"Blueberry Hill" - Malky Higgins; Bob Talbot - Jazzmakers

The scene is Jakes Boathouse, a hugely popular bar and restaurant in Brampton, Ontario. Its June 5th 1987, a hot Friday night, the end of the work week and the joint is packed and very noisy. At 9.00 pm they are still lining up to get in!
The Jazzmakers, Friday regulars since Jakes started its jazz nights in February 1980, are doing "Blueberry Hill" with Malky Higgins "mugging" in his own inimitable style and doing the vocal.
The amazing Bobbie Talbot - alto sax is there too. He could blow anybody away on his day -What a powerhouse he was! No longer with us, sad to say but never to be forgotten! Malky Higgins on trumpet ain't no slouch either! Talk about sparkling powerhouse solos - these guys were at the top of their game! The rest of the band shows a very interesting configeration.
A youthful Jamie Aug is on drums, this is before he joined the Climax Jazz Band. On piano is the versatile Janet Shaw. This is back in the happy days when the best venues provided a real piano as part of their act.
Rainer Hunck is on string bass and Jack King is on banjo. Brian Towers leads on trombone.
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Category:

Music

Tags:

• traditional
• jazz;
• New
• Orleans
• Style;
• Toronto;
• trad;
• dixie;
• Hot
• Five
• Jazzmakers

[BertyBloggs]

That is indeed Rainer Hunck. Bass was his first instrument.

Everyone does look so different - that's what twenty years will do Colin!

B

[tartanrocker]

Hi Scotswanderer....Malky was my dad, I am his oldest daughter Janice....if memory serves, your dad died suddenly, and way too young...my dad walked about in a daze when he heard...

....but as for now?....they're back playing together again...can you just imagine what that band sounds like?...

[orlfutbol]

R.I.P. Malcolm Higgins, my cousin and pal of 60+ years, who passed away in Toronto tonight. A disciple of the great Louis Armstrong, Malky started with the Clyde Valley Stompers then in Canada and around the globe. He returned to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland every summer as a featured soloist and guest artist. Here's a sample of the great man 'imself, here is Malky as we all knew him...Sleep in peace, cuz.

John Higgins

[scotswanderer]

I just came upon this by accident, whilst surfing trad jazz tunes on Youtube. Magic! My Dad, Alex Adam,(drummer) played with Malky back in the 50s & 60s with the Clyde Valley Stompers and Jim McHarg's Scotsville Jazz Band. I remember Malky, (he just looks the same in this video!) and I went to see him in some club in Toronto, the 1st time I went to Canada @ 1977. Great music. Thanks, Alex.

[colinrob4]

Is that really Rainer on string bass. Boy don"t these guys look young