History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

It was sad to hear that Chris Barber, the jazz trombonist and band leader, died aged 90 on 2 March 2021. He was very influential in developing a version of New Orleans jazz in the 1950s which led the way to skiffle, British blues, the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Chris Barber (Getty Images) A few years ago I had lunch with the late Harold Pendleton and his wife Barbara. Harold was a chartered accountant with a love of jazz, and he told me when he arrived to work in London in 1948 from Southport, the first thing he did was to go to Dobells’ Record Shop at 77 Charing Cross Road. He was thumbing through the jazz records and got talking to a man who was doing the same. The man was Chris Barber and Harold became the manager of his band and a lifelong friend. Harold went on to open the Marquee Club in 1958, and he and Barbara organised the National Jazz and Blues festivals held in Windsor and later Reading. Decca Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, (Dick Weindling, 1979)   There is an imp...