Diary

Jeremy Huggett’s Jazz Friends are making returning to Jazzamatazz.  The musicians have all appeared at the club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with Jeremy Huggett as his Jazz Friends, of whom they are!

Jeremy Huggett is featured on saxes, flute & vocals and he’s joined by some of the UK’s top jazz musicians.

Gethin Liddington (trumpet), Richard West (piano), Federico Leonori (bass) & Eddie John (drums).

The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

The Railroad Skiffle Group began as a brief interlude within Bev's Good Time Jazz Gang's regular shows, and has grown from there.  The UK skiffle craze of the mid to late 1950's, popularised by Ken Colyer, Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan, Chas McDevitt, The Vipers and a host of others, was instrumental to many teenagers taking up the guitar as their preferred instrument.

Bev’s merry band play a wide selection of skiffle songs with meaningful stories about jail, trains, bank robbery, adultery etc. that were generally sung in the 1920's and 1930's by folk, blues, country and jug band musicians.  These songs include "I Shall Not Be Moved", "Freight Train", "Down By The Riverside" which are known by all.

There is always the addition of loads of laughs with Bev's anecdotes between the songs.  Bev Pegg (vocal / guitar), Pete Hartley (violin), John O'Connor (double bass) & Ken Wright (drums).  Pete Hartley from Bromsgrove, a wonderful violinist who in between his many gigs is famous for his busking attributes all around the Midlands. He won the New Faces TV Show in 1987 and has performed for famous people such as Bill Clinton, Bertie Ahern, Princess Anne, and Joanna Lumley.

The formation of Slide By Slide was the brainchild of Kevin Grenfell (trombone and trumpet) who has enrolled the musical talents of fellow trombonist Richard Leach to accompany him to form the legend known as Slide by Slide.  In the rhythm section a dazzling array of musicianship with Graham Smith (drums), Simon Smith (double bass) and Simon Hughes (piano).

Kevin is more than pleased to have their services as they are all busy musicians with various bands (no names, no pack drill), and their individual CVs would fill a page by itself.  Always a club favorite with lots of great music and many laughs along the way.

The Eagle Jazz Band founded in 1951 delighted audiences worldwide for an amazing fifty-four years, one of the oldest formed bands in the UK.  The band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s.  Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer   Julyan “Baby Jools” Aldridge (drums) has returned to the fold and added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required.  Along with            Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone, drums & vibes).  The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features.  All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals.

Christmas Party Fun.  Mince pies, crackers, surprise present raffle, Christmas Hamper Raffle draw, and lots of fun.

One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums to help us kick the Christmas spirit into a swinging time.

Carl comes from a family of strong musicians he first started playing the piano when he was only six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of the Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!

By special arrangement will be joined by swinging, versatile reedsman Jeremy Huggett (saxophone, flute, vocals), also a club friend and favourite alongside Simon Smith (bass).  This session promises to deliver a real swinging, feel good, festive, great fun party.  Be there or be square!!  It is as simple as that!!  The doors will open at 12:00, so if you want ‘your seat’ be there early.  Seats cannot and will not be reserved.  Strictly first come, first served.

Scarlette's Serenaders are named after Mike Owen's daughter, their repertoire includes jazz standards, old popular songs, and pretty much any songs they happen to like on the day itself!
A lively and driving band from the Midlands in the New Orleans style of playing dance hall music which is great for dancing to, as well as listening to.

All request session, choose a number, request it and the band will play it for you!  Request slips at the desk.

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists.

This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones).

In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano).  Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

The Ben Holder Trio is a stellar line-up of incredible musicians, blending an energetic mix of traditional jazz and swing with Ben's own infectious originals, which hark back to the fun and swing of the 1920s and 1930s. The group is one of the most exciting trios to emerge in recent years. Led by the fiery enthusiasm of 26-year-old Ben Holder, who not only wows on violin but also on the keys, the trio is strengthened by the phenomenal Jez Cook on guitar, and the suave talent of Paul Jefferies on double bass.

The Ben Holder Trio masterfully mix old jazz favourites with some more recent material and leave audiences up and down the country shouting for more.

