Eric Allandale

On Saturday, February 25, the New Orleans Knights led by Eric Allandale were appearing at the Eel Pie Island Hotel, and they were appearing there on Saturday March 25 and they were appearing again on Saturday April, 1st.

They would appear at the venue again at least ten more times.

Eric Allandale (born Eric Allandale Dubuisson 4 March 1936 – 23 August 2001) was a trombonist, songwriter, and bandleader.

A native of Dominica, West Indies, he moved to the U.K. in 1954 to complete his education.

He joined the Hammersmith Borough Brass Band as a trumpeter while working as its council surveyor.

He later switched to trombone and formed an amateur band playing jazz.

Beginning 1958 he performed at the Cellar Club in Soho, then joined bands led by Teddy Layton and Sonny Morris.

As advertised in the July 19, 1958 issue of Melody Maker, on the Tuesday, he was appearing at the Star & Garter in Putney and billed as Eric Allandale, his band and guests, and on the Wednesday, his outfit billed as The Eric Allandale Jazz band was appearing at The Cellar.

As advertised in the following week issue of Melody Maker (July 26), they appeared to be appearing at Star & Garter again on the Tuesday, and on the Wednesday at The Cellar.

and apparently again on the Wednesday at The Cellar.

As advertised in the September 6 issue of Melody Maker, on the Friday, Eric Allandale's Jazz Band was appearing at the Bull Hotel, and on the Wednesday at The Cellar.

On Friday, October 4 they were appearing at the Co-Op Hall in Gravesend.

During the 1960s, he was in number of bands in various genres which included jazz pop and soul.

During the 1960s, he was a member of the Terry Lightfoot and Alex Welsh bands and played with Edmundo Ros.

He played trombone and sang in the blues band Dillingers with saxophonist Don Mackrill and bassist Ronnie Shapiro, the brother of Helen Shapiro.

He also led his band, The New Orleans Knights and was a member of Romeo Z, and The Foundations during the 1960s.

Allandale also had a period in the 1960s where he found work acting.

He appeared in two films and a television show.

Allandale was one of the musicians that Brian Jones would persuade to come back to his flat when he ventured out to catch the jazz shows.

In the early 1960s Allandale led the New Orleans Knights, (possibly also referred to as The Jazz Knights ) who were regulars on the trad jazz circuit.

The New Orleans Knights lineups included drummer Colin Miller who, years later, joined the Chris Barber Band; banjo player Eddie Edwards; and drummer Laurie Chescoe.

They have been billed as both Eric Allandale's New Orleans Knights and The New Orleans Knights Led by Eric Allandale.

They played a lot of original material and if they felt that a number was not pleasing the crowd, they would drop it.

The January 28, 1961 issue of Disc referred to Allandale as the latest addition on the trad Jazz scene.

The magazine said that he was the colored trombonist who had featured with the Sonny Morris Band for a long time and now he was leading his own band, The New Orleans Knights.

The magazine also noted that he had been in Düsseldorf for the last three months.

The line up at the time also included Will Hastie, Geoff Brown, Jim Goudie, Eddie Edwards and Laurie Chescoe.

As of April, 1961, the line up comprised Eric Allandale (trombone and group leader), Will Hastie (clarinet), Geoff Brown (trumpet), Jim Goudie (bass), Eddie Edwards (banjo) and Laurie Chescoe (drums).

Making their television debut, group appeared on the TV show, The Sunday Break which was broadcast on ABC on Sunday December 3, 1961.

On Sunday, December 24, 1961, Eric Allandale's New Orleans Knights played at the Cavern.

Other groups that played on that date were, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Johnny Sandon and The Searchers.

The December 30, 1961 issue of Cash Box, had mentioned that the group made their disc debut with "Dominican Carnival" on the Columbia Records Landsdowne Series.

Allandale was quoted by Crescendo in the July 1962 issue saying that they could not play Acker or Kenny if they tried and he would not attempt it for all the money in the world.

They also included rare Duke Ellington works in their repertoire as well as arrangements by Kenny Graham.

They recorded for the Columbia label, releasing two singles and were represented by Lyn Dutton Agency.

The group would have two singles released on Columbia's Landsdowne Jazz Series in the UK in 1962.

One of the singles, "Little Hans", had Allandale credited as the new music arranger.

It was due for release on January 19, 1962.

When the single was released, "Little Hans (Hanschen klein)" was the A side and "Dominican Carnival" was on the B side.

That month they were appearing at the jazz club in Wood Green on Saturday 15th, West end Ballroom in Birmingham on Sunday 16th, the Marlborough Hall in Wimbledon on Monday 17th, Railway Hotel in Crawley on Wednesday 19th, the jazz club in Swindon on Thursday April 20, and J. C in Picadilly on Friday 21st.