The Westcoast Jazz Orchestra - 1978
I’ve been sorting through stuff around the house and I came across this photo of my old big band, the Westcoast Jazz Orchestra. This photo was taken, by mega-jazz fan Willi Germann who thoughtfully dated and signed the back, at the Hot Jazz Club in Vancouver (then on Broadway) on October 30th, 1978. If I remember correctly this concert was recorded and broadcast by CBC Radio. A couple of years later, and with a few changes in personnel, we recorded the lp The Westcoast Jazz Orchestra - First Time Out. An image of that lp can be seen in the photos in another section on this site.
This was my first big-time pro band with a real mix in generations - with Dave Robbins being the senior member down to those of us in our early and mid-twenties. I would have been 25. Some of these great players have retired from playing - Herb Besson, Dave Montgomery and Blaine Tringham. Some have moved away - Don Clark and Gary Guthman. Some have passed away - Dave Robbins, Bob MacDonald and Lew Hilton. The rest of us are still at it in some form or another.
The personnel are, starting on the right for each section:
Saxes - Tom Keenlyside (tenor), Jack Stafford (alto), Bob MacDonald (alto), Al Wold (tenor), Lew Hilton (Baritone)
Trombones - Herb Besson, Dave Robbins, Dave Montgomery, Sharman King
Trumpets - Blaine Tringham, Jamie Croil, Gary Guthman, Don Clark
Rhythm Section - Dave Sinclair (guitar - at the far end of the trombones), Bob Murphy (piano). Unfortunately neither Rene Worst (bass) or Graham Boyle (drums) are visible.
Tags: Al Wold, Blaine Tringham, Bob MacDonald, Bob Murphy, Dave Montgomery, Dave Robbins, Dave Sinclair, Don Clark, Gary Guthman, Graham Boyle, Herb Besson, Hot Jazz Club, Jack Stafford, Jamie Croil, Lew Hilton, Rene Worst, Sharman King, Tom Keenlyside, Westcoast Jazz Orchestra