Established nearly twenty years ago, The Martinique Jazz Band fast became one of the top jazz bands on the local scene in the Midlands.  They have played at many of the premier venues both in the UK and on the continent, and played with many of the top stars in jazz.  Their annual German tour has always gone down well with both the musicians and the audiences.  The Band has also played in Fritzels on Bourbon Street in New Orleans during the Jazz and Heritage Festivals.  After being invited to play at one of the Mayors charity presentations, the whole band were declared "Honorary Citizens of New Orleans!".  The Band refuses to be labelled as a "Dixieland" band and they take pride in playing many different styles of jazz, from King Oliver to King of the Swingers, from Beiderbeck to Brubeck, from Louis Armstrong to Louis Prima through to Louis Jordan.  Their musical repertoire is as broad as it is long.  Many of their numbers will be recognised by even non-jazzers but they also continue to play lesser-heard obscurities because of their unique musical value. The play-list includes, Old Classic Jazz, Blues, Show Tunes, Sinatra and some good old swingers but the main aim is to send people home very happy.

The repertoire covering the music of such names as Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers, The New Orleans Wanderers, Johnny Dodd’s Blackbottom Stompers, Papa Celestin’s Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, Clarence Williams and King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. Over the years the Frogs have appeared regularly at Jazz Clubs and venues throughout the United Kingdom and have also performed on numerous occasions in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and USA. In April 1980, the band travelled to New Orleans and was the only British band to appear at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Returning in 1982, the Mayor of New Orleans conferred the title of ’International Honorary Citizens’ upon the band for its services to the music of the city. The band returned again in 1986 and 1988 receiving a warm and enthusiastic reception.

The band originally started as an offshoot of Steve’s school orchestra, and from these early beginnings as a youth band, the passage of time has, after almost fifty years turned the Steve King Big Band into one of the Midlands leading exponents of big band music.  The current line-up is an eclectic mix of seasoned pros and semi-pros including some of the brightest sparks in the jazz scene today which helps keep the band at the forefront of the burgeoning big band movement.  Since winning a talent competition with a major brewery in the early days, it has gone from strength to strength, appearing at every major venue in the West Midlands playing for concert and dance engagements including several sell out appearances at Ronnie Scott's.  It was amongst the prize winners at the annual Musicians' Union Big Band Contest an unprecedented nine times, winning outright on two occasions.  It has released six bestselling albums including its latest CD, “60 NOT OUT”.

A typical concert will encompass anything from Goodman to Goodwin.  With a woodwind section that doubles twenty-six instruments between them and a tuba player and tuned percussionist as part of the regular line-up, this band tackles many charts other bands cannot reach!  The demanding concert programme features the best big band music of the last 60 years.  Vocals are in the very capable hands of Lynn Dawes who hails from the USA. Lynn has appeared on four of the band’s albums and has proved a big hit with audiences throughout the UK.

Lady be Good is an all-female, saxophone-filled jazz band that brings a touch of class to your event. Think classic swing and jazz from the likes of the Rat Pack, Julie London, Nina Simon and Peggy Lee, plus more modern numbers with our unique twist.  With lush vocals from Kate O'Malley, plus a guest male singer for duets if the occasion calls for it. and a very funky upright bass you've probably never seen or heard anything like Lady Be Good before.  Perfect music to get you up on the dancefloor and keep you there, without overpowering those who just want to sit and tap their feet at the back.

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material.

The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour.  Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented        Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass.

Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

Kevin Grenfell (Trombone) is a first-class trombonist with a great sense of humour.  He has put together a fine all-star band, including guest stars, touring in the area.  Joining Kevin for this date is our club favourite Jeremy Huggett who has graced our stage and dazzled us with his musicality on many occasions.  Whomever joins Kevin and Jeremy on this gig is sure to deliver an entertaining, high octane, harmonious and enjoyable afternoon.

The Eagle Jazz Band founded in 1951 delighted audiences worldwide for an amazing fifty-four years, one of the oldest formed bands in the UK.  The band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s.  Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer   Julyan “Baby Jools” Aldridge (drums) has returned to the fold and added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required.  Along with            Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone, drums & vibes).  The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features.  All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals.

