Barnstormers Spasm Band
Encyclopedia
The Barnstormers Spasm Band, also known as the Original Barnstormers Spasm Band, were a jazz band
active from 1956 to 1961. The band was almost unique in remaining a semi-professional group for the entire duration of their existence.
, a respected jazz journalist, writer and erstwhile washboard
player.Brian Rust was the compiler of a number of Jazz editions notably, 'Jazz Records' an attempt to catalogue all Jazz Recordings from 1897 to 1942, which in its latest edition is regarded as authoritative and is now simply referred to as 'the Rust' In late 1957 the banjo
ist John Denning completed their line-up. They applied and subsequently auditioned for Hughie Green
's 'Opportunity Knocks' and were turned down. This spurred them on to produce a demonstration disc
(at Oriole Records
) which they sent to Rex Harris at the BBC
who played it on his show. The jazz guitarist and agent Neville Skrimshire either heard the broadcast or was given the demo and recommended them to Parlophone
where they recorded several sides. 'Whistling Rufus' was moderately successful and accordingly the Barnstormers appeared in a number of television shows and also appeared at the Royal Festival Hall
. In 1958 the multi-instrumentalist John R T DaviesJohn R T Davies was a founder member of the Temperance Seven, and played with, amongst many others, the Crane River Jazzband and Cy Laurie, and he later became known as a sound engineer and restorer of ancient recordings with his own company 'Ristic'. briefly replaced Brian Rust after the BBC; his employer, citing conflict of interests, refused him permission to appear on TV. Rust rejoined the band soon after, until eventually leaving for good in late 1960. In January 1959, they transferred to Decca Records
' Tempo
label and made probably the last 78rpm record to be issued in the UK
. Several recordings were subsequently made at Levy's Sound Studios - Oriole in 1960 but were never (to my knowledge) released.
The Barnstormers disbanded in 1961.
Jazz band
A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
active from 1956 to 1961. The band was almost unique in remaining a semi-professional group for the entire duration of their existence.
History
The friends John Gunn and James Robinson created the band in 1956 when they met in a hospital, then later they recruited John and Peter Wadley. In mid 1957 were joined by Brian RustBrian Rust
Brian Rust , was an English jazz discographer.Brian Arthur Lovell Rust was born in London, and collected records from the age of five. He worked in the BBC's record library from 1945 to 1960, and supervised broadcasting selections...
, a respected jazz journalist, writer and erstwhile washboard
Washboard
A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. With mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard has become better known for its originally subsidiary use as a musical instrument....
player.Brian Rust was the compiler of a number of Jazz editions notably, 'Jazz Records' an attempt to catalogue all Jazz Recordings from 1897 to 1942, which in its latest edition is regarded as authoritative and is now simply referred to as 'the Rust' In late 1957 the banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
ist John Denning completed their line-up. They applied and subsequently auditioned for Hughie Green
Hughie Green
Hughie Green was the host of numerous British television shows.-Early life:Hugh H. Green was born in London; his Scottish father was a former British Army Major who made his fortune supplying tinned fish to the Allied forces in World War I, while his mother Violet was the Surrey-born daughter of...
's 'Opportunity Knocks' and were turned down. This spurred them on to produce a demonstration disc
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
(at Oriole Records
Oriole Records (UK)
Oriole Records was the first British record label founded in 1925 by the London-based Levy Company, which owned a gramophone record subsidiary called Levaphone Records.-History:...
) which they sent to Rex Harris at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
who played it on his show. The jazz guitarist and agent Neville Skrimshire either heard the broadcast or was given the demo and recommended them to Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
where they recorded several sides. 'Whistling Rufus' was moderately successful and accordingly the Barnstormers appeared in a number of television shows and also appeared at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
. In 1958 the multi-instrumentalist John R T DaviesJohn R T Davies was a founder member of the Temperance Seven, and played with, amongst many others, the Crane River Jazzband and Cy Laurie, and he later became known as a sound engineer and restorer of ancient recordings with his own company 'Ristic'. briefly replaced Brian Rust after the BBC; his employer, citing conflict of interests, refused him permission to appear on TV. Rust rejoined the band soon after, until eventually leaving for good in late 1960. In January 1959, they transferred to Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
' Tempo
Tempo Records (UK)
Tempo Records was a British record label. This independent label specialized in jazz recordings, and was started in 1949 by Colin Pomroy Jack Clough, and R.E.G. [Ron] Davies . This label had two periods of activity. In the late 1940s and early 1950s musicians working in the revivalist idiom...
label and made probably the last 78rpm record to be issued in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Several recordings were subsequently made at Levy's Sound Studios - Oriole in 1960 but were never (to my knowledge) released.
The Barnstormers disbanded in 1961.
Discography
- 11 February 1958 (EMI Abbey Road Studios)
- Whistling Rufus/ Bill Bailey, Please Come Home
- Parlophone 45-R4416
- 3 February 1959 (Decca Hampstead Studio)
- Storming the Barn/ Tiger Rag
- Tempo A168
- Shine/That's all There is/Tiger Rag/Storming the Barn
- Tempo EP EXA95
Personnel
- John Gunn, vocals and kazoo
- James Robinson, guitar
- John Denning, banjo
- Peter Wadley, double bass
- John Wadley, harmonica and vocals
- Brian Rust, drumsDoes not appear on recordings.
- John R T Davies, washboard and percussion