LEITH

The PORTHOLE

a Window on Leith.

SINCE the forties, Edinburgh has produced a long list of jazzmen, many of them recognised internationally and tributes have been paid to the late Sandy Brown and Al Fairweather who, together with Stan Greig went south to London in 1954 to form the Fairweather-Brown all Stars.

Before this however, a young trumpeter from Leith called Alex Welsh had already broken into the jazz scene, had completed a successful tour of Germany and had broadcast and even made a television appearance.

Alex, who lived in Lorne Square was a former pupil of Broughton High School and he had taken an early interest in jazz with his trumpet playing and had also played as a member of Leith Silver Band. Jazz was in his soul however and he became a part time member of Archie Semple's Capital Jazz Band who played in the City at that time.
An office job was not for Alex and he decided on a move to London in order to further his interest in jazz but found that there were few opportunities open to him. His early enthusiasm began to wane until a London agent advised him that the only course open to him was to form his own band and the first Alex Welsh Band was formed with Archie Semple on clarinet, another fellow Scot, Boy Crimmins on trombone, Fred Hunt on piano and the talented Lennie Hastings on drums.

The band began to make a big impression on audiences and one of the first important engagements was to take part in the London Festival Hall concerts. Neil Arden, a music critic of the day had promised that he would never attempt to discuss or criticise jazz but changed his mind when he praised the band after hearing one of its recordings. They were recording, broadcasting and playing clubs and concerts throughout the country and were soon recognised as one of the best small bands playing jazz. Once, when Alex returned to Edinburgh with his band he played at the Eldorado on a Saturday night in preference to the Usher Hall and some Leithers may still remember that occasion.

The band also provided background to some of Dicky Valentine's recordings such as ' The Red Red Robbin Goes Bob Bob Bobbin ' and new recordings were issued including numbers like ' Rose Room ' and ' King of the Jungle '. Sadly, Archie Semple died in 1974, Roy Crimmins decided to move abroad and the first Alex Welsh Band began to break up but like a true Leither, Alex persevered and the band was soon reformed with John Barnes and Boy Williams amongst others. The sixties had proved to be the band's busiest period and it toured with many visitors from the United States including Earl Hines and Ruby Braff and its success was recognised world wide.

For a further ten years the Alex Welsh Band continued to tour, playing clubs and concerts all over Europe and the UK, constantly recording and backing international artists. In 1977, the band again began to break up but, Alex, now in poor health continued to play his straight forward Dixjeland, again with Boy Crimmins on trombone, Al Gay on clarinet and saxophone and with pianist Barney Hates.

The long fight against his debilitating illness was lost sadly on 25 June 1982 and his fellow jazzmen and friends packed the church to hid farewell to this talented musician from Leith.