The band has established itself as one of the most respected and entertaining outfits on the British jazz scene, with their adventurous and eclectic repertoire gaining plaudits wherever they perform. Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends have recently headlined at Upton On Severn Jazz Festival, Pershore Jazz Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Bromyard Music Festival, Jazz On a Summer’s Day in Blisworth, Wellingborough Jazz Festival, Wantage Jazz Club, Olney Jazz Club, Carlton Music Festival and at The Spice of Life Jazz Club, one of London’s top jazz venues.  The band comprise of Tad Newton (trombone/vocal), Alan Haughton (piano), Ronnie Fenn (drums), Tomas Pedersen (bass), Mike Wills (reeds) and one of London's top young jazz players as a special guest Lester Brown (trumpet/flugelhorn).  This poses to be a fantastic session, one that will be remembered for many weeks to come.

The Dart Valley Stompers was formed by Jeremy in July 2005 with the aim of playing lively, exciting music in the Traditional and New Orleans styles of jazz.  Since its formation the band has proved to be hugely successful with a strong following throughout the UK.  The Dart Valley Stompers is one of the most popular and busiest bands in the country regularly performing to capacity audiences at Jazz Clubs and Festivals both in the UK and abroad.  The front line features Jeremy Huggett on tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet & vocals, Graham Trevarton on trumpet & vocals, and Kevin Grenfell on trombone & vocals. The hard-driving rhythm section includes Howard Williams on banjo & guitar, Tony Mann on double bass and Chris Stockings on drums. The band’s repertoire is firmly rooted in traditional & New Orleans jazz and is guaranteed to get your feet tapping and stomping – definitely a band not to be missed!

Tickets for concerts in advance, either enquire at the desk or send a S.A.E. and cheque made payable to Jazzamatazz to Emma Pearse, 1 Long Close Avenue, Allesley Village, Coventry, CV5 9GH.   Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.

Charity Concert in aid of CERU. Leamington Spa Hospital houses the Central England Rehabilitation Unit (CERU), which offers neuro rehabilitation to adults following acquired brain injury.  For more information on CERU please visit: www.ceru.co.uk

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band.  They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire.  Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band!  Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  A s the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing!  One of the clubs favourites.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day.

“Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to"

Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981.

Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Carl comes from a family of strong musicians he first started playing the piano when he was only six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of the Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!

Jeremy Huggett’s Jazz Friends are making returning to Jazzamatazz.  The musicians have all appeared at the club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with Jeremy Huggett as his Jazz Friends, of whom they are!

Jeremy Huggett is featured on saxes, flute & vocals and he’s joined by some of the UK’s top jazz musicians.

Gethin Liddington (trumpet), Richard West (piano), Federico Leonori (bass) & Eddie John (drums).

The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

Tickets for concerts in advance, either enquire at the desk or send a S.A.E. and cheque made payable to Jazzamatazz to Emma Pearse, 1 Long Close Avenue, Allesley Village, Coventry, CV5 9GH.   Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.

The Bateman Brothers Jazz Band is now firmly recognised as one of the UK’s top jazz bands. From the moment their debut album ‘Now You Has Jazz’ was voted the best jazz CD of 2011 in the British Jazz Awards they haven’t looked back.  Their amazing show is all about Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars. To do this authentically you’ve got to have a trumpet player who plays like the great man himself and Alan Bateman has certainly achieved this, even fooling one or two Louis experts who would wish to remain nameless! Alan’s brother Ian on trombone does a pretty amazing job too, recreating the smooth style of Jack Teagarden and Trummy Young’s fiery style of the later years of Louis great band.  The other band members are stars in their own right. Trevor Whiting on clarinet (ex Chris Barber), pianist Craig Milverton, bassist John Day (Acker Bilk) and the incredible Steve Rushton on drums.  The band plays the same arrangements as Louis', not just a play through and everybody doing endless solos. They pride themselves in an exciting non-stop show that will have you craving for more. That's how it was with Louis and that is what The Bateman Brothers Jazz band have managed to achieve.

