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| Ronnie Ball jazz discography... |
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Birmingham born pianist Ronnie Ball was born in December 1927. He played local gigs from the age of fifteen before moving to London in 1948 with Tony Kinsey and worked with Reggie Goff's Sextet as well as leading his own trio. He joined Cab Kaye in 1949 before working on the Queen Mary on the transatlantic cruise run to New York from 1949 to 1951, studying with Lennie Tristano on New York stopovers.He had become fascinated with the individual approach to jazz development favoured by pianist Lennie Tristano and had actually had an opportunity to study with Tristano while working on the cruise liners. In London he worked as part of the house trio at the Studio 51 club, where at one time or another, he accompanied virtually all of the leading British modern jazzmen. He recorded with many of them and made a few records under his own name. |
Picture left... Ronnie Ball made just one album recording date as leader. That was in the US in 1956 and although the LP was never released in the UK it is currently, (November 2009), available from the US in CD format on the Savoy label. (It has the only picture of Ronnie that I have found...) In 1952 he decided to leave the United Kingdom, following in the footsteps of George Shearing, for New York. He wanted to work with followers of Lennie Tristano who's piano playing was such a big influence on him. Ball was hospitalized in 1953 but by 1954 he was working and recording with alto player Lee Konitz, another Tristano follower. In 1956 he began to work with tenor sax player Warne Marsh, also a Tristano follower, and made several important records with Marsh in the period to 1960. In the late '50s he worked in the swing drummer Gene Krupa's Trio and the Roy Eldridge Quartet as well as touring with Jazz at the Philharmonic and Buddy Rich. From 1961 to '63 he sometimes accompanied singer Chris Connor and recorded with her on several occasions. He made only a handful of records in London and very little of this is available on CD. However, his work with Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh is available in the UK on CD. In the 1960s and '70s he worked mainly in New York before quitting playing to work doing transcriptions for a music publisher until his death in 1984. |
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Drummer Tony Kinsey remembers... "In the late forties I came to London with the pianist Ronnie Ball, who has long since passed away. Ronnie was a wonderful pianist and my best friend - we even had a double wedding as we were that close. I became a founder member of the Dankworth Seven, which was to become the countries leading jazz group of the period. However, in time I became a little disenchanted touring around with all the long coach trips, so after a two-year spell I left and joined Ronnie Ball's trio at the Fifty-One Club. Ronnie then left to go to the States and I was supposed to follow him but I didn't as I had changed my mind about making this move. Instead, I took over the trio at the Fifty-One Club that included pianist Dill Jones and Stan Wasser and we had groups like the Tony Kinsey Trio with the saxophonist Tommy Whittle who'd left Ted Heath to come and work with us, and we also worked with other great players like the tenor saxophonist Jimmy Skidmore"... This one title, recorded in London for an American label was never actually released in the UK... Spike Robinson with the Ronnie Ball Trio - July 7th, 1951 (Discovery (US label)) Spike Robinson (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Victor Feldman (d). Spike's Delight. Spike Robinson with the Ronnie Ball Trio - July 7th, 1951 (Esquire S318 (all titles)) Spike Robinson (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Victor Feldman (d). Blue Bird (2 takes)/The Guv'nor (2 takes)/Spike's Choice (2 takes)/Spike's Delight (2 takes). Tommy Whittle Quartet - September 13th, 1951 (Melodisc) Tommy Whittle (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Frank Donnison (b), Tony Kinsey (d). All The Things You Are*/Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps*/Dearly Beloved (unissued)/Untitled Original (unissued). (*Jasmine CD - Bop-in' Britain Vol 1) Ronnie Scott with the Ronnie Ball Trio - October 13th, 1951 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Pete Blannin (b), Tony Kinsey (d). Close Your