt , Harmer Johnson piano, Barry
Weston tmb.
John Deffray
Dave Carpenter
Barry Weston
clarinet/leader
trumpet
trombone
Roger Link
Mick Lay
Brian White
double bass
drums
guitar
Harmer Johnson
piano
The tracks are taken from the 'John Deffray's
Creole Jazzband' LP VJM LC7
recording first published 1966 so
click on the tracks below to hear what a great band it was
Yellow Dog Blues
Maple Leaf Rag
Tin Roof Blues
Wolverine
Blues
Down
in Honky Tonk Town
Sweet
Lorraine Dave Carpenter vocal
Put on your Old Grey Bonnet
Down
Home Rag
Back
to top of page
Index
|
| |
Memory Lane of the Deep Bayou Band
by
Dave Carpenter,
from the year 2000 of the October
issue no 30 of the
u
s t
a z z
traditional jazz magazine.
click on to the Just and the Jazz
above for details and contact of this fine magazine
The Constitutional Club, Chatham. 1957
by Dave Carpenter
The Deep Bayou
Band was originally formed by myself, Derek Guiver and Frank Webster, also
after a
short while, Charlie Webster.
I first met Frank when I was working in a garage as an
apprentice mechanic. He came to work there as a
motor cycle mechanic ( a very good one I might add ). At this
time Derek Guiver (clarinet), Don York
(trombone), and myself (trumpet), were getting into the
Traditional jazz scene, going to watch bands like
Freddy Randall, Alex Welsh, Mick Mulligan etc in the local
dance halls. Then going out to the woods to
practise. None of us learned, music it was all done by ear.
The Johnny Martin Band 1954
band members:
Derek Guiver clt, Les ?(dustbin bass), Dave Carpenter tpt, Don York tmb,
John Martin bjo
Norman ? piano and Roy Neal drms.

Roy Neal 2007

The Crescent City Marching Band in the Chatham Carnival 1959
band members:
Dave Carpenter tpt, Ivan Wells tpt, Terry Treagus tpt, Mike Betts snare, Roy
Neal snare, Nelson cym,
Ivan Gandon alto, Frank Webster bass drm, Derek Guiver clt, Neil Highley tmb,
unknown tmb and tuba.
Crescent City Stompers / Crescent City Wanderers they seem to be the same band.
The photo was taken for Elliotts Annual Dance at the Royal Star Hotel,
Maidstone, Kent. 1953.
band personnel:
Ivan Wells tuba, Sam Weller tmb, Johnny King clt, Pete Reynolds clt, George
Wooding tpt, rest unknown.
Index

Crescent City Stompers at Leysdown 1952 from Roy Neal's photo collection
band members:
Ivan Wells tpt, Fred Cogger sax, Don York tmb, Tony Pitt bnj, Roy Neal drms,
and Tony Pitts Friend Colin wash/b
and Ivan Gandon on clt but out of the picture as he was getting the beers in
!!!
At this time Frank had never heard of Traditional jazz at
all. I talked him into becoming interested and he
quickly became obsessed with the music and brought his
brother Charlie on to the scene. (At this time
Charlie was in the army.) Frank bought a second-hand trumpet
and started to take music lessons.
He decided to form a band with myself, Derek Guiver and Don
York, and called it Frank James
Dixielanders. Don York decided to go his own way with another
band. Frank decided to play banjo and
Charlie came in on trombone. We kept practising a lot
together and sitting-in with other bands, mainly
the Crescent City Stompers. Next to be recruited was Vic Pitt
on string bass. At this time we did not have
a proper bass so Derek Guiver and myself went to London and
bought a second hand one for Vic.
Drummer Bill Woodgate was a customer at the garage with his
motor cycle, so naturally he joined the
band, Terry Wells was also a motor cycle customer, so he
happily joined us.
Index
The Deep Bayou Band at The Oddfellows Hall Chatham 1955
with Niel Highley on bass otherwise same personnel
The Deep Bayou Band taken at a venue in Gillingham 1956
Band
Members:
Terry Wells piano, Derek Guiver clt, Dave Carpenter tpt voc,
Bill Woodgate drms,
Vic Pitt bass, Frank Webster bjo and Charlie Webster tmb.
I think it was a toss-up between Frank and myself who came up with the name
Deep Bayou jazz band. It came
from Deep Bayou Blues by George Lewis, on a Climax 78 record.
Now we had a full line up: myself (trumpet),
Derek Guiver (clarinet), Charlie Webster (trombone), Vic Pitt (bass), Frank
Webster (banjo), Bill Woodgate (drums),
and Terry Wells (piano).