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties.  Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band.  He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon.  Baby Jools (drums), Mike Owen (trombone), Denny Illet (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Brian Mellor (banjo and guitars).

Jazz Samba, The iconic album by tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist Charlie Byrd became a worldwide sensation in 1962.  The music was inspired by the new sound of bossanova, which Charlie Byrd had only recently discovered while on a tour of Brazil in 1961.

The Richard Exall Quartet brings together some of the UK’s finest exponents of the genre to bring the sounds of Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd back to life.

The varied and exciting programme also consists of favourites from Getz Au Go Go and The Cool Sound of Stan Getz, making the most of Stan Getz’s reputation for beautiful ballads and rip-roaring swing standards, of which he was famous.

Richard Exall - tenor sax

Denny Ilett - guitar

Dave Green - double bass

Clarke Tracey - drums

The Tierra Buena Traditional Jazz Band has been entertaining audiences in Coventry and Warwickshire every week for nearly sixty years!  This six-piece band started playing Traditional/Dixieland/New Orleans Jazz in 1958 at The Pilot Hotel, Radford, just as the 'Trad Boom' started (band and audience were both very young back then!). Several years at The Pilot were followed by years at The Cottage, Earlsdon, then other residencies at pubs and clubs in Coventry and in Warwickshire, and more recently ten years at The Cocked Hat, Binley. Almost always it has been on Monday nights, and most remarkably half of the current band have been playing since the earliest days. The band has increased its expertise and its repertoire with the years, yet kept its enthusiasm and stayed true to its jazz idiom.

Thrill to the comedic antics of early film comedy stars, including Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd in an entertaining session of mirth and music for the entire family. 

Few people have experienced the art form that ushered in the movie industry that we now take for granted.  The silent film era lasted from 1895 to 1927.  A silent film was without synchronized recorded sound or spoken dialogue.  In silent films the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, mime and title cards with a written indication of the plot or key dialogue.  This is a unique opportunity for movie fans of all ages to experience vintage entertainment and learn more about the genre.  Car chases, stunts, suspense and romance await you as Jeff weaves his musical magic from scene to scene.  An unforgettable session of education, entertainment and above all, LAUGHTER!

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

 A hot dance band that falls outside the remit of most traditional jazz outfits both in style and repertoire.  Picture the 1920’s/1930’s dance hall or ballroom, the musicians on stage immaculate in their tuxedos, and the glamourous female vocalist seated stage, right, waiting for her turn to arise and perform the newest songs of the period.  Then comes the jazz solos.

Sheila Fawkes (vocals), George Huxley (reeds), Jon Penn (piano), Terry McGrath (trombone and saxophone), Mark Johnson (double bass), Tim McGrath (guitar and banjo).

The ideal band for jazz clubs, Bev Pegg’s Good Time Four comprises of Roger Heeley (piano), John O’Connor (double bass) and Ken Wright (drums).  All of these great musicians know Bev's jazz repertoire inside out meaning that the overall sound is always precise and in Bev's own style. The band, a four piece, retains that special 1920's/1930's classic jazz feel. Bev Pegg and his Good Time Jazz Gang gathered together for the first time as a unit on Saturday May 3rd 1997, when they recorded the album "Take Your Fingers Off It" on P.E.K. Sound, a specialist jazz label with high reputation in the UK jazz field.  Bev's initial album was so well received by the jazz press and enthusiasts alike, that live gigs just had to follow. The band definitely gives the crowd a "good time" with its’ well-known musical repertoire, interspersed with lots of laughs.  The band fronted by Bev on vocal, guitar and banjo, has built up its reputation as being one of the swingin'est, hottest jazz outfits in the land.

Sarah relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA.  She has also joined the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally.  In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe.

Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival.  Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

Personnel of the Transatlantic Band are Sarah Spencer (sax, clarinet & vocal) Mike Owen (trombone), Brian Bates (trumpet), Hugh Crozier (piano), Howard Worthington (Bass) and Jools (drums).

