DEAR TUBBY H

MISTER PC RECORDS PRESENTS

THE SIMON SPILLETT BIG BAND

‘DEAR TUBBY H’ (MRPC231)

RELEASE SEPTEMBER 11TH 2023

TRACK LISTING AND SOLOISTS

1)      Dear Johnny B 6:25 (Tubby Hayes) Sammy Mayne (alto sax) Steve Fishwick (trumpet)

2)      As Close As You Are 5:42 (Tubby Hayes) Simon Spillett (tenor sax) Freddie Gavita (trumpet) Alec Dankworth (bass)

3)      Take Your Partners For The Blues 5:43 (Tubby Hayes) Alan Barnes (baritone sax) Ian Bateman (trombone) Steve Fishwick (trumpet) George Hogg (trumpet) Alex Garnett (tenor sax) Simon Allen (tenor sax)

4)      Fish Soup 6:20 (Ian Hamer) Simon Allen (tenor sax) Freddie Gavita (trumpet) Rob Barron (piano)

5)      Star Eyes 4:06  (Don Raye/ Gene DePaul arr Tubby Hayes) Mark Nightingale (trombone)

6)      Soft and Supple 4:55 (Tubby Hayes) Alan Barnes (baritone sax) Freddie Gavita (trumpet) Simon Allen (tenor sax)

7)      Rumpus 6:46 (Tubby Hayes) Alex Garnett (tenor sax) Freddie Gavita (trumpet)

8)      Peace 5:15 (Horace Silver arr Hayes) Steve Fishwick (trumpet)

9)      Seven Steps to Heaven 5:20 (Victor Feldman arr Hayes) Freddie Gavita (trumpet) Pete Cater (drums) Alex Garnett (tenor sax) Rob Barron (piano)

10)   Solweig 3:32 (Hayes) Simon Spillett (tenor sax) Rob Barron (piano)

11)   Blues for Pipkins 6:30 (Hayes) Steve Fishwick (trumpet) Mark Nightingale (trombone) Rob Barron (piano)

12)   She Insulted Me in Marrakech 7:17  (Hayes) Pete Long (alto sax) Freddie Gavita (trumpet)

CONTRIBUTING MUSICIANS

Sammy Mayne, Pete Long, Alex Garnett, Simon Allen, Alan Barnes, saxophones

Nathan Bray, George Hogg, Freddie Gavita, Steve Fishwick, trumpets

Jon Stokes, Mark Nightingale, Ian Bateman, Pete North, trombones 

Rob Barron, piano

Alec Dankworth, bass

Pete Cater, drums

Musical director and solo tenor sax, Simon Spillett

RECORDED AT TRINITY SCHOOL, CROYDON, UK, APRIL 3RD 2023

ENGINEERED, MIXED AND MASTERED BY CHRIS TRAVES

Available from www.petecater.org/store  and www.petecater1.bandcamp.com

NOTES BY SIMON SPILLETT

The idea of this album - and this band - have been in my mind for thirty-odd years, since my late teens when, having begun to delve into the fascinating culture of 'bootleg' radio broadcasts, passed covertly between veteran jazz collectors, I discovered that there was so much more to the Tubby Hayes Big Band than the sixteen arrangements heard on their classic studio-recorded albums 'Tubbs' Tours' (1964) and '100% Proof' (1966).

Although it existed sporadically over its thirteen or so year lifespan, Tubby's big band was a working outfit with a pad full of compositions and arrangements used on its live, radio and television performances. Many of these were heard only in person or luckily survive on tape owing to the efforts of enthusiastic home-tapers, including Tubby himself.

Over the years since my life-changing discovery of Tubby's music (around twelve years of age) I often wondered what had become of these 'lost' pieces. Then, as I began to meet and work with musicians who had known and played with Tubby - and, of course, research his life for my biography of him - all sorts of interesting things began to emerge from the archival woodwork. Indeed, by 2010 I had accumulated, via the generosity of people like trumpeter Ian Hamer, and pianist Johnny Patrick, a veritable working pad of Hayes-associated material.

So what to do with it? Over the next few years I occasionally played these charts as a guest soloist with various big bands across the UK, but what I really dreamed of was hearing it played by my own choice of players; a who's who of British jazz who, like Tubby's original band, would comprise a genuine 'jazz orchestra', full to the brim of improvising soloists, many respected bandleaders in their own right.

...and here it is, at last. Formed in 2020 but really coming until its own two years later with sold out gigs at jazz festivals and clubs up and down the country, this is a band of genuine world class ranking, one I'm incredibly proud to present in public and now, finally, on record playing music that I've long felt deserved a more appropriate fate than obscurity.

In making this album happen I'm particularly indebted to several musicians; first to Pete Cater, who as well as drumming to perfection, shares my vision for the preservation and promotion of this music. I'd also like to thank Alan Barnes and Pete Long for their invaluable practical advice on many aspects of leading a band of this size. Similarly, a huge debt of gratitude is due  to Mark Nightingale, a musician with ears like radar who painstakingly recopied Tubby's faded scores, added missing parts and more generally transformed music well-loved if not well cared for into the playable pristine pad it is today, a game-changer for all of us associated with this project.

Finally, I would like to dedicate this recording to the two people who continue to inspire me every day; first my late father Richard, who introduced me to Tubby Hayes' music all those years ago and who sadly passed away just as my big band was taking shape. I know he'd have been knocked out to see all this come to fruition.

I also dedicate our performance to the late Tina May, my partner who, as well as being our finest jazz vocalist, just happened to have changed the life of a certain saxophonist involved with this album forever. She believed in this music and in the man who had the idea of bringing it together and I've a feeling she'd have loved the results. 'Peace' is played for you, by the way, my love.

So Dad and Tina - and Tubby, of course - I hope you're smiling on our efforts. As for me, I'm very, very proud of every note and every musician here; added together they've truly made a dream come true.

Simon Spillett 

April 2023