Eyes*/I Didn't Know What Time It Was*/The Nearness Of You*/All Of Me*. (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") Ronnie Ball Trio with Victor Feldman(1) - December 15th, 1951 (Esquire 10-202, 10-242) Ronnie Ball (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Pete Blannin (b), Tony Kinsey (d). Shaw Nuff(1)/Excavation(1)/Blue Room/Liza. Ronnie Ball Trio - January 5th, 1952 (Esquire 10-226) Ronnie Ball (p), Pete Blannin (b), Tony Kinsey (d). Thou Swell/Sometimes I'm Happy. Harry Klein With The Ronnie Ball Trio - January 9th, 1952 (Esquire 10-236) Harry Klein (bs), Ronnie Ball (p), Pete Blannin (b), Tony Kinsey (d). Cu-ba/Negotiation. Ronnie Ball moved permanently to New York in 1953 and his first 'big name' recording work came with Lee Konitz. From January 1954 to June 1955, he made several recordings, some of which were issued in the UK... Lee Konitz Quartet - Live at "Storyville Club" - January 5th, 1954 (Jazz at Storyville - Vogue LDE129*/Black Lion BLP60901 (all titles)) Lee Konitz (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Percy Heath (b), Al Levitt (d). Hi Beck*/These Foolish Things*/Sound-Lee*/Subconcious-Lee*/If I Had You*/Foolin' Myself*/Ablution*. (American Jazz Classics CD - Jazz at Storyville + Konitz) One title recorded in Maryland, Baltimore was included on an LP from the English Wave label. I do not know what the other tracks were. English bass player Peter Ind had joined the group... Lee Konitz Quartet - April, 1954 (Timespan - Wave LP14) Lee Konitz (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Jeff Morton (d). Pennsylvania Avenue (incomplete). Lee Konitz Quartet - April/May, 1954 (Vogue LDE152 *one take only) Lee Konitz (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Jeff Morton (d). Bop Goes The Leesel*/Mean To Me*/I'll Remember April*/317 East 32nd*/Nursery Rhyme*)/Limehouse Blues*. (American Jazz Classics CD - Jazz at Storyville + Konitz) Lee Konitz Quartet - August 6th, 1954 (?) Lee Konitz (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Jeff Morton (d). Easy Living*/Skylark*. (American Jazz Classics CD - Jazz at Storyville + Konitz) In February, 1955 The Lee Konitz Quartet recorded an album for the Storyville label titled Lee Konitz in Harvard Square. The quartet was made up of: Lee Konitz (as), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Jeff Morton (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... On June 15th, 1955 Ronnie Ball recorded one track on an album titled Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh which was released on a number of labels. The group comprised: Lee Konitz (as), Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Billy Bauer (g), Oscar Pettiford (b), Kenny Clarke (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... Following his permanent move to New York Ronnie Ball recorded just one album under his leadership... Ronnie Ball Quintet - March 21st, 1956 (All about Ronnie - Savoy (US)) Willie Dennis (tb), Ted Brown (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Wendell Marshall (b), Kenny Clarke (d). Pennie Packer*/Feather Bed*/Little Quail*/Sweet And Lovely*/Prez Sez*/I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance*/Citrus Season*. (*Savoy CD - All about Ronnie) This CD is not available in the UK... Warne Marsh Quintet - October 3rd, 1956 (Imperial (US)) Warne Marsh, Ted Brown (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b), Jeff Morton (d). Quintessence/Smog Eyes/Lover Man/Ear Conditioning. Warne Marsh Quintet - October, 1956 (Imperial (US)) Warne Marsh, Ted Brown (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b), Jeff Morton (d). Dixie's Dilemma/Jazz Of Two Cities (2 takes)/I Never Knew (2 takes)/These Are The Things I Love. Warne Marsh Quintet - October 24th, 1956 (Kapp (US)) Warne Marsh, Ted Brown (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b), Jeff Morton (d). Ben Blew/Time's Up/Earful/Black Jack. Art Pepper - Warne Marsh Quintet - November 26th, 1956 (Contemporary) Art Pepper (as), Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b), Jeff Morton (d). I Can't Believe That your In Love With Me (2 takes)*/All The Things You Are (2 takes)*/What's New (WM out)*/Avalon*/Tickle Toe*/Warnin' (2 takes)*/Stomping At The Savoy (WM out)*. (*OJC Contemporary CD - The Way It Was) Ted Brown Sextet - December 21st, 1956 (Vanguard (US)) Art Pepper (as), Ted Brown, Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b), Jeff Morton (d). Aretha/Long