John Hallam has been playing the clarinet since the age of 14 followed soon after by the alto saxophone and flute.  He gained experience with a military bands, a dance band but also formed a jazz band whilst still at school.   Under his musical belt, among other experience is, a twenty-one year stint with the Smoky City Jazzband and included playing alongside Humphrey Lyttelton, George Melly, George Chisholm, Joe Harriot, Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Stephane Grappelli, Roy Williams, John Barnes, Peter Schilperoort, Dick Wellstood, Danny Moss and many more. During this time the band played at a number of festivals in Europe and did many broadcasts on radio and T.V.

Amy Roberts was voted winner of the Miscellaneous Category in the 2015 British Jazz Awards, and the Rising Star Category in the British Jazz Awards in both 2009 and 2011, Amy has earned an enviable reputation throughout not only the UK but also abroad.  She has worked in prestigious venues and festivals all over the UK and across Europe and has become known on the jazz circuit as a charismatic performer. Amy currently leads several bands which feature some of the most exciting musicians on the jazz scene. She also regularly makes guest appearances with other highly acclaimed ensembles and internationally celebrated orchestras.    Fuse these two talents together, and you have a musical performance with serious saxappeal!

The Dragons started life as Johnny Everett’s Red Dragons. Sadly, Johnny left us to join the Great Jazz Band in the Sky over a year ago. Babs, his widow, has kept the band going with her enthusiasm for the band and jazz in general. She is to be seen all over the jazz circuit.

There are four original members: JOHN BODENHAM, clarinet and soprano sax, who started his jazz career 60 years ago with the Side Stream Jazzband; he took a long break and then was in at the start of Graham Smith’s Allsorts which developed into the Red Dragons.  On drums is RON SMITH, who has comprehensive drumming experience, he came to jazz late, after playing Country & Western and Rock’n’Roll; he’s played Jazz Salon Rouge and The Allsorts).  Permanently at his side in the band is MARK JOHNSON, on bass & sousaphone; he played with The Allsorts in the early 90's, later joining the Red Dragon Jazzmen. He’s played with Jazz Salon Rouge, Eureka Jazz and Sheila Fawkes; he’s an all-rounder, playing also in folk, brass & dance bands & theatre pit orchestras).  Other regulars are our versatile trombonist, DAVE DEAKIN, who started his musical career in silver bands; he joined the Dragons in 2012. Also playing sousa and bass, he can be seen in many bands on the jazz circuit, including The Sopranos, The Eagle, Apex jazz & Swing). The two ‘new boys’ are the enthusiastic PETER ROBERTS, who’s played banjo and sung in folk and jazz groups since the '60's with many bands, including Jazz Salon Rouge & Dene River Jazzmen where he met trumpeter, JON STONE who joined the Dragons after supporting Johnny through his illness. Ex- Denise Lawrence’s Storeyville Tickle, he’s been a muso on trumpet and bass for 67 years; you’d think he’d be better by now!
The style of the band is best described as Dixieland. There are items from the ‘Trad’ repertoire but their developing repertoire also features some more unusual items from the Golden Era of jazz.

The formation of Slide By Slide was the brainchild of Kevin Grenfell (trombone and trumpet) who has enrolled the musical talents of fellow trombonist Richard Leach to accompany him to form the legend known as Slide by Slide.  In the rhythm section a dazzling array of musicianship with Graham Smith (drums), Simon Smith (double bass) and Simon Hughes (piano).

Kevin is more than pleased to have their services as they are all busy musicians with various bands (no names, no pack drill), and their individual CVs would fill a page by itself.  Always a club favorite with lots of great music and many laughs along the way.

Scarlette's Serenaders are named after Mike Owen's daughter, their repertoire includes jazz standards, old popular songs, and pretty much any songs they happen to like on the day itself!
A lively and driving band from the Midlands in the New Orleans style of playing dance hall music which is great for dancing to, as well as listening to.

Enrico Tomasso started playing trumpet at the tender age of six years old, and almost immediately started to learn Louis Armstrong phrases after his tutor turned up with a book of Louis Armstrong hot breaks.  His tutor also taught Enrico embouchure and technique, which has stood him in great stead to become the award winning player he is today. From an outstandingly talented family in the performing arts and music, Enrico’s father would often transcribe pieces for him to play and many a time football and games was the last in line after trumpet practice. 

