Eddie Blair-british jazz scene

[Babystrad]

Dear all,

I once mentioned a dear friend of mine in a post regarding a question on the cornet mouthpieces- cornet mouthpiece-c or deep v cup?

I said that if you were ever interested, I would post further information on this player. A really wonderful british gentleman who's is nearly 80 years old now... Eddie Blair.
I met him this week end at a family reunion in London, and, between one or two good advices, told me some more about his career- which he is very not showing off about... as all the best players I presume, and so far, noticed.

So far I can tell you Eddie played regularly in the the U.S. scene for such great names as Nat King Cole or Franck Sinatra, Big bands appearance for Clark Terry as well, besides commercials, radio shows... or brass sessions for some pop bands of the time, or chart toppers guys like Johnny Mathis.

You can also hear him play in all the James Bond scores back from Dr Noway to the 1980's ones.

Click on the link below so you can hear him play a Flugelhorn solo on the James Bond "For your eyes only" track: "Take Me Home".

If you ever know Eddie Blair, of if you ever had met him or played with him, please let me know. Any comments, anecdotes, are welcomes.
It will be my pleasure to pass them on.

Best regards,

Babystrad

http://jamesbond007.net/Musique/BO_FYEO.html

[Vincere]

Do you know if the trumpet player Eddie Blair is still with us? Eddie comes from my home town of Johnstone in Scotland and was a teenage friend of my father, Daniel Madden who died in 2000. He also played the local band scene but was nowhere near as talented Eddie. I tried to contact Eddie, when my father passed away, through another friend but they had lost contact. Hope you can help.

Kind Regards,
Vince Madden

[Babystrad]

[Babystrad]

[jwilson46]

Ted Heath's band (British musicians) was one of my favorites. They did a great arrangement of "And the Angels Sing" which featured trumpeters Eddie Blair, Bobby Pratt, and Bert Ezzard. I can't remember the fourth member of the section. Eddie played great jazz and Bobby Pratt was one of the best lead players ever. The other two trumpet players also played great. I wish I could find this recording.

John

[mffan]

[Babystrad]

[jwilson46]

I also found it in iTunes. I typed: And the Angels Sing Ted Heath. It is the second one down. Look for Vintage Jazz No. 18, etc. It is 3:19 long.

Some great trumpet playing.

John[/quote]

[Emma_Blair]

Hi there,
I am Eddie Blair's granddaughter.
I have been looking up his name on the internet to find any old pics and music of him back in the day.
It was so lovely coming across this page with all the nice messages regarding my grandpa.

Unfortunately Eddie is not well so please let me know if you would like me to pass on any well wishes.

Kind regards
Emma Blair

[blbaumgarn]

Now you are talking! His playing from "For Your Eyes Only" is flawless and conveys the whole message of that Bond movie. Very few can play the flugel and get that type of drawn butter sound.
_________________
"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush

[Seymor B Fudd]

Did Eddie play in the trumpet section on the "Swing is King" album?
Terrific section - listen to Two o´clock Jump....
_________________
Cornets: mp 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)

[Buffplumpa]