Peter Davenport

Not Edinburgh born but came to Art College after demobbed from National Service in 1949. He was an instant convert to jazz after hearing a Bunk Johnson recording of ‘The Saints’ and hearing Sandy Brown and Al Fairweather at Art College and Crown Bar in Edinburgh. Became acquainted with Sandy who played at his 21st birthday party in 1952. Went south with Sandy and Al on one of their exploratory tours. Formed a band in 1951 which became the ‘Art College JB’ with Pete (tpt), Jim Laing or Lane? (tbn), Andrew Gilmour (clt), Colin Bennet (pno) and Baxter Cooper (drms). A recording of this band was made by Brian Henniker. Formed ‘Pete Davenport’s Jazz Band’ in 1955 with Pete (tpt), Squire Hartley (clt), Colin Bennett (bs), Mike Duncan (bjo) and Farrie Forsyth (drms). Made a trip to London arranged by Jim Young or Farrie Forsyth and played 3 gigs: Woodgreen, the Ken Colyer Club and one other. Moved to Comrie but remained a frequent participant as a sitter in in the jazz scene in Edinburgh. While resident in Comrie, in Perthshire, he ran monthly jazz sessions in the Tullybannocher Restaurant which mostly featured visiting bands but also ‘re-union bands’ of veterans in which Pete played.