Coltrane, Glasgow 1961...(hold the porridge)...

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

From Glasgow Live (sic)...

North Carolina-born saxophonist John Coltrane performed at Glasgow's St Andrews Hall (which has been incorporated into the Mitchell Library) in the city back in November of 1961.

While Jazz News’ Danny Halperin wrote that he considered the European tour “an uncompromising triumph (giving) us the most exciting, the most delightfully demanding music ever heard on the British stage”, Glasgow audiences didn't share the same enthusiasm.

The concert here saw people walk out when he switched from his tenor to soprano sax and Coltrane - accompanied by Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet & flute); McCoy Tyner (piano); Reggie Workman (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums) - was accosted by a drunken fan.

The fan confronted Coltrane at the side of stage during a solo performance by bandmate Eric Dolhpy, asking him if drummer Jones was "kidding", if he was going to "play seriously" and also if the set was going to continue the same way, to which Coltrane replied: "I don't know, man".

I blame Alex Salmond.

BN.

[Joseph K]

Yes - although Coltrane was feeling unwell during the last few months of 1966, and this was the reason cited for not going on a European tour, I think/have read, that he wasn't too keen on the reception he had got in the UK - which is a shame because the BBC were planning to film his group in action! Sonny Rollins went instead.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

From the "New Jazz Musing Blog, 2019:

"British Tour Programme:
As described in a previous blog entry, the Glasgow concert on the 13th in the St Andrew's Halls, had an ‘interesting’ encounter which made the local paper. A Gillespie fan, unhappy with the ‘modern’ sounds of Coltrane made his way out for a few drinks. When he returned, he approached Coltrane side stage to complain about the music and Elvin Jones' playing.
Scottish Jazz guitarist Jim Douglas knew someone at the concert, but they hadn't remembered any drunken behaviour, nor had any other comments, except the power of Trane’s Quintet. Glasgow was also notable, I guess, as the place that Trane purchased a small bodied Guild guitar.

Steve Gray remembers the Walthamstow show. “Yes it was November 1961. 17th, I know it was a Friday. Walthamstow Granada, London. So just a couple of weeks after "Live At The Village Vanguard" was recorded. I was 14.

I went with a school friend and an aunt of mine took us. Quite what she made of it I don't know, she certainly wasn't a jazz fan.
I had been to see a few English Trad bands before this but this was my first "real" jazz concert.
Coltrane, Dolphy, Tyner, Workman and Elvin opened for the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet - Dizzy, Leo Wright, Lalo Schifrin, Bob Cunningham, Mel Lewis (I think).
It was the first house, I had to get home early :). I was sitting in one of the first few rows, close to the middle so I had a perfect view.
The band were all wearing DJs as was normal at the time.
They played 3 tunes, the last of which was "My Favourite Things". The first was probably "Impressions" but you have to remember that it had not been released at that time so we did not know what the tunes were called. There were no announcements.
My clearest memory is of the very prominent vein and lump on Eric's forehead. There are not many pictures of Eric that show this clearly but in the flesh it was very obvious.
The whole band was so thrilling, overpowering live. I can still picture in my head the view I had of John and Eric."

BN.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Alan Skidmore (All about jazz interview)

"Alan Skidmore: Although I was fairly young at the time, about 18/19, I remember the concert so well. I think the venue was the Walthamstow Granada. My father took me to see the Dizzy Gillespie Group. Lo' and behold also on the bill was The John Coltrane Quintet. The group comprised of John Coltrane on soprano saxophone, Eric Dolphy on alto and then McCoy Tyner on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.

Up until that time, I had been listening to Paul Gonsalves and Dexter Gordon trying to figure out how to play jazz, studying hard in my bedroom. So hearing John Coltrane's group at that time, playing "My Favourite Things" for an hour was something I had never experienced before. I left the theatre feeling that I had heard something special but not knowing what it was. But, as it happened, it was the beginning of a wonderful journey for me. For one reason or another Coltrane never came back to the UK in 1962/63 with the 'Classic Quartet,' when they toured Europe. Tragic for us all in this country."

[Jazzrook]

I was surprised to learn from Lewis Porter's biography of John Coltrane that his Quintet played at The Dome, Brighton on November 16, 1961.
Wish I'd been there but didn't really get into jazz until around 1963.
Seeing the Ornette Coleman Trio at The Dome in 1966 was some compensation for missing Trane, Dolphy & co.

JR

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Memories of the Dome (Website)

"Friends and I saw John Coltrane at the Dome in approx. 1962. I was 17. I asked drummer Elvin Jones what he thought of Brighton. He said “Uh, where?” We were profoundly impressed! ...By Roland Morgan"

[Jazzrook]

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/john-coltrane-dizzy-gillespie-163136090

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...spie-163136090

JR

If you visit The National Jazz Archive in Loughton, David Nathan, the curator, might be persuaded to let you see an original of one of the tickets for the ODJB concert at the Hammersmith Palais in (?) 1918. It's... pink. I'm trying to remember if he let me photocopy it.

The NJA is well worth a visit - no recorded materials but practically anything written up on Brit jazz from beginnings, plus books on the subject as a whole. Best to check their website for opening times.

[burning dog]

https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/john-coltrane-so-many-things-the-european-tour-1961-67467/

The first gig at the State Kilburn in North West London (definitely not North London!- Arsenal and Spurs areas) It has a tower a similar shape to the Empire State building. I think it was the largest capacity cinema in the UK when it opened. Miles Davis toured the UK a year earlier but had Sonny Stitt on Sax.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaumont_State_Cinema

My parents saw Miles at the State in 1960 but wiki doesn't consider him a noteworthy performer !!

https://recordmecca.com/item-archives/miles-davis-quintet-1960-tour-program/