Did anyone here go to the Newport Jazz Festival, Ayresome Park 1978 ?

DrummerMan

Well-known member
Buddy Rich... one of my drumming heroes played that day :love: - I wasn't born for another 10 or so years... so I missed it!

Topping the bill was the legendary First Lady of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. Also playing in the stellar line-up were Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie.
 
Weird.
Not an hour ago we were listening to Angel Radio in the car and Ella Fitzgerald was on singing Embraceable You. I said to The Ministry of Good Ideas who was with me, "Ella Fitzgerald once played a jazz festival at Ayresome Park"

I must be pyskick
 
I went. Don’t ask me for a review though cos I was only a nipper and can just about remember it, but I’m forever grateful to my dad for taking us because I always win the “What was your first ever gig?” conversation. Who can top Ella?!
 
Buddy Rich... one of my drumming heroes played that day :love: - I wasn't born for another 10 or so years... so I missed it!

Topping the bill was the legendary First Lady of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. Also playing in the stellar line-up were Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie.
Buddy Rich, not just a great drummer but leader of a very polished band.

They played to the 'boys end' corner. There was a Pernod promotion bar IIRC. Who woud have imagined Pernod at Ayresome, never mind Ella.
 
Yes, every session, it was brilliant, just a pity it was too far north for our southerner friends to come this far, if it were in London it would have been sold out,, the Pernod bus was pretty good too !
 
Buddy Rich, not just a great drummer but leader of a very polished band.

They played to the 'boys end' corner. There was a Pernod promotion bar IIRC. Who woud have imagined Pernod at Ayresome, never mind Ella.
I almost mentioned the Pernod. There was a vintage bus selling it at the back of the boys end. It was the first time I could face the stuff after drinking myself sick with it at my mates birthday do at the Excel. For a couple of years I couldn't even stand the smell of it.
 
Yes, every session, it was brilliant, just a pity it was too far north for our southerner friends to come this far, if it were in London it would have been sold out,, the Pernod bus was pretty good too !
If I remember correctly there was no venu that year so it was hastily organised by Charlie Amer who was a jazz fan.
 
Didn't need to go as I lived in Worcester Street at the time and sat outside the house on the Sunday when Ella Fitzgerald performed - boy, could her fantastic voice carry!
Buddy Rich performed late into the night and I can remember leaving the Middlesbrough FC social club about 11pm and standing outside the Clive Road corner listening to him.
 
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Buddy Rich, not just a great drummer but leader of a very polished band.

They played to the 'boys end' corner. There was a Pernod promotion bar IIRC. Who woud have imagined Pernod at Ayresome, never mind Ella.
Spent a lot of time and money in that pernod bus !
 
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