So sad that a bright, talented bon viveur of a man has been taken at so relatively young an age.
When Andy Summers saw a fresh faced, vibrant, talented saxophonist playing in Tony Knight's Chessmen (a soul band competing for our gigs in the early Sixties) and told me he thought he would be ideal for the Big Roll Band, I had to agree. But I couldn't be seen "poaching" as it was bad form. It was settled by the fact he was eager to join anyway.
His ridiculously mature sound and ability on more than two instruments before the age of 18 prompted us to reconsider Clive Burrows' tenure and replace him with John Almond: baritone, tenor, flute, humour (plenty), enthusiasm (never ending), adaptability (more than willing to change his harmonies).... were merely 3 engaging attributes he exuded... still looking a couple of years younger than reality.
I could fill pages with tales of life on the road... from a cold drunken filled night in Scotland when he went to bed in his navy blue schoolboy issue mackintosh (still done up by the belt round his waist) with the two-bar fire full on and windows sealed tight with tape... to the various nicknames we invented for him to teach him humility and "respect for his elders"!!!
His positive attitude and talent shot him into various other musical partnerships after the Big Roll Band, but I like to think those adolescent years with us gave him a defence system to ward off the misadventures and seediness of this wonderful yet flakey profession.
With two/three daughters and five grandchildren he wasn't so reckless as not to embrace a "proper" job in America (a country big enough to house his life contribution) whilst still accepting the odd gig with the Doobie Brothers and others.
Not only shall I/we miss his maniacal laughter and open mouthed face (a look not unlike Fozzy Bear of Muppets fame)...I doubt he will rest in peace as he was always "getting something going" musically or humourously.....indeed both.
The celestial band is getting pretty good...take a solo 'Albie' !
