Jamie would welcome observations about “Alan Cooper Remembered” here on Jazz&Jazz. Do add your thoughts in “Speak Your Mind” below. You can also email Jamie at [email protected]
“Everyone knows what a modest bloke I really am but I was truly overwhemed to read Peter Mark Butler’s comments in his excellent magazine Jazz&Jazz. Thanks Peter for your kind words and for giving the Coops site more coverage.” John Jamie Evans
Back in 1961 not long after I first got into jazz, the Temperance Seven released “Pasadena”. I first heard it in a wonderful old beamed farmhouse in deepest East Kent. The occasion – a party thrown by the farmer’s two attractive daughters! I was hooked! Read into that what you will! My wife Ginny is American and lived in Pasadena in 1961! So here, in honour of Jamie’s wonderful site is “Pasadena”.
There’s More!
I simply had to include this YouTube because it’s Alan Cooper with that medal again!
Just one more from The Plough back in the early 1990’s:
“After You’ve Gone” we still remember!
That’s all folks!
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
I often came across Alan Cooper in The Nightingale public house in Nightingale Lane Balham, about a mile from Chez Cooper in Bolingbroke Grove, Battersea. He was invariably accompanied by younger ladies, students of his I believe. Alan, resplendent in co-respondent shoes, flannels and tweed jacket, check shirt and cravat always looking the country gent was a sight to behold. I only went to his house once to meet Mike Pointon there to pick Alan and others for a gig on a Sunday in Colchester. It was like walking into a mixture of Aladdin’s cave and the early 20th century. I first witnessed the staircase that had books and magazines tied up and stored on it and then moving into the kitchen to see the old bow legged gas cooker with the famous cauldron spread across at least two of the burners concealing God knows what but probably a Goat something or other. Mike then invited me to open a door just off the kitchen which I did, or tried to, but the door would only open a few inches. I put my head through the gap to see that the room was packed floor to ceiling with all types of furniture stacked up like a warehouse. I did hear a story that when Alan upped sticks to move to Hay-on-Wye they found a motorcycle in the house that Alan had forgotten was there. Lovely story which I hope is true. Apparently the whole house was like it, Alan was a true eccentric and a fine musician with his own style and sound and it was a sad day when he shuffled off. I wish I’d known him better…..
Wonderful comment, Syd. Thanks – I know Jamie will appreciate it!
I played with Alan in the Graham Stewart 7. We had a fantastic tour of Denmark and Sweden in 1959 and although he was better known for his work with the Temps. In a dixieland context (the Graham Stewart band was very Kid Ory orientated) he was a knockout allround jazz player. At that time he was living in Chelsea with another clarinet player from Leeds – Tony Cash. Their speciality was not surprisingly “Hotpot” In the 80’s I used to use him as a dep at The Lord Napier with Vintage Jazz as he by then lived in Clapham which was not too far from Thornton Heath, but he didn’t drive (even though he had various motor bikes and bits of them in his passageway at home) so I had to pick him up and drop him off after the gig. It was well worth it however – used to love him playing a solo on bass clarinet as well which always brought the house down. He was certainly a one-off.
Thanks for your reminiscences, Syd.
Coops was one of a fast disappearing breed, a genuine eccentric. There are so many tales of his weird and wonderful ways that you could fill a large book with them. I lived just up the road from Coops and often visited his house in Bolingbroke Grove which he called the “Bolly”. He had the body of an old motor in his small front garden for many years. The house was originally owned by the Crapper family (of lavatorial fame) and Coops left it untouched in its Edwardian condition. The lack of any modern heating meant that it was always freezing while the kitchen was tropically hot in the summer with his Aga at full blast. The Bolly was stuffed full of strange and some quite valuable stuff. Much of it was stolen after a burglary which naturlly upset him a great deal. The link below to my website might be of particular interest to you.
Jamie Evans
http://www.alancooperremembered.com/13-articles-the-rumboe-years.html
Thoroughly enjoyed your thoughts, Tony. I know your name but I can’t remember whether we ever played on the same stand. There was so much jazz and so many players and venues durung the ’60s – ’90s that it is almost a probability.
I completely concur with your view that Coops was a “knockout allround jazz player”. As a piano player in the mainstream/bebop style, he was equally happy and terrific playing with me as he was with the bands you mention and even more New Orleans-style people like Ken Colyer. He could play anything he set his mind to and his bass clarinet stuff was great too. You mention Tony Cash who wrote a lovely article for my website and I have added a link below.
Jamie Evans
http://www.alancooperremembered.com/19-articles-early-days-in-leeds-and-london.html
Wonderful comments recapturing Jazz Past, Jamie! It’s great that you asked to share your Website and stories on Jazz&Jazz. Keep the comments coming, fellow Jazzers! And keep the links to your site coming too, Jamie.