Phil Seamen
Phil Seamen | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Philip William Seamen |
| Born | 28 August 1926 Burton upon Trent,Staffordshire,England |
| Died | 13 October 1972(aged 46) Lambeth,South London,England |
| Genres | Jazz jazz-rock |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1944–1972 |
Philip William Seamen(28 August 1926 – 13 October 1972)[1]was an Englishjazz drummer.
With a background in big band music, Seamen played and recorded in a wide range of musical contexts with virtually every key figure of 1950s and 1960sBritish jazz.Notable examples includedJoe Harriott,Tubby Hayes,Stan Tracey,Ronnie Scott,Denny Termer,Dick Morrissey,Harold McNair,Don Rendell,Victor Feldman,Dizzy Reece,Tony Coe,Tony Lee,andGeorge Chisholm,among others. Later in his career he worked withAlexis KornerandGeorgie Fame,and had a spell withGinger Baker's Air Force,the leader of the band being Seamen's foremost disciple. Addiction to alcohol and other drugs hampered his career.[2]
Early career
[edit]Seamen began playing drums at the age of six, turning professional at the age of 18 by joiningNat Gonellaand his Georgians in 1944.[1]In 1946, aged 20, he spent a year with Gordon Homer at the Coronation Ballroom inRamsgate.Brian Fahey,composer, stated, "This was a very good big band. I wrote a lot of scores for it. I did my first broadcast with Gordon. Phil Seamen, only 20 then, was the drummer and it was obvious to me that he was destined to become one of the most exciting drummers in the world." He joined the Tommy Sampson Orchestra in 1948, and by 1949, Seamen and tenor saxistDanny Mosshad formed a bebop quintet from within the ranks and which was featured on a radio broadcast by the orchestra in September 1949.[2]
He then went on to play in theJoe LossOrchestra for about 14 months.[1]Then the top job withJack Parnellfrom 1951 until midway 1954.[1]Seamen was much sought after during the 1950s, also playing inKenny Graham's Afro-Cubists projects from 1952 to 1958, from 1954 onwards with theJoe HarriottQuartet, theRonnie ScottOrchestra and Sextet, and an ever extending list includingDizzy Reece,Victor Feldman,Jimmy Deuchar,Kenny Baker,Vic Ash,Don Rendell,Stan Tracey,Laurie Johnson,as well as blues starsBig Bill BroonzyandJosh White,countless sessions.[1]
He married the young West End dancer Leonie Franklin in 1956, whom he had met while with Parnell, working together in the showJazz Wagon.[1]On 8 February 1957, Seamen was finally on his way to America, about to fulfil a lifelong dream.[1]The Ronnie Scott Sextet were going over on theQueen Maryto do a tour as part of aMusicians' Unionexchange deal.[1]But going through customs in Southampton prior to boarding, custom officiers took him aside and he was found to be in possession of drugs; he never visited the States.[1]In 1958, theWest Endproduction ofWest Side Storyopened with him -Leonard Bernsteinreputedly specifically asked for him and the producers hired him.[3]
Seamen in the 1960s
[edit]During the first half of the 1960s, he worked often withTubby Hayes,andJoe Harriott.[1]In 1962, he played a couple of nights withDexter GordonatRonnie Scott's,recorded withCarmen McRae,in 1963 played R&B withAlexis Kornerand 1964 withGeorgie Fame.He started teaching in 1962, one of his pupils beingGinger Baker,who went on to influence a whole generation of rock drummers. However, his heroin addiction meant his health was deteriorating, and increasingly many bandleaders would no longer hire him; his employment was limited to occasional sit-ins at Ronnie Scott's.[1]Notable exceptions were withFreddie Hubbardin 1964 andRoland Kirkin 1967 (followed by a UK tour).[3]
In the 1960s, Phil Seamen made appearances at the Midland Jazz Club in Birmingham atDigbeth Civic Hall.He can also be heard from this time on the album "Clarinet Jamboree" with clarinet playersAcker Bilk,Terry Lightfoot,Sandy BrownandArchie Semple.He accompanies Sandy Brown, and plays in a remarkable modern jazz style in "The Last Western".[4][5]
1970s
[edit]A photograph of Seamen is included in the collection at theNational Portrait Gallery.[6]
Death
[edit]Phil Seaman died in October 1972 in his sleep at his home in Old Paradise StreetLambeth,South London,at the age of 46.[1]
Discography
[edit]As leader
[edit]- Now!... Live!(Verve 1968) Phil Seamen(with Tony Lee - piano andTony Archer- bass)
- Phil Seamen meets Eddie Gomez(Saga 1968)(with Tony Lee - piano,Eddie Gómez- bass
- Phil on Drums(Decibel 1971)(withRay Crane- trumpet, Gerry Salisbury - cornet,Keith Christie,John Picard- trombones, Sandy Brown - clarinet,Tommy Whittle- tenor sax,Brian Lemon- piano,Lennie Bush- bass)
- The Phil Seamen Story(Decibel 1972)(Phil talks and plays)
As sideman
[edit]WithVictor Feldman with Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists
- Experiment In Time(Esquire, 1955)
WithVictor Feldman
- Suite Sixteen(Contemporary, 1955 [1958])
WithJoe Harriott
WithAlexis Korner's Blues Incorporated
- Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated(Decca 1963, issued in 1965)
WithDick Morrissey
- Storm Warning!(Fontana, 1965)
WithGeorgie Fame
- Sound Venture(Columbia, 1966)
Posthumous releases
[edit]- The Late Great Phil Seamen(SWP Records 2009)(compilation of recordings from between 1953 and 1972, with bands led byJack Parnell,Victor Feldman,Dizzy Reece,Ronnie Scott, Stan Tracey,Harold McNair,Jimmy Witherspoon,Joe Harriott, Kenny Graham,Tony Coe)
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijkl"The Late Great Phil Seamen article".Allaboutjazz.com.30 January 2010.Retrieved10 October2021.
- ^abPhil Seamen BiographyAllMusicRetrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^abPhil Seaman BiographyLast.fmRetrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^Phil Seamen ObituaryDrumforum.orgRetrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^Memories of Phil SeamenLittledrum.co.ukRetrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^"1 sitter matching 'Phil Seamen'".Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2007.Retrieved16 January2007.
External links
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