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Copyright © Stéphanie Durrant Photography

www.kennyball.co.uk is the official website 

The Collector Phil Hoy needs your help.

Do You have any rare, unusual or not run of the mill

Kenny Ball items in your collection. We would Love to

hear from You.

We are especially looking for anything relating to Kennys Tour with the great Louis Armstrong.

Either e-mail me on karl.durrant@sky.com

or call 0113 263 7075

An Interview with Kenny Ball

My date with Ken nearly never happened,

as I was searching for a parking space in Pontins,

Prestatyn, Kenny was searching for his clothes

 in Manchester airport! Syd told me the bad news

as soon as I managed to find him, no worries though,

it gave me plenty of time to setup my equipment and prepare.

Kenny eventually arrived three hours late

after the fiasco at the airport, all the clothes

he had were what he stood in.

One guy offered a fresh t-shirt.

“Have you got two mate, I’ll need to sew ‘em together to fit”

         In France we have a saying, never two without three,

 and number three sure enough followed when all the lights went out!!

        Even this didn’t faze Ken as he fumbled

about in the dark checking the fuses.

        After quite some time, with bulbs working

we finally sat down for the chat, well not after Ken

made me a coffee, forever the gentleman....

Who got you interested in Music Ken, Jazz in particular?

Well, my whole family was rather musical, my father played piccolo in the territorial band before the First World War, he played it almost to the moment he died, he also sang and played spoons. My brother Ted played tea chest bass and my sister Ethel played the piano, I used to play Harmonica in those days the 1930’s. We used to have Sunday soirees, sing a longs when we lived in the east end; we were bombed out a couple of times, once by a v2 and once by a landmine.

 What got me interested in trumpet was I joined the Ilford Sea Cadets in 1942 and I started on a bugle and I loved it. At that time, films of Harry James were coming out with Betty Grable, my teenage hormones were coming into play when and I saw Harry, the trumpet player get the blond. I thought trumpet playing is a good idea to get the birds. ‘Cos my mother told me "You're no oil painting son, you've got to rely on your personality" then I suddenly found out I was more interested in the trumpet playing than the birds!

I tried learning the violin but it got smashed because my mates thought I was a sissy, but the mouth organ stuck, I still play it. My father bought me the trumpet, and they were very happy with me, I got more notes out of it than the bugle. , I really did practice hard for years, in fact I still do. That was 63 years ago and I haven't got it right yet

When did you learn how to read music?

            I never did, I learned to play by ear, just picking it up, and then I started taking lessons from a trumpet player called Phil Parker who was a great teacher. Then Kenny Baker gave me some lessons, he was my idol, he was undoubtedly the best trumpet player that ever took breath, Kenny and I were friends right up till his death 6 years ago. he was a wonderful guy, a bad teacher though, he used to get terribly annoyed if I didn’t do what he did, he'd give me a weeks lessons and if I couldn’t play it I’d panic he'd tear me off a strip, but we got on well and I learnt a lot from him. He had a taste to play the trumpet, anyone can learn the technique but he had the taste, I think I’ve got impeccable taste.

Where did Kenny Ball and the Jazzmen start?

I was with Sid Phillips for a while then I did some depping for Freddy Randell, then a spell with Eric Delanys band. The Jazzmen It started after I fell out with Terry Lightfoot in 1958, John Bennet joined me. Terry also sacked the piano player, so we had a trio already. Then we went down the agents and the ball started rolling, John Bennet and I have been together ever since, Johns a marvellous chap, we've lived in each h others pocket for 50 years now

Were there any rivalry between the 3 b’s Barber, Ball & Bilk?

Yes course there is. You want to out do each other, have musicians with a better swing, but first of all you’ve got to satisfy yourself and then really go. You’ve got to work really hard and think about the presentation. Think what it would be like to sit out in the audience and watch your band, I used to do that. I'm going to name drop now, Count Basie was a wonderful player , we went to see him when he was playing a students club, He knew me from Midnight in Moscow that was big in America, anyway, I said to him, "How do you manage to get it over to the audience when you are just sitting at a piano?" he said that the hardest thing to do is to bridge the gap, its the biggest gap in the world between you and the audience, once you get over that you can do anything, drop your trousers whatever.

How did it feel to play in New Orleans, What are your memories?

Well of course you look at the reviews. Our first concert at New Orleans was at the town hall, we did a couple of other concerts there in clubs and we did one for the old ladies of some sort of southern org. I think they were basically looking at us as white people , there was all that problem with racism, I found and still find any form of racism absolutely abhorrent, cos look, there’s good and bad in every colour, anyhow, we had a wonderful time down there. Some of the old musicians asked us to sit in on their gigs. our concert was so well reviewed, a very funny thing happened, which I still laugh about. One reviewer gave us a good lengthy column about us being in New Orleans and he said “as far as I am concerned, Kenny Ball is the greatest Trumpet player in the world” and I thought, blimey o riley, I am going to show that to all my mates. I had it Photostatted and I sent it to all my trumpet playing mates. I know I am not but I loved it, it was great for my ego

Meeting Louis Armstrong, what was he like?

He was a lovely fellow, I loved him. Every night, towards the end of a concert he invited us on for a jam session and we did eight concerts together so it was great. He used to say (In Louis Voice) Mr Ball we're havin’ a Ball. He gave me a picture and wrote on it, “To Kenny, lovely chops man; keep blowing your arse off”

How does it feel to have had so many members in the

Jazzmen for so long?

I’ve been lucky, they’re all great guys. I’ve only had to sack 2 Guys in all my time as a band leader and I hated it, so I have been lucky.

Is Andy Cooper as mad on stage as in real life?

Yes he is, that’s the easy answer.

How did your music help you with your fight with Cancer?

Oh yes, once you think to yourself that you can never play again, your finished. I knew that I’d get back to playing you never know whats around the corner but I am feeling good and I’m really enjoying life at the moment.

How did the band help?

The band were great, Andy kept things going when I had to miss gigs, they all gave me a round of applause when I came back on stage, especially after I gave them their cheques.

How does Mrs Ball cope when you are away on tour?

She comes with us some times. We are going on a cruise soon, I’ll be playing with another band and she'll be sitting in luxury in the state room having a ball.

How does it feel to be still doing a job you obviously love?

I am having a better time now than I’ve ever had before and I’d better go soon they’re expecting me on stage.

Thanks Ken.

Kenny walks out the door and straight onto stage to yet more applause. Andy and Nick aren’t in the band tonight but it gave the Jazzmen another sound for the night. And you know what…we did have a Ball Mr Ball.