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Items relating to the career of Dennis Ratcliffe

Catalogue reference: ARC/RAT

What’s it about?

This record is about the Items relating to the career of Dennis Ratcliffe dating from circa 1920s-1970s.

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Full description and record details

Reference
ARC/RAT
Title
Items relating to the career of Dennis Ratcliffe
Date
circa 1920s-1970s
Description

Archive items relating to the career of Dennis Ratcliffe; to accompany the Hawkes & Son soprano trombone owned by Ratcliffe, 2012.21. Items include, photographs, concert programmes, newspaper clippings and sound recordings.

Held by
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Language
English
Creator(s)
Ratcliffe, George Dennis
Physical description
52 files
Access conditions

Please contact enquiries@horniman.ac.uk to arrange viewing these records.

Administrative / biographical background

George Dennis Ratcliffe was a British jazz trumpeter. He was a member of the Ambrose Band, a dance orchestra that raised the profile of jazz in Britain through residencies at the Embassy Club and Mayfair Hotel, and its numerous broadcasts and recordings. The band was made up of American and British musicians, including trombonist Ted Heath, drummer Max Bacon, bassist Dick Escott and saxophonist Joe Jeannette. Ratcliffe's daughter relates that her father used to refer to the soprano trombone as 'jazz trumpet' as the small mouthpiece and high register of the soprano trombone made it an ideal instrument for a trumpeter wanting a unique and eye-catching way to distinguish himself in front of a band. Ratcliffe also played on early TV broadcasts from Alexandra Palace and was featured in a number of films including Shipyard Sal.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/98d7673b-50ed-4ecc-ac76-ca1ae7d4f1b7/

Catalogue hierarchy

6,017 records

This record is held at Horniman Museum and Gardens

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Items relating to the career of Dennis Ratcliffe