In 1978, Irish drummer John Wadham recorded his sole studio album as a leader—Drums and Friends. Captured at Pat Hayes Studio for the Livia label in Dublin, the LP featured several of Ireland’s giants of jazz in two different intimate groupings.
On three tracks, Wadham was joined by guitarist Louis Stewart; bassist Martin Walsh was added on one of the tracks. On four other tracks, the trio featured Wadham with flutist Brian Dunning and bassist Frank Hess. [Photo abov, from left, of Frank Hess, Brian Dunning and John Wadham courtesy of Livia Records]
Now, Livia has remastered and reissued the album for streaming and as a download and CD, with two bonus tracks tacked on.
The new release is a revelation. On a broader level, we are given insight into the Dublin jazz movement of the 1970s—its direction and level of excellence. On a more micro level, we hear how a freer form of jazz was synthesized and interpreted by some of Dublin’s finest players. [Photo above of Louis Stewart courtesy of Livia]
By the 1970s, the jazz fusion movement had spread worldwide thanks to albums and touring American and British musicians. It’s most interesting to hear how these Dublin musicians interpreted that style, adding a poetic overlay and keeping the articulation lyrical and spare. By doing so, Wadham and his colleagues allow you to hear all of the music along with the precious quality of their graceful attack rather than the bombast on many fusion recordings. [Photo above of Martin Walsh courtesy of Livia]
Born in England in 1936, Wadham moved with his family to Dublin in 1953 when his father, a Royal Air Force vet, became manager of a leading insurance company. Self-taught, Wadham studied engineering but left college early in the late 1950s to play jazz. Versatile and able to deliver in both small groups and big bands, he eventually became a first-call drummer when American musicians toured in Ireland. He also played behind nearly every Irish jazz group. For an excellent and a more detailed Wadham biography, go here.
The tracks:
Clarence’s Place (Freddie Hubbard)
Floatin’ (Gerry Niewood)
Winter Song (John Surman)
Pompeiian (Bobby Hutcherson)
Improvisation for Guitar and Drums (Louis Stewart/John Wadham)
Lazy Afternoon (Jerome Moross/John La Touche)
Footprints (Wayne Shorter)
Seven Steps to Heaven (Miles Davis/Victor Feldman) (bonus track, with Dunning and Hess)
Naima (John Coltrane) (bonus track, with Wadham and Stewart)
Note: Tracks 1-4 feature Wadham with Dunning and Hess; tracks 5-6 with Louis Stewart; track 7 with Stewart and Walsh; track 8 with Dunning and Hess; and track 9 with Stewart.
Having given the album six continuous listens, I find it excellent on every level—from the sterling sonic quality of the remastering to the dialogues between musicians on their instruments. The music is cerebral, exciting and swings.
John Wadham died in 2003, Louis Stewart (an ardent JazzWax reader) in 2016, Brian Dunning in 2022 and Martin Walsh in 2018. I couldn’t find much on Frank Hess.
To listen and/or buy John Wadham: Drums and Friends, go here.
Here’s a promo…
Here’s Clarence’s Place, with Wadham, Dunning and Hess…
And here’s Footprints, with Wadham, Stewart and Walsh…
Brian Dunning's playing is reminiscent of the late American flutist Jeremy Steig's, though a bit more conservative. Louis Stewart was one of the great individualists of jazz guitar, a la Tail Farlow and Nathen Page.
Lovely to read this article. Today is the 23rd anniversary of Johnny Wadham's passing. He was synomymous with jazz drumming in Ireland for decades, and his spectacular white moustache made him instantly recognisable.
There were a few jazz notables who entered the national consciousness. Among them were Louis Stewart, Noel Kelehan, Brian Dunning and Johnny Wadham. To the general public, these men were the face and sound of jazz.