Max JaffaOBE (28 December 1911 – 30 July 1991)[1] was a British light orchestral violinist and bandleader.[2] He is best remembered as the leader of the Palm Court Orchestra and trio, with Jack Byfield (piano) and Reginald Kilbey (cello), which broadcast on BBC Radio. His career lasted 70 years, before retiring in 1990.[2]
Max Jaffa
Birth name
Max Jaffe
Born
(1911-12-28)28 December 1911 London, England
Died
30 July 1991(1991-07-30) (aged 79) London, England
He was born Max Jaffe[3] in London, the first child of Israel Jaffe, a Russian-Jewish immigrant, and Milly Makoff, his London-born Russian wife. Hearing the début of Jascha Heifetz in 1919 inspired him to take up the violin. After making his solo debut in a concert at the Brighton Palace Pier Theatre at the age of nine, he played in the pit of a silent cinema orchestra, to furnish background and atmosphere for silent films, while still at school.[2] He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Max Mossel, where he was a favourite of Sir Landon Ronald and where he won the Gold Medal.[4]
Early career and wartime
In 1928 on leaving Guildhall, Jaffa persuaded the Piccadilly Hotel in London to take him on for a two week trial, and stayed there for five years, making his first radio broadcast in August 1929 with the Max Jaffa Solon Orchestra, aged just 17. That year he was temporarily released from the Piccadilly to play a season as leader of the Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the youngest player ever to hold the post.[5] In World War II, he originally served as Gunner Jaffa in the Royal Artillery, but subsequently joined the Royal Air Force and became a pilot in RAF Bomber Command.[6]
Later career
Jaffa refreshed his violin playing after the war by studying with Sascha Lasserson,[7] and soon joined the Mantovani Orchestra - he was the leader and soloist on its bestseller Charmaine (1951). He would sometimes play with the Albert Sandler Trio when Sandler himself was ill, and after Sandler's death in 1948 took his place alongside the other members, cellist Reginald Kilbey and pianist Jack Byfield, to form the Max Jaffa Trio.[3] From 1956 until 1986 his concerts from The Spa, Scarborough were frequently featured on BBC Radio in shows such as Melody on Strings, Music For Your Pleasure and (most notably) Grand Hotel, on which he led the Palm Court Orchestra and was dubbed 'King of the Palm Court'.[5][8][9] A Yorkshire Television documentary in 1986 filmed his final season as Scarborough, aged 74.
Jaffa recorded the violin and orchestra version of "Dark Eyes", written by Adalgiso Ferraris.[10] His collaboration with Ferraris included other songs, such as "Souvenir d'Ukraine" and "Gipsy Idylle".[10]
Jaffa was married (for the second time, in 1959) to the contralto Jean Grayston, a regular on-stage partner, and there were three daughters. They lived at 31 Elm Tree Road, St John's Wood, and at Argyll Lodge, High Street, Scalby, where there is a plaque.[5][11] Grayston performed with Jaffa at his diamond jubilee gala concert in 1987 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. As late as 1989 he formed a new Max Jaffa Trio for BBC broadcasts, with Alan Dalziel (cello) and Gordon Langford (piano). [12] His autobiography, A Life on the Fiddle, was published by Hodder and Stoughton shortly before his death in 1991 at his London home.[3]
His performing library, now owned by violinist Simon Blendis, includes both published arrangements and many still in manuscript, made for Jaffa’s exclusive use, some by his pianist Jack Byfield. The CD Love is like a Violin: Salon Treasures from the Max Jaffa Library, has made recordings of some of this material available for the first time.[13]
^ abc"The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/38577. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
jaffa, december, 1911, july, 1991, british, light, orchestral, violinist, bandleader, best, remembered, leader, palm, court, orchestra, trio, with, jack, byfield, piano, reginald, kilbey, cello, which, broadcast, radio, career, lasted, years, before, retiring,. Max Jaffa OBE 28 December 1911 30 July 1991 1 was a British light orchestral violinist and bandleader 2 He is best remembered as the leader of the Palm Court Orchestra and trio with Jack Byfield piano and Reginald Kilbey cello which broadcast on BBC Radio His career lasted 70 years before retiring in 1990 2 Max JaffaBirth nameMax JaffeBorn 1911 12 28 28 December 1911London EnglandDied30 July 1991 1991 07 30 aged 79 London EnglandGenresLight musicInstrument s ViolinYears active1920 1990 Contents 1 Childhood and education 2 Early career and wartime 3 Later career 4 Selected recordings 5 References 6 External linksChildhood and education EditHe was born Max Jaffe 3 in London the first child of Israel Jaffe a Russian Jewish immigrant and Milly Makoff