Blog

Posted on

A life-changing friendship – by Harvey Bard

It was some 30 years ago that my wife Joan and myself were putting on fundraisers in our home for various local charities. We managed to seat 50 with a squeeze. We had the cream of the British jazz scene playing in various combinations. As word spread, the demand for seats grew and grew. We moved to local venues and then to such as Pizza on the Park.  We then booked the Purcell Room on the Southbank.

I had always been a fan of Bob Wilber and decided to approach him to head an all-star lineup for a concert in aid of Mencap. I tracked him down to his home in Chipping Campden and made the phone call. He checked his diary and informed me that he was due back from a South American Tour at 6 am the day of the concert and it was up to me to decide if to risk that his flight would be on schedule. With some trepidation, I decided to chance it!   

He called me back soon after to say that if I had not booked a vocalist then Pug would like to do it free of charge as it was a charity that was close to her heart. Came the day and about 9 am. my phone rang.

“Hi, is that Harvey? Bob Wilber here.” ( I looked around for clean underpants ).

“Just to let you know, I am in London and wish to know what time I can get into The Purcell Room”. I told him that the rest of the band would be arriving around 4 pm. 

“No, no, I need to get in well before then so that I will have time to practise”. 

I was impressed, to say the least. Even in later years, when he and Pug would come and spend time with us in Letchmore Heath, he would always ask if he could practise and would it disturb us?  Disturb us? I felt like throwing open the windows to let the whole village enjoy it!

That was the beginning of a friendship that was life-changing. He would relate tales about the jazz greats who he had worked with, and enjoy explaining the intricacies of the music on my old 78’s which we would spend time listening to on my HMV wind-up record player. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He was pleased to share his knowledge with whoever would ask of him. I have seen him spend the whole of his break on a gig answering questions about the music. 

I often listen to his recordings and think of him being “up there” in a heavenly place, thrilling them all together with Kenny Davern. Truly a Summit Reunion.

Posted on

Meeting the Wilbers

The first time I met Bob was on a Saturday morning, at his house in Chipping Campden, in the Cotswolds, England.

My father was the dentist for the area, and Bob had gone to have some emergency work done. I was 14 at the time, and I hadn’t been playing sax for long, but when Dad discovered more about Bob (probably, as dentists are wont to do, through a series of complicated questions asked while the patient’s mouth is occupied by a bite tray), he mentioned that I was learning. Bob immediately asked if I’d like to go and visit him for a lesson. At that time I was just learning about Jazz, and as the internet hadn’t been invented yet my knowledge was limited to what records I could find at the local record store. As a result, I admit that I knew nothing about Bob beforehand.

Arriving at his home, I was first welcomed by Bob’s incomparable, larger-than-life wife, Pug, who ushered me straight upstairs to the studio. I was greeted by sheet music, reeds, mouthpieces, and an array of saxes and clarinets. At first, I thought it was for show, but I soon learned that Bob was a relentless practicer, always searching for the ideal reed; always trying to perfect his playing or figure out where he wanted a harmonic passage in a new composition to go.

I’ll cut a long story short. That first lesson was hell. I’d never heard of the term ‘roasted’ before, but I was experiencing it first hand. From then on, I would go to Bob’s whenever he was in town, and try to learn whatever I could from him. And from Pug, who taught me all about touring, stagecraft … and how to rustle up an incredible tortilla using whatever was in the fridge!

I will post more stories from my time with the Wilbers, but for now, I’d just like to say that I am forever indebted to Bob and Pug for the opportunities they gave me early in my career, and the continuing support that they are always so quick to give.