FILMS

A small amount of film exists of Phil Seamen playing drums.

  • This is taken from the film ‘The Golden Disc’ that starred Terry Dene, Denis Lotis, Sheila Buxton, and Linda Gray. Made in September 1957, it shows Phil playing on an Ajax drum kit with Don Rendell (tenor sax); Ronnie Ross (baritone sax); Bert Courtley (trumpet); Eddie Harvey (trombone) and Kenny Napper (bass). They play ‘Rush Job’ and ‘Lower Deck.’ The film credits Phil as composer and describes them as ‘The Phil Seamon (not a spelling mistake!) Jazz Group. They were actually, the Don Rendell Sextet and Eddie Harvey composed the pieces. How Phil was credited remains a mystery.

  • This was recorded at Ronnie Scott’s Club when American Roland Kirk made his second visit. He came to the UK for a month starting on Monday 17th October 1966. Stan Tracey had been resident pianist at Ronnie Scott’s for nearly seven years and had left on Saturday 15th October. Phil Seamen led the trio that backed Roland with Johnny Burch (piano) and Dave Green (bass). They can be heard playing ‘Three for the Festival’ and the renowned Roland piece ‘Whistle Man.’

  • Americans Al Cohn and Zoot Sims came over in early August and did three weeks at Ronnie Scott’s Club. They then did a week playing in provincial venues that included a BBC ‘Cool of the Evening’ session. It was recorded in the afternoon of Wednesday 6th September 1967 at the TV Centre, White City. Stan Tracey is the pianist, Dave Green bass, and Phil Seamen drums. It is a nine-minute clip, and they play ‘Doodle Oodle’ and ‘What the World Needs Now is Love.’

  • This is from November 1969 and is a ‘Made-for-TV’ programme. Buddy Rich came to the UK and played at London’s Talk of the Town’ night club. Buddy is presented with a pair of golden drumsticks. Phil doesn’t play but is one of the specially invited guests who are seated at the front. A smartly suited and smiling Phil can be seen in several shots during Buddy’s performance.

  • In order to get a ‘flavour’ of what the London jazz scene was like in the sixties it is worth viewing: