Matt Sings, Nelson Swings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:44 pm
Thought I'd drop you a line to congratulate you on a wonderful website celebrating your father's talents.
I'd always had a soft spot for Matt's voice ever since first hearing "Portrait Of My Love" on David Jacobs BBC 2 Saturday morning show when I was about - I guess - eleven years of age (around 1985). Even as I child I knew "quality" when I heard it!
Over the past few years I've listened more and Matt has fast become my favourite male singer. We in the UK should be proud to have produced such a world class artist.
What prompted me to write is that, in the middle of a flurry of buying Matt's CDs, yesterday I purchased the "Rare Monro". It's a great, great album and beautifully documents some of the lesser known corners of his discography. It's also very valuable in containing those rare live recordings rescued from crumbling old tapes, especially the collaboration with Nelson Riddle "Strike Up the Band".
I have now ordered via Amazon the "Matt Sings- Nelson Swings" CD containing the entire July 14th 1967 BBC TV'cast and am looking forward to hearing it in full not least because, as well as Matt, as the blistering saxophone solo on "Strike Up The Band" reveals, the orchestra also feature another hero of mine, the late great British jazzman Tubby Hayes. I'm sure others would like to know that Tubby is featured on the CD.
As a performing saxophonist, I've concentrated upon Tubby's work over the past few years and have consequently go to know quite a bit about his various recordings for Radio and TV.
I'm sure you are aware that Matt and Tubby worked together during 1957 and 1958 on two BBC radio series led by bandleader Tommy Watt; "The Band Waggon" broadcast weekly from October 1st to December 24th 1957 and "Time For Watt" broadcast weekly from January 1st to March 26th 1958.
I wonder if you might have heard any gems from these two series whilst trawling through the old tapes. I'm certain that if anything from these programmes survives it would be of great interest to a new generation of listeners.
Thanks again for all your sterling work.
With best wishes
Simon Spillett
BBC Jazz Awards "Rising Star" 2007
Website; www.freewebs.com/simonspillett
I'd always had a soft spot for Matt's voice ever since first hearing "Portrait Of My Love" on David Jacobs BBC 2 Saturday morning show when I was about - I guess - eleven years of age (around 1985). Even as I child I knew "quality" when I heard it!
Over the past few years I've listened more and Matt has fast become my favourite male singer. We in the UK should be proud to have produced such a world class artist.
What prompted me to write is that, in the middle of a flurry of buying Matt's CDs, yesterday I purchased the "Rare Monro". It's a great, great album and beautifully documents some of the lesser known corners of his discography. It's also very valuable in containing those rare live recordings rescued from crumbling old tapes, especially the collaboration with Nelson Riddle "Strike Up the Band".
I have now ordered via Amazon the "Matt Sings- Nelson Swings" CD containing the entire July 14th 1967 BBC TV'cast and am looking forward to hearing it in full not least because, as well as Matt, as the blistering saxophone solo on "Strike Up The Band" reveals, the orchestra also feature another hero of mine, the late great British jazzman Tubby Hayes. I'm sure others would like to know that Tubby is featured on the CD.
As a performing saxophonist, I've concentrated upon Tubby's work over the past few years and have consequently go to know quite a bit about his various recordings for Radio and TV.
I'm sure you are aware that Matt and Tubby worked together during 1957 and 1958 on two BBC radio series led by bandleader Tommy Watt; "The Band Waggon" broadcast weekly from October 1st to December 24th 1957 and "Time For Watt" broadcast weekly from January 1st to March 26th 1958.
I wonder if you might have heard any gems from these two series whilst trawling through the old tapes. I'm certain that if anything from these programmes survives it would be of great interest to a new generation of listeners.
Thanks again for all your sterling work.
With best wishes
Simon Spillett
BBC Jazz Awards "Rising Star" 2007
Website; www.freewebs.com/simonspillett
