Hall of Fame of  drummers                        

                        Laurie Palmer,        Chris Marchant,       Robin Beames,        Mike Marsh,       Ted Backhouse.

                        Roy Neil       Mark Alexander      Barry Knight 

                                                                                               
                                         Laurie Palmer - drums   Laurie with the Jazz Pilgrims playing 'Oh Baby' this number was recorded live at The
                                                                                 Swingate  Inn, Dover, Kent. 15th July 2004, it was a bit of a special evening as the longest
                                                                                  and oldest  jazzer, Henry J Bullock OBE  was celebrating his 95th birthday.The members of
                                                                                  the band are:  Tom Brady tpt, Roy Mason reeds, John Finch tmb, Ian Rodgers bass and
                                                                                 Burtie Butler bnj.

Laurie learned the rudiments of drumming when aged 11, with the school pipe band in his home town of Edinburgh. He developed an interest in all forms of jazz in the early 1960s, while studying engineering at University in Dundee. After buying a complete kit he taught himself jazz drumming and while at college he played in all sorts of groups, from rock to big band, and worked as Kenny Ball's first road manager during the summer of 1962. One University jazz quartet that Laurie played in managed a three-week stint at an Aviemore hotel for the skiers there on h oliday. During seven years in Canada, he played with several jazz groups in Montreal, even appearing on radio and at Expo 1967. Back in the UK in the 1970s he played with Malcolm Walton and others at the Sun at Bredgar. Over intervening thirty years he has played at one time or another with most of the Kent jazz musicians. He is now a regular with Dave Link at the Chapter Arms in Chartham Hatch, as well as with Burt Butler's Jazz Pilgrims at many other jazz venues. While travelling on business, Laurie has managed to guest with groups on Bourbon Street and on a paddle steamer in New Orleans, in Beijing, Shanghai, Hanoi, Manila and Jakarta. He still likes any sort of music that swings.

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                                     Barry Knight - percussion  Here is Barry's distinctive style of playing on these three tracks taken from the CD recorded
                                                                                  live at the 'Duke of Cumberland', High Street, Whitstable, Kent on the 21st December 2007
                                                                                  band members are: Mick Stansell tpt, Dennis Lear clt, Séan Maple tmb, Burtie Butler bnj,
                                                                                  Mike Porter-Ward bass and Barry drms.     so click on the titles to hear.
                                    
                                                                                   Avalon               Marching through Georgia                Royal garden blues

Barry started playing drums in 1956 when he joined the Army as a cornet player! There was a group in the band who also played modern jazz and they didn't have a drummer at the time so he thought he'd have a go on the drums and was invited to join the jazz group. He then enrolled at the Ivor Merrants School of Dance Music and his first paid job was at the Grand Hotel, Folkestone. Played with 14 piece Glen Miller styleband, which entertained the Yanks at Manston. Became regimental drummer in the Army and moved to Cyprus. Also played with a popular 4 piece in nightclub in Nicosia. When demobbed returned to UK and joined Musicians Union getting gigs from the Vacant Date book all around London and the South East. Did a lot of Ladies Nights, tea dances, some West End work and the usual pubs and clubs. In 1968 and joined a function band which occupied most of the 70's and then joined a traditional jazz band where he stayed for some time. In between times he has played in brass bands, 20's dance bands, German Oompah bands and concert bands.Over the last few years he has concentrated on Traditional /New Orleans Jazz which has been his main love. Highlight has been playing in Bourbon Street, New Orleans with Burt!

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                                Robin Beames - drums and vocals   Robin a great mate of mine, has a wonderful singing voice, this particular track
                                                                                           is a great favourite of mine Love Letters in the Sand this was recorded at Langlei
                                                                                           Studios, Rainham, Kent 25th Feb 1999, with The Canterbury Jazz Pilgrims. Band
                                                                                           members are: Bill Phelan crt, Jim Searson reeds, John Finch tmb, Alan Kennington
                                                                                           bass and Burtie Butler bnj.    so click on to Robs name and listen to some fine brush
                                                                                           work and a great vocal. 
Born in 1940, his first interest in music was in 1953 when he joined a cadet band as a drummer and, after three years, became RASC junior leader of the trumpeters and snare drummer sections. In 1960 he became the RASC Corps Band percussionist. In 1960 he enjoyed the early rock & roll music, which influenced most jazz musicians, though they would not admit it! In 1963 he left the Army and became interested in traditional jazz. He formed his first band with Edwin "Boots" Baker, John Cowdrey, Roger Ely, Humphrey Mayes and Bob Long, and they called themselves the South Side Jazz Band. In 1968 he returned to play in the "pop" scene and a dance music quartet. From 1976, like many others, he caught the New Orleans bug from listening to Ken Colyer, although still playibng rock & roll. In 1986 he set up the Headcorn Jazz club with a band called the New Orleans Jazzmen. This eventually became the Imperial Jazz Band and is still going strong. Memorable moments include playing behind Humphrey Lyttelton, Pat Halcox, Randy Colville, Roy Williams, and many more. Robin's favourite pastimes are drinking, whilst eating copious amounts of curry! He is also part-time drum and percussion teacher with the Kent Music School.