Gone/Once We Were Young/Foolin' Myself/Avalon/On A Slow Boat To China/Crazy She Calls Me/Broadway/Arrival. Warne Marsh Quartet - Los Angeles, September, 1957 (Mode (US)) Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Red Mitchell (b), Stan Levey (d). You Are Too Beautiful*/Autumn In New York*/Playa Del Rey*/Ad Libido*/Everything Happens To Me*/It's Allright With Me*. (*Lone Hill Jazz CD - Coast to Coast (part only)) (*VSOP CD - Music for prancing) Warne Marsh Quartet - New York, December 12th, 1957 (Atlanic (US)) Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (d). Too Close For Comfort*/It's Allright With Me* (three other titles recorded on this date were unissued. The Lone Hill Jazz CD contains other titles by Warne Marsh which do not include Ronnie Ball). (*Lone Hill Jazz CD - Coast to Coast (part only)) Peter Ind - New York, December, 1958 (Looking out - Wave LP1, Esquire 32-159) Ronnie Ball (p), Al Shackman (g), Peter Ind (b). Blues At The Den*. (*Wave CD - Looking out / Jazz bass baroque) On December 6th, 1958 Ronnie Ball made his first record with the Gene Krupa Quartet which was released as a single two part recording of "Sing Sing Sing" on the Verve label. The group comprised: Eddie Wasserman (ts,f,cl) Ronnie Ball (p), Jimmy Gannon (b), Gene Krupa (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... A live Verve recording of the Gene Krupa Quartet, including Ronnie Ball, was made in January, 1959. Titled Big noise from Winnetka - Gene Krupa at the London House some thirty tracks were recorded but less than ten were released. The group comprised: Eddie Wasserman (ts,f,cl) Ronnie Ball (p), Jimmy Gannon (b), Gene Krupa (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... Gene Krupa Quartet - March 13th, 1959 (The Swingin' Gene Krupa Quartet - Sounds Great (US)) Eddie Wasserman (ts,f,cl) Ronnie Ball (p), Jimmy Gannon (b), Gene Krupa (d). Three Little Words*/But Not For Me*/High Falutin'*/Indiana*/Tenderly*/Perdido*/Calling Doctor Gillespie. (*Mr Music CD - Live from the London House 1958-60) In the period December, 1959 to September, 1960 the UK label Wave, founded by bass player Peter Ind, released two LPs by the Warne Marsh Quartet with Ronnie Ball. These were recorded in New York but only released in the UK... Warne Marsh Quartet - New York, December 19th, 1959 (Release record, send tape - Wave LP6) Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Dick Scott (d). Sweet Georgia Brown*/Coolhouse*/It's You Or No One*/I Remember You*. (*Wave CD - Release record, send tape (part)) Warne Marsh Quartet - New York, February 22nd, 1960 (Release record, send tape - Wave LP6) Personnel as December 19th, 1959. You Stepped Out Of A Dream*. (*Wave CD - Release record, send tape (part)) Warne Marsh Quartet - New York, August 9th, 1960 (Jazz from the East Village - Wave LP10) Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Eddie De Haas (b except-1), Peter Ind (b-1), Bob Minnicucci (brushes). Summer Session*/Easy Beat*/Sunshine*/East Side Swing*/223 East 2nd Street*/August In New York*/Change Round (1)*/Get Together (1)*. (*Wave CD - More Jazz from the East Village) Warne Marsh Quartet - New York, September 8th, 1960 (Release record, send tape - Wave LP6) Warne Marsh (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Peter Ind (b), Dick Scott (d). Alone Together*/A New Kind Of Blues (RB out)*/Foreground Music*/Happening*/Marshlight*/Commentary*. (*Wave CD - Release record, send tape (part)) Peter Ind - New York, November, 1960 (Looking out - Wave LP1, Esquire 32-159) Ronnie Ball (p), Al Shackman (g), Peter Ind (b), Sheila Jordan (vcl) (d). Yesterdays (SJ vcl)*. (*Wave CD - Looking out / Jazz bass baroque) On July 16th, 1961 Ronnie recorded two sessions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first was titled Hot Stuff from Brazil for the West Wind label. The group comprised: Kenny Dorham (tp), Curtis Fuller (tb), Herbie Mann (f), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b), Dave Bailey (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... The second session, on the same date, was titled Jazz Committee for Latin American Affairs also fior the West Wind label. The group was the same with the addition of Zoot Sims, Al Cohn (ts). The resulting record was not released in the UK... In the period 1961 to 1963 Ronnie Ball made a number of records with the American singer Chris Connor and although these may be available in the UK they are not detailed here... | |