Dave Carpenter
Charlie Webster
Derek Guiver
Frank Webster
trumpet
trombone
clarinet
banjo

Terry Wells
Vic Pitt
Bill Woodgate
piano
double bass
drums
The band progressed in leaps and bounds and became one of the best bands
around, particularly known for its
hard driving rhythm section. We started a regular Friday night jazz club at
the Constitutional Club in Chatham.
It was the longest running club in Kent and very well attended, not only by
local people but people from fair
distances. The band also played other venues over quite a large area. One
really good gig comes to mind -
it was at Wood Green Jazz Club supporting the Alex Welsh Band.
In 1957, myself and Derek Guiver went into the army (National Service) for
two years. While we were away,
the trumpet chair was filled by Terry Treagus, sometimes Ivan Wells,
clarinet was mostly played by Mick Betts,
sometimes Johnny King. While being away, personnel changed a bit, Bill
Woodgate, Terry Wells and Vic Pitt
all left. Bill Cowley came in on drums and Humph Mayes on Bass, (no piano).
On getting demobbed from the army, Derek and myself returned to the band and
Mick Betts changed to drums
after Bill Cowley decided to leave. Shortly after this, Mick went on to
other things and Mick Lay came in
on drums.
These recordings below were recorded from 1959 - 60, they were taken
from an old reel to reel and jump a
little, but none the less, gives an idea of what a great band it was in the
late 50's
personnel:
Dave Carpenter tpt, Derek Guiver clt, Charlie Webster tmb, Frank Webster bnj
Terry Wells piano, Humphrey Mayes bass and Mick Lay drms
All
the Girls go Crazy
Canal Street Blues
Over the Waves
Sheik of Araby
Willie the Weeper
Running Wild
World is Waiting for the Sunrise
(a great solo from Frank
Webster)
The following recordings below were recorded 18th October 1960 with same
personnel
but Roy Neal on drums, these recordings are of better quality
Four or Five Times
Jambalaya
Up jumped the Devil
( Charlie Webster vocal
great singer)
The next recordings were probably around 1964
with different personnel being:
Charlie Webster tmb, Ivan Gandon clt, Ivan Wells tpt,
Frank Webster bnj, Roger Link sousa, John Beckenham drms.
Slow
Blues
All
the Girls go Crazy
Ice
Cream
The band continued to enjoy very good popularity with a good following of
supporters, who
travelled with us to all our away venues. We made an appearance on
television supporting a female singer.
Also played gigs at the Ken Colyer club, Studio 51, Great Newport Street.
Ken Sims (then with Acker Bilk)
sat-in on trumpet for a couple of numbers. Also at the same session, the New
Orleans pianist, Champion
Jack Dupree, sat-in with the band. These were the all night sessions, with
two bands playing, starting at
midnight until six o'clock in the morning.

The Deep Bayou Band at the Con Club 1962/63 with John Beckenham drms and
Humphrey Mayes bass

Mick Lay
Humph Mayes
John Beckenham
drums
double bass
drums
Sometime in 1961 Mick Lay left the band and joined the Merchant Navy. He was
replaced on drums by
John Beckenham. During this period the band did a recording session at the
Marquis of Donegal's private
studio in Chelsea. I do not know what happened to the master tapes and I
have never heard them.
The band carried on with great success and popularity until approximately
1963 (the memory gets a bit
unreliable sometimes), when there was a big disagreement between myself
Frank and Charlie.
I decided to leave the band, and Derek and Humph also decided to leave with
me. This was the end of
The Deep Bayou, as we went on to play in other bands.
It was the end of an era. Frank and Charlie carried on playing, but never
managed to form a band quite
like the Deep Bayou.
It was a long time ago, but I still carry some great memories of a great New
Orleans band, styled on the
George Lewis Band.
Amen

Frank and Charlie Webster
Brian Nye bnj , Mick Betts drms, Frank Webster tpt
Dave Nicholl's clt and Humph Mayes bass

Frank Webster, Derek Cook
bass, Charlie Webster
and Frank Webster
Mark Alexander and Norman halliday
Charlie Websters Funeral 1979
band members from
left to right:
Bob Boorman tmb,
Don York tmb, Ivan Gandon sax, Tony Pink tpt, Phil Barnes crt Dave
Link tpt,
Norman Halliday clt,
Bill Bowden tpt, Roger Link sausa, following up his widow Jan and George Stockley
Back to top of page
Index
|