Alan Elsdon (15 October 1934 – 2 May 2016) was an English

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

trumpeter and flugelhornist.

Biography

Elsdon was born in London on 15 October 1934. He studied trumpet under Tommy McQuater. His early professional work included time with

Cy Laurie Cyril Laurie (20 April 1926 – 18 April 2002) was an English jazz clarinettist and bandleader. Biography Born in London, England, of Latvian/Jewish immigrant stock, Laurie was a bandleader and self-taught clarinet player. He put together his ow ...

(1954–56), Graham Stewart and his 'Graham Stewart Seven' (1957–58), a

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

band, and

Terry Lightfoot Terence Lightfoot (21 May 1935 – 15 March 2013) was a British jazz clarinettist and bandleader, and together with Chris Barber, Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball was one of the leading members of the trad jazz generation of British jazzmen. Early ...

(1959–61); with Lightfoot he played alongside

Kid Ory Edward "Kid" Ory (December 25, 1886 – January 23, 1973) was an American jazz composer, trombonist and bandleader. One of the early users of the glissando technique, he helped establish it as a central element of New Orleans jazz. He was ...

and

Red Allen Henry James "Red" Allen, Jr. (January 7, 1908 – April 17, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose playing has been claimed by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and others as the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armst ...

. Elsdon led his own band from 1961 (he made an appearance on 1 June 1962 in a TV series called ''All That Jazz'') into the 1990s, and during the 1960s also played with

Edmond Hall Edmond Hall (May 15, 1901 – February 11, 1967) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader. Over his career, Hall worked extensively with many leading performers as both a sideman and bandleader and is possibly best known for the 1941 ch ...

Albert Nicholas Albert Nicholas (May 27, 1900 – September 3, 1973) was an American jazz clarinet player. Career Nicholas's primary instrument was the clarinet, which he studied with Lorenzo Tio in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Late ...

Wingy Manone Joseph Matthews "Wingy" Manone (February 13, 1900 – July 9, 1982) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His recordings included " Tar Paper Stomp", "Nickel in the Slot", "Downright Disgusted Blues", "There'll Come a ...

, and

Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer and guitarist. He is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. Over a four-decade care ...

. Elsdon played in

Keith Nichols Keith Nichols (13 February 1945 – 21 January 2021) was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist and arranger, a player of the piano, trombone, reeds, and accordion. Biography Born in Ilford, Essex, England, Nichols was a child actor and an a ...

's Midnite Follies Orchestra from 1978 to 1985, as well as in small groups with Nichols around the same time. The Alan Elsdon Band made an appearance at a 'jazz weekend' in November, 1991 at Badger's Mount Jazz Club in Halstead, Kent. He was also active as a writer and educator. He died on 2 May 2016.

Discography

* ''Jazz Journeymen'' (

Black Lion Black Lion, Black Lions, or Blacklions may refer to: Businesses and organisations * Black Lion, Hammersmith, a London pub * Black Lion, Kilburn, a London pub * Black Lion Records, a British jazz record company * Black Lions Films, associated wit ...

, 1977) * ''Dixieland Favourites'' ( EMI & Hamlyn, 1970) * ''Alan Elsdon Presents...'' (Columbia UK, 1964)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elsdon, Alan British jazz trumpeters Male trumpeters 1934 births 2016 deaths 21st-century trumpeters 21st-century British male musicians British male jazz musicians Black Lion Records artists