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So how did you become associated with the Dirty Dozen?
I was already, unbeknownst to both of us, associated with them anyway. I had their first record and Demon (Records, E.C.'s personal record label) had picked up on the Montreux one and put it out. I was delighted when I saw that record come out because I loved the first record.
I can't claim to have any input into the label beyond the odd suggestion of what album we maybe could seek out, you know. There 's all these back catalogues, all to be exploited. If anybody can find the tapes and somebody's willing to spend the time... really what the reissue business comes down to is somebody's love for the individual act. Most of the Demon catalogue is defined by the record collections of the people who work there.
They have to be keen enough to feel that those records are both worthwhile persevering with and worthwhile putting out again. Obviously, when it comes to licensed records which are current, the same thing applies. I'm always delighted to have any New Orleans music on the label. We've got Johnny Adams and the Nevilles, as well.
Do you own Demon?
I'm a director, whatever that means. I'm one of four directors of Demon... five... however many there are these days. I think there are four. I'm like the quiet one, the "sleeping partner" if you like. Demon also has my back catalogue in England so that's quite a big chunk of what they sell.
I've just been a fan of the Dirty Dozen. The curious thing is I always had to miss 'em. The couple of times they came to Europe, I always had to go out on tour. The same thing with the Nevilles, in fact. I'd always just miss 'em by a week or something. Lots of good stuff I miss. That's the trouble. All year, all winter, there are no good concerts. Then, the minute summer comes around, people start travelling around Europe and you're away, over on this side, touring. It's very frustrating.
Ever since I've been in the record business, or music business or whatever you call it, I've been promising my mother to take her to America. To somebody of her generation, America's a dream place. Finally, after ten years of always being too busy or being on the road constantly, I had a little time. So I said, "Let's take a holiday." And we went to New York.
We did all the tourist things. We went up the Empire State Building. Come the evening, I said, "Let's go see a show or something." I took her to see a Broadway show. After, I said, "Do you want to go to a jazz club?" She's a jazz fan. Billy Eckstine was playing at the Blue Note. It was an early show so we were
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