WHAT happens to jazz musicians when they leave their lucrative jobs with the big bands to go their separate ways?

Last Monday evening, Bury Jazz Society member, Mr George Kelsall of Littleborough examined the careers of some of the jazz men after they left the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

In his recital, titled After Kenton, Mr Kelsall began with drummer Shelly Manne, who joined the Kenton band in 1946. He stayed until 1952 when he moved to California and became one of the prime movers in jazz on the west coast as drummer, group leader and club owner.

In 1956 he was leading his own band, Shelly Manne and His Men, and along with other ex-Kenton alumini, recorded Dart Game, Slan, and Bernie's Tune.

Alto saxist Lee Konitz's stay with Kenton was fairly brief, just two years - 1952-53 - and his subsequent career after that was mainly in small and medium-sized groups. He played tenor sax on I'll Remember You with Eddie Burt on trombone, then reverted to alto on I Didn't Know About You and Blue Ballad.

Tenor saxist Bill Holman was a stalwart during his stay with Kenton. As well as playing in the band he was arranger and composer. In 1958 he led his own big band which included ex-Kenton men, Conte Condoli and Stu Williamson. Airegin was instantly recognised by many in the audience as Nigeria spelt backwards.

George Gershwin composed Love Walked In in 1937 for the film The Goldwyn Follies. Bass player Curtis Counce organised a band to play it, with some power-house drumming from Frank Butler.

Drummer Stan Levy gave up a career as a heavyweight boxer to play with Stan Kenton's band. After recording Stanstill he gave up music to become a commercial photographer. Next, a major player in Kenton bands from 1960-65, he moved back to his native Hawaii but made frequent trips to Los Angeles to record.

Alto saxist, Gabe Baltazar, joined forces with tenor saxist, Bob Cooper, on What's New and Duke Ellington's theme Take The A Train.

Altoist, Bud Shank, spent two years with Kenton in 1950-51 before forming his own quartet to play Jive At Five, and then taking up his flute for Polka Dots and Moonbeams, a tune made famous by Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra.

After leaving Stan Kenton, bass player Howard Rumsey ran a successful jazz club, The Lighthouse, on Hermosa Beach some ten miles south of Los Angeles. At a live recording session at the club, Four Others had Shorty Rogers on trumpet, then Solitaire was played beautifully by trombonist, Milt Bernhart.

Bury Jazz Society meets every Monday evening at the Mosses Centre. Come and hear some good music.

JR