A World Class Jazz Instrumentalist
Born in London in 1910, he was a skilled clarinetist, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophonist, and one of England's most popular saxophone players during the 1930s and '40s. It was after serving in the second World War that he was featured as a soloist with Peter Yorke and His Concert Orchestra. He, Freddy Gardner, was a world class jazz instrumentalist, a virtuoso not only on clarinet and alto sax, but also on every instrument that comprised the saxophone family; however I best remember the sound of his "golden tone saxophone" when it was backed by “lush orchestral accompaniment.” His renditions of “Body and Soul” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” have never been surpassed.
Correspondence Initiated
Although the staff of the music store must all have come to know me by sight, and must certainly have connected my visits with the inevitable Freddy Gardner recording that would be put onto the turntable to oblige me, it came as a shock to learn from the manager — to whom I had not spoken at any length before — that Freddy Gardner was no longer alive. That he had, in fact died a year or two before I had ever heard of him. Needless to say, I was devastated! It was as if I had just suffered a personal loss!
That night, as I held a record in my hands, mourning, I studied the information on the label more carefully than I had ever done before, and all of a sudden the name of the recording company (I seem to recall that it was Parlophone) became a very important link. I did not go to bed until I had written a letter, addressed the envelope to a place on Wardour Street in London, and extracted a solemn promise from my husband that he would post it on his way to work next morning.
The waiting was intolerable. It must be remembered that there was no “airmail” in those days, and the very word “email” was still to be invented. Every Thursday at 4pm a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would leave Southampton bound for Cape Town and, at the same time, a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would be leaving Cape Town bound for Southampton. I realized that I had at least a month of suspense ahead of me, but the response, when it did arrive, proved to have been worth the wait.
How nice people were in those days! And how obliging! I was advised that, if anyone could provide the answers to the questions I had posed, it was a popular musician by the name of Ted Heath. The writer, trusting that I would not object, had, in order not to waste time while further correspondence was exchanged, taken the liberty of passing my letter directly on to Mr. Heath, from whom I should expect a reply very shortly!
Article comments
1 - Melinda Terblanche
My husband was so excited to find this article that he immediately emailed our parents to send them the link. They are absolutely besotted with Freddy Gardner, and now we know where we can buy records or disks for future birthdays.
2 - Jason Fraser
I had not heard of this gentleman until I read your story, and I'm delighted to tell you that I have found a link on You Tube. Must have listened to it a dozen times since last night, and now having re-read your story, I know exactly what you meant by melody soaring to "thrilling heights, seeming to turn somersaults in the air, before it swooped down again to take one’s breath away!"
3 - Simon Terblanche
Re: The comment posted by my wife, Melinda.
I'm so hooked on Gardner, myself, that I'm posting a note on Facebook. How extraordinary to find photos and links to a writer with such close ties to his mother. Someone who has taken the trouble, after so many years, to honour a lady who became more to her than just a pen-friend.
4 - Craig
I was 13 year old learning saxophone in 1983, when a teacher asked if I had ever heard of Freddy Gardner? he gave me a 33 rpm record of Body and soul to listen to. I played it a few times and I was hooked. I dubbed the record over to tape and listened over and over. WOW the man was a genius on Sax! I had never heard such playing before!
I have always struggled finding information on Freddy Gardner. Thank you for information.
5 - Marie Warder
What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing it. - How did you find this article so long after it was published?
6 - Andrea
My father is 75 and used to play the saxophone, he is a big fan of Freddy. We are going for a holiday to the U.K and France and he would like to visit his grave. He seems to think he is buried in France, but I have been unable to find his name at any cemetary in France on the internet. We will be travelling over from Australia so would appreciate any information so his trip is not in vain.
Thanks
7 - Marie Warder
Hi, Andrea, I very much doubt that he is buried in France, but, just to be sure, I have written to one of his relatives, and if I get any more info I'll post it here for you to see.
8 - Marie Warder
Update for Andrea.
Freddy is buried at Willesden Cemetery in NW London England.
9 - Andrea
Thank you so much Marie for responding so quickly. My father was thrilled when I rang and told him. It's a wonderful article and I will be sending it to my father to enjoy. We're looking forward to our trip to the U.K.and your valuable information saved us a fruitless search in France! THANK YOU
10 - Bernard Arnold
So good to hear about Freddy, have been a fan since the 1940s.He was without doubt the Worlds most gifted sax player ever. i can
remember in my army days listening every Sunday to the BBc Light Prog, with Freddy and the Peter Yorke orch; Oh Happy Days
11 - Rosemary Murphy
I first heard Freddy Gardners records when I was a teenager, I would listen to Body and soul for hours with tears in my eyes, his music so moved me.
12 - Marie Warder
After all these years he is still able to move me to tears, and I am very blessed to be have been connected to his son through the article. -- Have you checked him out on YouTube>
13 - Joe Carbery.
I'm a saxophone player in New Zealand who first listened to Freddy Gardner (over 50 years ago) on the advice of a university classmate and was hooked at once. His use and control of the altissimo register is still impressive. His ability to switch from Rudy Wiedoft type playing to swinging jazz improvisation showed his great versatility. There's a good entry on him in "The Rough Guide to Jazz" by Digby Fairweather which is good to see, as many jazz critics have been slow to even acknowledge his expertise.
14 - Marie Warder
How very nice of you to write to me. -I did not realize that my efforts could be read as far away as New Zealand. I shall certainly check out "The Rough Guide to Jazz"
15 - Bill Begosh
In the 50's I wore my 78'S out listening to Freddy. When I was about 14, I purchased the music to Valse Vanite and played it at a recital in Girard College in Phila. where I lived. After graduating I stopped playing but started playing again at the age of 50. I still play in a "big band" and my sound has always been influenced by Freddy to the point that I have been told this by many who have heard me. After hearing Freddy at such a young age, it's easy to understand why I strive to play with "good taste" as he did
16 - Marie Warder
Thank you for your comment. Where do you play?