LARRY JOHNS:

Larry Johns learned the mechanics of his trade with the Staff Band of the Royal Engineers and at Kneller Hall School of Music. Moving directly to London, he occupied the lead alto chair with several big bands, whilst jazzing at many nightspots; most notably ; The "100 Club", Oxford Street; the "Allnighter", Soho and "The Bull's Head" at Barnes. At these and other venues he blew jazz shoulder-to-shoulder with Vic Ash, Harry Klein, Brian Dee, Joe Temperley et al.,     One of his enduring memories of those heady be-bob days is of swapping "fours" with the legendary vibraphonist Vic Feldman immediately prior to his moving to the U.S. to join the Woody Herman Orchestra... During this period he also played repiano clarinet with an embryonic London Symphonietta and several smaller classical combinations. Latterly, he was one of Charlie Katz's "session men", performing on numerous "hit" (and "not-so-hit") recordings of the day.      Later, he worked directly for several recording companies: Decca, H.M.V., Major-Minor, Philips etc. holding the "Artists and Repertoire" position with most. With Mercury records, he fronted various stage bands on promotional tours across Europe and the Far East, working alongside rising stars of the recording world, Phil Coulter and Mike Leander. On the demise of viable big band work worldwide, Larry - along with many of his contemporaries - joined "Geraldo's Navy", and would cross the Atlantic many times - on both "Queens" -  haunting the New York jazz scene...For many years to come, during "dry" periods, he would utilise this "jewel" of an employment facility, both for the pocket and the heart.     There followed several years working the clubs of American military bases throughout the world, during which period he taught saxophone to base High School students for "a few more bucks!"...There is very little in the music world that Larry Johns has not engaged in. Indeed, until the Jazz Degree Course at Truro College, he had never done the proverbial days' "proper" work in his life.