It's the early 1960s, and we're on-stage at Glasgow's old St Andrew's Halls, with George Penman's Jazzmen. That's George, with his back to us, sitting at the piano. 

Sitting in the on-stage 'choir seats' was common at the Halls, when Jazz-daft Glaswegians would pack the place. Some of the braver, more gallus, on-stage fans would even get up to dance amongst the musicians.

Rutherglen-lad George launched his band in 1959, and, before long, was one of the biggest names on the Scottish jazz scene; even recording tracks at London's famous Abbey Road Studios. He always modestly claimed that his role as band leader emerged because he was “the only one with a phone and a car at the time”.

Although he's hidden here, the band's banjoist, and sometimes vocalist, was Alastair McDonald, who is still playing today 

Long a regular at Shawfield Stadium, St Andrew's Halls, the Eglinton Arms Hotel, Cafe Source, King Tut's and many other venues, George led the band for over 50 years, until his death, aged 70, in 2009.

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The Herald Picture Store is proud to present these images in their actual condition. We haven't manipulated these photographs and are proud of their character.

Please be aware that due to their age some images may show imperfections. This is as a result of the technology available at the time they were captured and/or scanned and saved for our records.