Jim Douglas - autobiography
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I was born near Gifford, East Lothian on 13th May 1942. My father was a drummer in the RAMC pipe band and my mother, a shepherd’s daughter, in service at Newton Hall where my father’s regiment was billeted. My first school was in Sighthill, Edinburgh, but that was short lived and I soon found myself back in Gifford and installed in Yester Primary where I remained, apart from a short period in the hamlet of Longformacus, until ‘qualifying’. I was then enrolled in the Knox Academy, Haddington as a grade ‘A’ student where I remained until I achieved some ‘highers’. While there, I met clarinettist Pete Kerr and it was during this time plans to start a jazz band were drafted. I would play drums. (I was a drummer in the Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band.)About this time the ‘Skiffle’ craze started and, after pestering my mother to buy me a guitar, and doing a lot of practice, boring both my own family and that of my uncle who was my severest critic in the process, I became a member of the ‘Tynesiders Skiffle Group’. But on hearing Chris Barber it wasn’t long till I was wrapped up in traditional jazz, helping Pete (Kerr) to form the ‘Hidden Town Dixielanders’ with Jack Blair, trombone; Kimber Buglass, trumpet; John Logan, bass; and Bob Sandie, drums. After winning the local heat of the “Carroll Levis Discoveries†show, the band was awarded a trip to London to take part in a broadcast. This line-up was to last a few months until gradually replacements such as Ken Ramage, Alistair Clarke, George Crockett were found and Bob McDonald was added on piano and the name changed to ‘Pete Kerr’s Dixielanders’. A couple of recordings were issued and as the band grew in popularity, we were approached by the Scottish jazz Federation and offered a chance of a couple of months in Germany. This would mean becoming a professional outfit, which necessitated more personnel changes.Alistair Clarke had become sub editor at the ‘Scotsman’ newspaper, and was replaced by Andrew Lauder. Trombonist John McGuff had already replaced a Charlie Gall-bound Ken Ramage. Bob McDonald, a student doctor, vacated his chair to the fabulous Alex Shaw and Ian Brown took over the bass from printer John Logan. I had justbeen employed as an apprentice potter for ‘Castle Wynd Potteries’ and was somewhat reluctant to give up a promising career. I did, however, with the grace of my disappointed mother’s brave encouragement. The name of the band was once again changed to the ‘Scottish All-stars.’ A month in Cologne’s ‘Storyville’ was followed by another in Mannheim’s ‘Schwabinger Kunstler Keller’ – long playing hours, sharing ‘digs’, home sickness and alcohol over-indulgence were the drawbacks to the wonderful experience we all gleaned musically. We accompanied Frank Holder and Benny Waters and met Art Blakey - much to the astonished delight of George Crockett.When we returned in February 1961 the Trad Boom had started and we expected lots of work. Unfortunately the ‘Clyde Valley Stompers’, Charlie Gall, Jim Mc Harg and the ‘Back o’ Town Syncopaters’ were already in London and another Scottish band was deemed unnecessary by the agencies we approached. We decided to disband and return north, hoping to pick up the pieces. A few weeks later Forrie Cairns decided to leave the ‘Clydes’ to form his own band the ‘Clansmen’ and Pete joined in his place followed shortly after by yours truly. But even in this well-established band trouble reared its head. Ian Menzies retired through ill health, forming a company and moving to Jersey. Pete took over the leadership and we added pianist Bert Murray to the line-up of Joe McIntyre, John McGuff, Robbie Winter, Bill Bain, Pete and myself. We had success with a version of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ and became the most televised band at the time. But due to constant personnel changes, petty bickering about the wages and musical policy interference from the agents an inevitable disbanding occurred.Back to Edinburgh again and the formation of the ‘Capital Jazzband’ with an exceptional young bassist called Ron Mathewson and an excellent drummer called Billy Law. We played all over Scotland – travelling from Hawick to Thurso on one occasion and having a semi-permanent gig at the ‘Place’ in Edinburgh. However this too was short-lived as Pete had an offer from E M I to produce records and the guys once again went their separate ways. Billy and I headed south where, after some lean months sharing a cold room, Billy joined Terry Lightfoot and I was asked to cover for Diz Disley with Alex Welsh’s band. We moved into the famous house at Fawley Road, West Hampstead, sharing with Brian Lemmon, Colin Purbrook, Keith Ingham and Tony Baylis, with Sandy Brown just round the corner. (I had the great fortune to be asked by Sandy to play at his Christmas Party several times. The measures there became legendary!)I was with Alex for eighteen well documented, delightfully happy years, playing with some of the greatest jazz musicians this country ever produced, during which time the band appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1968, made several notable recordings and accompanied some of the great names in jazz:Henry Red Allen, Wild Bill Davison, Bud Freeman, Earl Hines, Ruby Braff, Willie the Lion Smith, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Lockjaw Davies, Eddie Miller, Ben Webster, Dickie Wells, Rex Stewart, Peanuts Hucko, Bob Wilbur, Dick Wellstood, Billy Butterfield, Pee Wee Erwin, Sammy Price, Johnnie Mince, Yank Lawson, Vic Dickinson, Etc.Since Alex’s untimely death in 1982, my career has taken several twists and turns, involving bands led by Digby Fairweather, Keith Smith, Val Wiseman, Pete Strange, and Dave Shepherd and several concerts with Stephane Grapelli. I have also toured Germany with Bob Haggard, Bob Barnard and an Alex Welsh tribute band, which I formed. I was a one-gig member of the ‘South Rampart Street Paraders’ with the great drummer Nick Fatool. In between, I undertook spells of cooking at various establishments, when the road got too long and my son was young. (I married Alex’s widow Maggie in 1983 and Will came along in 1985.) I retired in 2009 to help Maggie care for her ninety-one year old father who has dementia. He is now well looked after in a nursing home and I am free to play a few gigs again. Laurie Chescoe asked me to join his Reunion Band a few weeks ago and I was pleased to accept his offer.
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