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                                                                                                                               Roy Neil - drums

                                                                                        
                                                             Roy - 1964                                R.M.S. Queen Mary (give away photo's)                     Roy -  a few years later
                                                                                                                               Roy Neil - drums

Had a yearning for the drums  from early teens. Use to play along with the Jack Parnall  band on the wireless imitating the drummer with clothes brushes and a biscuit tin.
Went  to the Army cadets at the Drill Hall in Chatham to learn the rudiments of drumming. With the help of my Mother bought some drums for Ten shillings whilst still at
school  ( Rochester Technical ). Played at a local Youth club then joined a local Jazz band "Crescent City Stompers" and played at "The Good Intent" public house in Chatham with the great Pitt brothers, ( then just very young boys ) as their father was the landlord. Met Ronnie Verrel ( Ted Heaths drummer ) who lived near me, he taught me various drumming techniques. Into various Jazz bands. In 1957 the Royal Air Force for three years,  Joined the "Tuxedo Jazz Band" in 1961. In 1963 with the "Ron Buckley Trio" had an
audition with with Peter Summerfield agent for the 'Springfields' and 'Carl Denver Trio' made a tape which he considered was good enough to approach Decca Records. Never
made Decca due to arguments with band wives re: turning professional, thus band broke up. I was set on becoming professional so after an audition in  London I joined 'Cunard Steamships'. I went on to their Cruise ships first then on to the R.M.S. Queen Mary until she was sold to the Americans. Home in England I played with various groups did
session work in London. I formed my own group "Neil Lawrence Quartet" playing Medway and London areas. Sold my drums in 1968 went into Graphic Art. Off to London in
1970 worked as display manager for Stanley Gibbons and then the same for Trust Houses Forte. Played several gigs with hired drums in London, but in later years developed arthritis in my shoulders and fingers. I can still play but not so fast.
      

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                                                                             Mark Alexander – Drums – Born 1942

 He started playing the trumpet whilst at school in the mid-1950s. Joined the Canterbury City Jazz Band on leaving school and thereafter played trumpet with various bands including Halliday’s Eagle Band and Kid Webster’s Band. Highlight of jazz career was an extensive tour of Belgium in 1966 when he was asked for an autographed photo of
himself by an attractive young girl! He switched to drums in 1970 and is the regular drummer with The Vocalian Jazz Band, The Roseleaf Ramblers and The Liberty Hall Jazz
Band. His favourite jazz is the music of the New Orleans dance halls as played by, among others, Kid Thomas, Peter Bogage, etc. When not playing, or listening to, jazz, he
can be found selling model railways in The Hobby Shop in Faversham.          www.hobb-e-mail.com   

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                                                     Ted Backhouse - Drums   here is Ted playing ' St. Louis Blues' in a recording at The Thomas A'Beckett pub
                                                                                               in Canterbury, Kent for BBC Radio Kent in 1972 . Band members are:
                                                                                               Mo Hovery tpt, Frank Packman clt, Charlie Banyard tmb, Jim Beale piano,
                                                                                               Les Biggs gtr, Roger Link bass and Ted Backhouse drms.                          
As a small lad I was always interested in playing drums and eager to become a musician , when I joined the oldest sea cadet unit in the world - T S Vigilant Unit no 363 in
Whitstable the year 1950. I was too small to carry a drum in the parade so for the first year, I was chief triangle player, but I attended every band practice and by the time I had
filled out a little, I felt that I could play all the snare drum parts. After much tuition and practice I became leading drummer in the band and enjoyed all the local carnivals and
parades and we also had moderate success in area band competitions. After national service in the R.A.F. I bought my first drum kit (still got it ) and rehearsed and practised
in my cousin Robin Mowday's front room - 70 Nelson Road, Whitstable on Sunday afternoons with a variety of like minded starters. We were all keen jazz fans and met most Wednesdays at the Bear and Key Jazz club, I even had the cheek to ask to sit in on a couple of numbers on Bill Ambro's drum kit. With Robin Mowday, John Holbrow, Dave
Victor and Roy Kendall we formed a dance band , but we were not all that successful but from the experience I did a few gigs with the Norman Perkins dance band and had a
couple of years with the George Dunn Band before he retired. I was proud to be asked to join Mo Hovery's Jazzmen in the late 60's, when Bill Ambro moved away from the district , and we had many happy sessions at the Smugglers Inn - Herne Village, Kent - the line up when I joined was Mo Hovery tpt/flugal, Frank Packman clt/saxs, Charlie Banyard tmb, Roger Link string bass and Roy Gaston-Williams piano. The line up changed slightly over a few years when Dave Corsby, Sean Maple, Pete Gresham, Ron Woodward and Mike King were used. I was disappointed to lose my position when Bill Ambro moved back to the area in the early 70's. I then had a long and enjoyable music career with two very dear friends, who have since passed on as a pop group "Oyster" - ' Music for all ages ' - Mick Lund lead guitar and vocals and Bruce Watneys bass guitar and backing vocals and some three part harmonies. I well remember one riotous / boozy weekend I had when the Kid Webster Jazz Band were short of a drummer for a tour of Belgium around 1965. the band was Frank and Charlie Webster, Norman Halliday, Mark Alexander, Derek and myself all in a Vauxhall - the string bass and bass drum strapped to the roof rack - ahh - Happy Days !!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ted Backhouse
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