Martin Dobson started clarinet lessons at age twelve, but soon became more interested in playing guitar in a local rock group that he’d formed!, but later after having seen Georgie Fame and Zoot Money (early exponents of ‘British Rhythm and Blues’ at London’s famed ‘Flamingo Club’) performing locally, he persuaded his dad to buy him a tenor sax, then one afternoon a friend played him a record by the legendary American R&B saxplayer ‘King Curtis’ and he knew immediately that he wanted to play in that style.
Martin turned professional with a local group in the late sixties but they broke up after a few months, not wanting to have to have return to a ‘day gig’ he got practising and landed a job playing on a P&O cruise ship, after a year he took a residency with a ‘cover band’ at ‘Tiffany’s’ Derby before enrolling at Leeds College of Music . He left music college after 9 months for a summer season at ‘Butlins’ Skegness. Martin moved to London in 1973 for a six night a week residency playing tenor sax, baritone sax and flute with the Tony Evans Band at the Empire Ballroom Leicester Square, the band had regular BBC broadcasts and toured the UK and Europe backing artists such as Tom Jones and Gilbert O’Sullivan.
Next came a residency in the ‘house band’ at ‘Caesars Palace’ Luton backing singers, jugglers, comedians, ventriloquists, performing dogs and drag acts!… during that period he started to become a busy freelance player on the London scene,
Martin Dobson fronted Midnight Oil which included Chrissy Lee on drums (roger Odell was away with Shakatak in Japan) Bernie Hodgkins on electric bass Guitar and Simon Brown on keys,
Following the interval we had a raffle of three jazz CDs
On Sunday 30th June 2019 – TIM WHITEHEAD (sax) will be at Jazznights
Tim was famously a member of the ground-breaking band Loose Tubes. “Those of us who have caught him live have been left blinking in disbelief. It’s not just his mastery of the tenor saxophone, phenomenal though it is, but the absolute conviction of his playing that is so impressive.” Dave Gelly (The Observer/ BBC ).
THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, Admission £10. Doors open 7.00 pm. Music 7.30 – 10.00 pm.
Reserve seating on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com
Pay on the night.
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Pictures from past gigs can also be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dancerd/
and at google photos at
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM1nC8IDiDYGa1__XMU_NiRx8V-JK9ApKwdisfiJ3wo1tFwQa_xdK3bxXa9FVNuUw?key=U1VUN1E4bXlWaEdLZ0o0WFFFdV9adlZIOUlJeFF3
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