I originally sent this out in an Email to My Music
Loving Friends, but a Mate of Mine suggested I
should post this on the JBC Website, so here it
is:
Not being a SocialMediaGuy, I sometimes find out
Music News a little later than most people. One
thing I would always do is pop by The Jazz
Butcher’s Website every couple of months or so to
see what he was up to & hoping to get good news
about “Jazz Butcher Singles & Rarities†would
someday see the music finally released on CD after
all these years of waiting.
Well in the middle of November I found out the Sad
News that Pat Fish had passed away & the
Bittersweet News that “Dr Cholmondley Repents: A-
Sides, B-Sides and Seasides†had just been
released in the UK.
I first stumbled upon the Jazz Butcher at “Sam the
Record Man†back in 1986. There were 2 Domestic
Releases that just hit the Record Stores in Canada
which were “Bloody Nonsense†which was a
collection of A & B Sides released in the UK &
“Distressed Gentlefolk†which also included the
Bonus LP “Conspiracyâ€. Both releases had
excellent “Handwritten Reviews†from
members of Sam’s Staff & my brother Ken who was
with me at the time told me “The Jazz Butcher; you
would like his music as he is a lot like “Lloyd
Cole†Well, I found out he was nothing like “Lloyd
Cole†but it was still one of my best Musical
Recommendations that I ever received.
“Distressed Gentlefolk†I had never heard an album
that managed to blend pop, rock, blues, folk,
smooth jazz, western stomp, ragtime & a touch of
soul all on “One Record.†The album even ended
with one of the most Gorgeous Ballads you may have
never heard “Angels.†When I listened to the bonus
LP “Conspiracy†I found out the “Jazz Butcherâ€
could also “Rap†better than a lot of that stuff
that we hear on “Mainstream Music Radio†these
days. I Later picked-up “Bloody Nonsense†which
was a “Glorious Mixed Bag†of Music from “Smart
Fast Witty Pop†to “Punk Rock†of “Caroline
Wheeler’s Birthday Present†& the “Bakersfield
Country†of “The Devil is My Friend.†I LOVED IT
ALL ……
Back in 80’s there was “No Internetâ€, so we had to
shop for “Records†the “Old Fashioned Wayâ€. We had
to go Downtown & look for them. I wanted to get my
hands on those previous “Jazz Butcher Recordsâ€
that were only available as “imports.†In Toronto
you did not always find those Records at “Sam the
Record Man†we would look for those at “The Record
Pedlar.†I did not find them all, but I did
eventually find a copy of “In Bath of Bacon†which
was the first Album “The Jazz Butcher†ever
released back in 1983. When I got home & played
the Record, I was upset to find a “Little Scratchâ€
on the first track; not enough to cause the Record
to “Skip†but I had to listen to the “Click, Tick,
Click, Tick†for about 20 seconds or so on the
Record. The rest of the record played fine, but I
never returned the Album to “The Record Pedlar†as
I thought that I would “Never†get another Copy
ever again?
I had a ticket to see The Jazz Butcher play the
“Rivoli†back in the Summer of 1987, but I never
got to experience that Intimate Show as the Show
got cancelled a couple of weeks prior to the date.
It might have been the “Greatest Show†that I
never experienced; instead, my first “Jazz Butcher
Show†came in June of 1988 & I was accompanied by
my “Band of Merry Mates†who had also just left
Family Nest around that time in our lives.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of “The
Worse Concerts†that I ever attended as the Sound
was “Horrible†The show was at RPM. You may have
an RPM “Horror Show†of your own? I never liked
that venue & glad it is Long Gone. The Jazz
Butcher did return to RPM again in November of
1989 & so did I, but my “Band of Merry Mates†did
not. That show was better, but it was still RPM
(later The Gouvernment). The Magical Show finally
happened in November of 1990 at “The Diamond†&
then the final show “The Jazz Butcher†ever played
in Toronto was in the Summer of 1992 at “The El
Mocomboâ€, which was another great show.
The Music never stopped, but The Record Company
“Pulled the Plug†on “Jazz Butcher Domestic
Releases†& of course there were no more Tours on
this side of the Pond either. I still Loved &
Followed his Music, even though I had to pay those
few extra Dollars for those “Import Releasesâ€
through the rest of his career. The very last
“Jazz Butcher Album†released in 2012 was “Last of
the Gentleman Adventurers†It was a “Fan Fundedâ€
Record. Thanks to “The Fans†that funded that
record!
Well, “Pat Fish†aka “The Jazz Butcher†has gone
to Heaven but we still & will always have his
Music to Play & the Memories that go along with it
all. Thanks “Pat†& please raise a Glass to “The
Jazz Butcher†the next time you have drink in your
hand. He would not want it any other way!
Rest in Peace "Pat" & Peace to All
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