BILLY JONES

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The floor was a seething mass of people quite unable to dance owing to the crush, but quite contented to listen to the infectious rhythms as played by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, and their counterparts, The American Five.

But they had their contract and had to be fitted in somewhere. After a short period at the Palladium Theatre they opened at the famous Embassy Club-then called Martan's. In between sessions they were relieved by an odd little quartet who were amazingly popular with the clientele. They comprised Emile Grimshaws, father and son, on banjos, Chris Lee on drums and Billy Jones at the piano. Nick La Rocca was immensely impressed with the pianist.

Although many people think that the first band to be formed on a cooperative basis were the Casa Lorna Orchestra, this is not the case. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band was completely co-operative and did not even depute anyone to act in a managerial capacity. The latter omission was a severe handicap to the smooth working of the band and it was probably through their oversight to appoint a manager that in the late summer of 1920 a certain unquiet feeling appeared amongst the members of the band. Had someone been in charge, things might have been smoothed over. The restlessness grew, and so

Directly Robinson had left, Billy Jones was in and it is strange fact that it was from this date that the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was accepted by London as really fine entertainment. Night after night the club was packed to overflowing; the slightly raggy rhythm was infectious; the comedy routines were a riot; jazz had London by the throat.

From the Embassy Club they moved to Rectors in Tottenham Court Road. This was a bigger club, but the band still packed it to overflowing each night. Rectors was owned by a very astute couple who had got in on the ground floor of the post-war dance craze, Messrs. Mitchell and Booker decided that more room for dancers would mean more dancers and therefore more money. There was no room big enough in the heart of London's West End, so they rented a large barn of a place at Hammersmith which is in easy reach of London's night life. So, early in 1920 was born the famous Hammersmith Palais de Danse.

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Mitchell and Booker hadn't to look far for a band to open this new hall. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band was switched from Rectors and the opening night saw what was probably the smartest crowd ever to congregate in Hammersmith. This opening night was, apart from the snob value, a riot.

THE SECOND LINE, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1955

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