his London born Russian wife Hearing the debut of Jascha Heifetz in 1919 inspired him to take up the violin After making his solo debut in a concert at the Brighton Palace Pier Theatre at the age of nine he played in the pit of a silent cinema orchestra to furnish background and atmosphere for silent films while still at school 2 He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Max Mossel where he was a favourite of Sir Landon Ronald and where he won the Gold Medal 4 Early career and wartime EditIn 1928 on leaving Guildhall Jaffa persuaded the Piccadilly Hotel in London to take him on for a two week trial and stayed there for five years making his first radio broadcast in August 1929 with the Max Jaffa Solon Orchestra aged just 17 That year he was temporarily released from the Piccadilly to play a season as leader of the Scottish Symphony Orchestra the youngest player ever to hold the post 5 In World War II he originally served as Gunner Jaffa in the Royal Artillery but subsequently joined the Royal Air Force and became a pilot in RAF Bomber Command 6 Later career EditJaffa refreshed his violin playing after the war by studying with Sascha Lasserson 7 and soon joined the Mantovani Orchestra he was the leader and soloist on its bestseller Charmaine 1951 He would sometimes play with the Albert Sandler Trio when Sandler himself was ill and after Sandler s death in 1948 took his place alongside the other members cellist Reginald Kilbey and pianist Jack Byfield to form the Max Jaffa Trio 3 From 1956 until 1986 his concerts from The Spa Scarborough were frequently featured on BBC Radio in shows such as Melody on Strings Music For Your Pleasure and most notably Grand Hotel on which he led the Palm Court Orchestra and was dubbed King of the Palm Court 5 8 9 A Yorkshire Television documentary in 1986 filmed his final season as Scarborough aged 74 Jaffa recorded the violin and orchestra version of Dark Eyes written by Adalgiso Ferraris 10 His collaboration with Ferraris included other songs such as Souvenir d Ukraine and Gipsy Idylle 10 Jaffa was married for the second time in 1959 to the contralto Jean Grayston a regular on stage partner and there were three daughters They lived at 31 Elm Tree Road St John s Wood and at Argyll Lodge High Street Scalby where there is a plaque 5 11 Grayston performed with Jaffa at his diamond jubilee gala concert in 1987 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall As late as 1989 he formed a new Max Jaffa Trio for BBC broadcasts with Alan Dalziel cello and Gordon Langford piano 12 His autobiography A Life on the Fiddle was published by Hodder and Stoughton shortly before his death in 1991 at his London home 3 His performing library now owned by violinist Simon Blendis includes both published arrangements and many still in manuscript made for Jaffa s exclusive use some by his pianist Jack Byfield The CD Love is like a Violin Salon Treasures from the Max Jaffa Library has made recordings of some of this material available for the first time 13 Jaffa is cited as a member of the eclectic and fictional orchestra in The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band s recording The Intro and the Outro Selected recordings EditPalm Court Concert Columbia 33SX 1107 1958 Melodies You Love Music for Pleasure MFP 1165 1959 The Violin Sings Columbia 33SX 1387 1962 Moments of Melody Pye Golden Guinea 1963 I ll See You In My Dreams Music For Pleasure MFP 1017 1965 Gypsy Carnival Columbia 33SX 1227 1967 Gypsy Magic Allegro ALL 863 1967 The Max Jaffa Trio Allegro ALL 846 1967 Music for a Grand Hotel Valentine VAL 8057 1984 References Edit MusicSack Music Sack Musicsack com Retrieved 9 October 2019 a b c Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 659 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 a b c The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 38577 Subscription or UK public library membership required Max Jaffa 1991 A Life on the Fiddle Hodder and Stoughton p 104 ISBN 978 0340423813 a b c Tracey Shiela Who s Who in Popular Music in Britain 1984 p 129 130 Sleevenotes to EP Music from the Palm Court No 2 Columbia 1957 M Lasserson ed Sascha Lasserson Portrait of a Teacher Reminiscencies of Sascha by His Pupils 2005 Radio and TV personalities letter I and J Archived from the original on 20 March 2008 Retrieved 14 November 2007 Grand Hotel Archived from the original on 21 April 2012 Retrieved 13 February 2014 a b Vinyl Album Max Jaffa Gypsy Magic 1967 45worlds com Retrieved 9 October 2019 A History of Scalby Donovon Paul The Radio Companion 1992 p 141 Nimbus CD NI6428 2022 External links EditMax Jaffa Farewell to Scarborough Yorkshire Television documentary 1986 Max Jaffa at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Max Jaffa amp oldid 1105871064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
