Cy Laurie
Encyclopedia
Cyril "Cy" Laurie was an English jazz
clarinetist and bandleader.
Laure was an autodidact on clarinet. He put together his own band in 1947; George Melly
debuted in this ensemble in 1948. He played with Mike Daniels
in 1949-50 and led the Cy Laurie Four in 1950, with Fred Hunt
and Les Jowett.
He ran his own club in London from 1951 and headed a seven-member ensemble; sidemen in this group included Chris Barber
, Alan Elsdon
, Al Fairweather
, and Colin Smith
. Cy Laurie's Club was in Ham Yard and went on to become the famous Mod club The Scene in the 1960s.
He quit music from 1960 to 1968, but returned to lead another ensemble at the end of the decade. His career saw a resurgence late in the 1970s; he toured in ensembles as a soloist and sometimes led his own groups. He played with Eggy Ley and Max Collie in the 1980s. He continued performing into the 1990s.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinetist and bandleader.
Laure was an autodidact on clarinet. He put together his own band in 1947; George Melly
George Melly
Alan George Heywood Melly was an English jazz and blues singer, critic, writer and lecturer. From 1965 to 1973 he was a film and television critic for The Observer and lectured on art history, with an emphasis on surrealism.-Early life and career:He was born in Liverpool and was educated at Stowe...
debuted in this ensemble in 1948. He played with Mike Daniels
Mike Daniels
Mike Daniels is a British dixieland revivalist jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in Stanmore, Middlesex, UK, probably best known for his work with his own group The Delta Jazzmen. Some of his other bands have featured talents such as Keith Nichols and John Chilton.-References:...
in 1949-50 and led the Cy Laurie Four in 1950, with Fred Hunt
Fred Hunt
Herbert Frederick Hunt was an English jazz pianist.Hunt played early on in London with Mike Daniels and Cy Laurie , then joined Alex Welsh's band from 1954 to 1962 and again from 1964 to 1974...
and Les Jowett.
He ran his own club in London from 1951 and headed a seven-member ensemble; sidemen in this group included Chris Barber
Chris Barber
Donald Christopher 'Chris' Barber is best known as a jazz trombonist. As well as scoring a UK top twenty trad jazz hit he helped the careers of many musicians, notably the blues singer Ottilie Patterson, who was at one time his wife, and vocalist/banjoist Lonnie Donegan, whose appearances with...
, Alan Elsdon
Alan Elsdon
Alan Elsdon is an English jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist.Elsdon studied trumpet under Tommy McQuater among others. His early professional work included time with Cy Laurie , Graham Stewart , a Royal Air Force band, and Terry Lightfoot ; with Lightfoot he played alongside Kid Ory and Red Allen...
, Al Fairweather
Al Fairweather
Alastair Fairweather was a British jazz musician, born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Educated at the city's Royal High School and Edinburgh College of Art, Fairweather served his National Service in Egypt....
, and Colin Smith
Colin Smith (musician)
Colin Ranger Smith, born London 20 November 1934; died London 29 March 2004, was an English jazz trumpeter.He joined the Terry Lightfoot band in 1957 before moving on to playing with Cy Laurie, in 1958. His long tenure in the Acker Bilk band began in 1959, taking a break in 1966 to sail across the...
. Cy Laurie's Club was in Ham Yard and went on to become the famous Mod club The Scene in the 1960s.
He quit music from 1960 to 1968, but returned to lead another ensemble at the end of the decade. His career saw a resurgence late in the 1970s; he toured in ensembles as a soloist and sometimes led his own groups. He played with Eggy Ley and Max Collie in the 1980s. He continued performing into the 1990s.