Les Muscutt (bjo, gtr) – born Barrow-in-Furness, England June thirtieth 1941. Excellent jazzman, created himself a location between prime jazzmen in New Orleans throughout the 1970’s, particularly with The French Sector Jazz Band.
This product from the revised model of “New Orleans Jazz – A Family Album” by Al Rose and Edmond Souchon (Printed by Louisiana State School Push, prolonged out of print and costing a fortune on eBay) offers a clue to the status of this nice musician.
It’s not fast to be permitted as a “brother” in New Orleans however Les Muscutt managed this with the dual attributes of his gently sunny persona and his excellent ability on the guitar and notably on the banjo. His retirement owing to well being challenges got here as a shock to anybody and I felt drawn to provide this posting to encourage you to listen to to his huge output and contribution to jazz and particularly to New Orleans Jazz. Les arrived from a musical kinfolk and the reward of a scruffy banjo and respectable “Concord” guitar led to his curiosity in audio, and with BBC programmmes of dance new music and jazz his future was sealed. When an in depth buddy of John Beecham’s rang the doorbell and requested if he wish to seem and rehearse with a bunch and maybe carry out a few gigs he was hooked!
Les moved to Central London, essentially Lisle Avenue in Soho.That was the hub of the jazz, blues, skiffle and folks scene. He obtained a job at 77 Charing Cross Freeway – sure the well-known Dobell’s report store! A number of of their shoppers have been being musicians, and Les’s preliminary skilled job was with the Nat Gonella Band. Fast jobs with Acker Bilk, Cy Laurie, Terry Pitt and the London mannequin of the Clyde Valley Stompers and round a yr with Clinton Ford and Charlie Gall’s Jazz Band. Careers with the “Mike Cotton Audio” and Bruce Turner arrived alongside, and all this time the nice high quality of Les’s participating in elevated.
Les was married to the superior “Babs” by this time and when an give you arrived to get pleasure from within the new franchise of “Your Father’s Moustache” in New York, it was too unbelievable to refuse. Fairly a number of strikes to play for this franchise round the usA. adopted, and touring with a spouse and youngsters was a pricey firm. When the current arrived to open the franchise in New Orleans got here together with a level of permanency and as band chief, Les snapped it up
The opening of a “Pink Garter Membership” in New Orleans led to additional prospects. Being a band chief in New Orleans is the crucial to the magic kingdom! The great Freddie Lonzo acquired his 1st work alternatives with Les, then arrived Maynard Chatters and Paul Crawford. The trick with the “Moustache” and “Purple Garter” was to know nearly each observe at any time composed and Les skilled uncovered this skill. The three chord trick was absent and Les the grasp musician was listed right here in New Orleans.
On these employment, amount was crucial – they lasted 5 or in some circumstances six a number of hours a night – however Les had the included asset of high quality so as to add to the amount! Les was the chief of the band 6 evenings a 7 days and on his night off, Emmanuel Sayles led the band. Attempt a CD entitled “Banjos on Bourbon” – Incorporate.NOBILITY 701 with Manny Sayles, Narvin Kimball and Jerry Eco-friendly for a style of Banjo tunes on the Crimson Garter.
Through the intervals at his Bourbon Street gigs, Les would wander throughout the nook to St. Peter Avenue and Preservation Hall. He begun having fun with with Child Sheik’s band on the Hall and labored with a whole lot of bands on Bourbon Street, together with the Properly-known Door and with Connie Jones’s Band.
Within the Al Rose/Ed Souchon e ebook is a good image of the “French Market Jazz Band”. I questioned Les about this he defined “it was a wonderful method to spend the weekend! The band comprised of largely band leaders, people cherished the jazz, threw money into the kitty and we had a great deal of {dollars} for beer and we skilled a terrific time with a minor earnings to get property to our wives to confirm we skilled been performing!”
When Nina Buck opened “The Palm Courtroom Cafe”, Les performed with the band led by Louis Nelson.. When Nelson died in 1988 Pud Brown took about and when Pud died, Brian O”Connell took the clarinet chair, Lionel Ferbos carried out the trumpet and Les grew to become band chief and managed this placement till his retirement early this yr.
For lots of 12 months Les did a summer season tour within the U.Okay. with Chris Burke. This was designed possible by a worthwhile cease by to Norway with Chris after which a journey to the U.Okay. to satisfy up with aged good buddies and carry out a handful of gigs. In fact, Les was within the U.Okay. when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and he hurried dwelling to uncover his Babs evacuated to the nation to steer clear of the dreadful predicament in New Orleans.
In 2001, Les needed to have open coronary heart surgical procedure. He on no account completely recovered and it caused his eventual retirement. He lacking feeling in two fingers on his nonetheless left hand and even after intensive physiotherapy, he needed to confess defeat!
I have to inform you that even with this concern, I’ve listened many nights and relished his distinctive actively taking part in, however Les is a perfectionist and as he mentioned to me “I simply obtained fed up with faking and understanding that I used to be not able to do what I needed to do.” So the banjo sits in its case and is lifted in order that Babs can clear beneath it!
There are so fairly a number of CDs with Les Muscutt on them that I’m just about scared to pick, however proper right here goes: 504CDS 100 “The 504 Information Story 1978-2003 ” This presents a cross phase of bands that Les recorded with. 504CDS8 with Wendell Eugene’s Band that is certainly one of Les’s favourites – Albert Walters (tpt), Raymond Burke (clt) Janette Kimball (Pno), Chester Zardis (Bass) and Chester Jones (Drums)
Les performed on a Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton report on the Verve label which was a Grammy Award winner.
Lastly, simply certainly one of Les’s favourites is a CD on the Jazzology label JCD-233 titled “Swinging All the way down to New Orleans”but once more showcasing the legendary Doc Cheatham.
When you arrive to New Orleans you’ll not find Les Muscutt on a bandstand anyplace. Chances are you’ll spot him on a novel night time time on the Palm Court docket docket Cafe, or if you’re out fishing on the lake, the male upcoming to you catching the massive catfish may very well be Les Muscutt!