Wally Houser obituary | Jazz

My pal Wally Houser, who has died aged 90, was a lawyer and sax participant who had a large impact on British jazz by his relationship with Ronnie Scott and his membership.Wally met Ronnie at a gig in Manchester within the late Fifties; he acted for him when he signed the lease on his first membership in Gerrard Road, London, in 1959 and was the one that recognized his physique after his dying in 1996. In between, he handled all of the membership’s authorized affairs professional bono, performed a key function in resolving the deadlock between the UK and US musicians’ unions that made it tough for Ronnie Scott’s membership to e book prime American jazz musicians, and acted as babysitter to nice artists who didn’t all the time make it to the stage in good nick with out assist.One great anecdote sums it up: Ben Webster, the good tenor sax participant, was halfway by a residency at Ronnie’s when he was booked for a one-nighter in Paris. Wally’s job was to satisfy him off the boat prepare at Victoria and ship him safely to his lodge in Regent’s Park. There was no signal of Ben on the exit, nonetheless, so Wally walked the size of the prepare analyzing each compartment; finally he glimpsed the highest of a trilby hat just under window stage, with Ben’s quite giant physique slumped on the ground. One way or the other Wally received Ben awake sufficient to stagger to the prepare door – and fall into the hole between the prepare and the platform, the place he remained caught.Ronnie Scott’s membership moved to Frith Road, London, in 1965. {Photograph}: Michael Heath/AlamyAt this level a British Rail policeman appeared and commenced the method of arresting the person. When he received to: “Your identify, please?” and Wally replied “Webster – Mr Ben Webster,” the policeman gasped and stated, “Not the Ben Webster, the saxophonist?” All ideas of an arrest disappeared, and the policeman helped Wally load Ben on to a baggage trolley after which right into a taxi.Not all challenges have been resolved so efficiently, particularly these involving the legendarily tough Stan Getz, however Wally’s dedication to take care of Ronnie, the membership and the musicians who performed there by no means wavered. The membership wouldn’t have survived with out him.Born in Manchester to Isaac, a bookmaker, and Marjorie (nee Ashworth), a pianist, Wally went to high school within the metropolis and within the early 50s started to check legislation at Manchester College. To finance his research he performed in a band, which was managed by Jimmy Savile at one level.Wally later labored for Philip Ross Solicitors in London, the place his shoppers included many actors and musicians. He married the actor Geraldine Moffat in 1971 they usually had two sons.For a few years Wally held the alto sax chair within the Stan Reynolds Orchestra, which rehearsed in west London each Tuesday and was drastically revered because the band’s elder statesman and linchpin. He was all the time entertaining, with an inexhaustible fund of jazz-related anecdotes.Wally is survived by Geraldine and their kids, Sam and Dan.