When the late Radio One disc jockey John Peel bestowed the nickname Big Bear on Birmingham trumpet player Jim Simpson he could not have realised the impact it was likely to have on jazz music across the world.
Peel was a great pal 鈥 joining Simpson at football matches and regularly visiting his home to listen to recordings of undiscovered talent from the US jazz and blues scene. He gave his Birmingham musician friend the nickname because of the horn player鈥檚 resemblance to a grizzly 鈥 and the story of the 海角视频鈥檚 oldest independent record label was under way.
Now it is celebrating 42 years in the music business and company boss Simpson is confident that Big Bear will continue to enhance its reputation as the 海角视频鈥檚 top jazz and blues label.
The story started in the 1960s when part-time band manager Simpson had just relinquished his place in the line-up of moderately-successful Birmingham group Locomotive. The group鈥檚 hit, Rudi鈥檚 in Love, was the first 海角视频 chart entry to use the 鈥渞ock steady鈥 rhythm which developed into ska and then reggae.
Locomotive became renowned as a nursery for musicians destined for stardom. Graduates from its ranks included John Bonham (later Led Zeppelin), Chris Wood (Traffic), Poli Palmer (Family), Pete York (Spencer Davis Group), Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention/Jethro Tull), Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), Mike Kellie (Spooky Tooth) and Dave Mason (Traffic).
Unable to sustain playing and devote time to commercial activities, Simpson chose to concentrate on management and created his own label.
Big Bear Records was launched. From then on, everything that Simpson did in business was borne of necessity, determination and, he admits, incredible luck 鈥 some good and some bad.
In the 70s, after an acrimonious court case with Black Sabbath, whom Simpson managed through their first 鈥 and, he insists, their best albums, Big Bear began assembling its now-legendary recordings of American blues artistes.
Big Bear鈥檚 label distribution and reputation for authentic blues recordings, soon spread worldwide.
Simpson said: 鈥淚n the 1970s Big Bear was probably the most active company in Europe recording authentic American blues artists. We were incredibly lucky at times, not because we outfoxed anyone, it was because no-one else wanted to record these blues greats,鈥 explained Simpson.
With the 1980s came a swing back to Big Bear Records first love, jazz and swing. Concentrating mainly on British artists, the label was to win a string of plaudits and awards, securing its place in the history of recorded jazz with releases by Kenny Baker鈥檚 Dozen, Val Wiseman with Lady Sings The Blues, Duncan Swift, Bruce Adams/Alan Barnes Quintet and the incredibly successful King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys.
鈥淭he music industry can be very cavalier with its legacy. I鈥檓 pleased to say that has never been the case at Big Bear. We always try to capture the music, not create it in the studio. I think it鈥檚 wrong to over-produce when recording, you lose the naturalism of it.鈥
The label also continued to encourage local talent, the most successful acts were soul band Muscles and The Quads 鈥 who had chart success with There Must Be Thousands, selected by John Peel as his single of the decade.
鈥淭he Muscles鈥 music was ahead of its time. The boys, fronted by local teacher Geoff Brown, were so unlucky. The band was scheduled to appear on Top Of The Tops, which was guaranteed to secure a high chart position, in the week Elvis died. Their appearance was cancelled and the rest is history,鈥 recalled Simpson.
In 1984, when sales of recorded music began to falter, Big Bear launched Birmingham鈥檚 Jazz Festival. Now in its 27th year, the 2011 showcase runs from July 1-10.
The event promotes the fine regional quality of musicianship reflecting what Simpson calls the true essence and spirit of jazz. It even has a live radio link to a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia, with Brian Travers of UB40 fame, taking over the airwaves on WRFG鈥檚 breakfast show to spread the word about Birmingham.
鈥淲e also have great support from Birmingham City Council and our sponsors. Some of the best jazz musicians in the world want to play in the festival. Others, who have played in Birmingham before, want to return. Last year the guitarist Chick Willis entertained shoppers and workers in Victoria Square so we really do take jazz to the people. They don鈥檛 even need to come to us,鈥 said Simpson.
He is still excited by the raw energy of live music and the diversity of artistes that appear at the festival. But he is suspicious of the advances in the manufacturing process of recorded music, which causes the exuberance of original sounds to be lost when it is transferred to a recording.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 CDs and downloads are all compressed to create a standard sound.
鈥淭he excitement has vanished in a lot of the manufacturing techniques,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ig Bear鈥檚 motto is 鈥榬eal music, properly played,鈥 and we always adhere to that.
鈥淏ut the music scene is changing. Bands don鈥檛 need to gig anymore to make a living. Previously artistes had to stay on the road and sell merchandise to survive.
鈥淣ow it鈥檚 the opposite. Bands can survive on the sales of downlaods and CDs. Now a kid can set up a studio in his bedroom and release something on the internet,鈥 he said.
Given his loathing of techno-twaddle, Simpson has just released much of Big Bear鈥檚 back catalogue to be re-issued as downloads on iTunes.
鈥淢ore than 40 per cent of our income comes from our back catalogue which is amazing, so it is a necessity to progress. However, downloading a song does not beat the excitement felt by youngsters throughout the years who have waited excitedly for the release of their favourite artistes鈥 latest tune and then hurried down to a record shop to buy it. Those days are gone which is a shame for the industry,鈥 he explained.
Simpson is hoping that Big Bear鈥檚 latest venture will encourage today鈥檚 musicians to get back on the road and perform for a new generation of live audiences. To put some raw energy and fun back into the music scene. He has joined with a major lager brand to recreate a national Battle of the Bands competition in an attempt to discover a new Black Sabbath, Oasis or U2.
鈥淲e are going all over the 海角视频 beginning in March. It will be larger than anything that has been attempted before and it is very exciting,鈥 he explained.
Pilot heats of the extravaganza are being staged in Wellington, Shropshire, and Simpson is confident of unearthing a new superstar band.
鈥淣ext year will be a good year for us. Julian Smith, who came third in 2009鈥檚 Britain鈥檚 Got Talent has asked Big Bear to look after his affairs and we already have more than 40 gigs lined up for next year. We are his sole representatives.
鈥淗e is set to become very big in China of all places 鈥 they love him there,鈥 enthused the music chief.
鈥淲e have great plans for that market,鈥 Simpson said. 鈥淛ulian is unlike many of today鈥檚 musicians. He has served an apprenticeship doing clubs and pubs which has prepared him for the hard knocks of showbusiness. There are not as many artistes who are as humble and as dedicated and it is fantastic he has chosen to grow his career with Big Bear.鈥
So 2011 is full of Eastern promise. It could be the year that Big Bear boards the Orient Express and takes Birmingham behind the Bamboo Curtain.