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material.

The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour.  Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented        Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass.

Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

UK born and bred Wendy Kirkland is a world class jazz pianist and vocalist.  Her debut album 'Piano Divas' made such an impact when it was released in March 2017 that it was immediately snapped up for distribution by Discovery Records.  It also made the Album of the Week slot twice in one year on The Jazz UK radio, shortly followed by overwhelming critical acclaim from the national mainstream and jazz press. More airplay of the album followed on Clare Teal's Radio 2 show, Alyn Shipton's Jazz Record Requests on Radio 3, Helen Mayhew's shows on JazzFM and latterly BBC Radio Scotland by Clare Teal's Scottish counterpart Seonaid Aitken.  All have noted her swinging style, equally as adept with the Great American Songbook as with Brazilian bossa nova and her own original songs.  Described as "the unsung heroine of British Jazz" by esteemed jazz critic Ian Mann and "mellow and stylish" by Clive Davis of the Sunday Times, Wendy will be performing songs from her album which contains fresh arrangements of songs made famous by jazzwomen who started out as pianists then learned to serenade the audience too, as Wendy has done. These include Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Shirley Horn, Nina Simone and Blossom Dearie. Wendy tells the story of these women and how they inspired her to strive to become the UK's leading exponent of jazz piano and voice, with equal merit in both.  Wendy is joined by a band who have performed with the UK's top jazz players as well as US stars such as Darius Brubeck.  Pat Sprakes (guitar), Paul Jefferies (double bass) and Steve Wyndham (drums).

This highly popular and talented band is comprised of leading musicians in their field each of whom have a long standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz.  With a high standard of musicianship and a touch of humour the band will provide first class entertainment.  Their music is drawn mainly from popular composers and date from a period of between 1900 and 1950 in a Traditional style along with numbers from the swing era including Sinatra type compositions.  The band is West Midlands / Shropshire based and covers adjacent counties that include Worcestershire, Staffordshire Herefordshire and Warwickshire with occasional excursions further afield.

A seven piece band playing the old style New Orleans jazz.  Recreating the music of the crescent city, be it a stomp, blues, hymn, spiritual or pop song of the day.  In the style of the late great, Bunk Johnson, George Lewis and Kid Thomas bands.  Our motto is "helping to keep the real jazz alive".  We travel extensively over the UK & Europe playing jazz clubs, theatres, hotels, jazz festivals, church concerts and private engagements.

The regular seven piece line up is - Richard Church (cornet/trumpet), Dave Vickers (trombone), John Scantlebury or Roger Bird (clarinet/sax), Barry Grummett (piano), Colin Bushell (drums), Harry Slater (bass) and Alan Birkinhead (banjo).

The repertoire covering the music of such names as Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers, The New Orleans Wanderers, Johnny Dodd’s Blackbottom Stompers, Papa Celestin’s Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, Clarence Williams and King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. Over the years the Frogs have appeared regularly at Jazz Clubs and venues throughout the United Kingdom and have also performed on numerous occasions in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and USA. In April 1980, the band travelled to New Orleans and was the only British band to appear at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Returning in 1982, the Mayor of New Orleans conferred the title of ’International Honorary Citizens’ upon the band for its services to the music of the city. The band returned again in 1986 and 1988 receiving a warm and enthusiastic reception.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, there is a change of programme.  Sadly, The Pedigree Jazz Band are unable to keep their engagement with us so our good friends The Tierra Buena will fill the breach.

We are looking forward to welcoming Brian Bates and The Tierra Buena Jazz Band to our club once more.

Following an unusual late cancellation from one of our bands, last year we were left with a gaping hole in our diary.  Fortunately, this doesn’t happen very often, so who to ask to “Stand-in?”  The answer was simple………..  How about the Nottingham contingents in Jazz? Unfortunately, due to illness, the four has become a three but we are in for a delight nevertheless, these accomplished and talented musicians from Nottingham shire will grace us with their presence.  These are all familiar faces to Jazzamatazz.  Richard Smith (Guitar),  Steve Peters (Double Bass) and Matt Palmer (Reeds).  It was a great session, so we are doing it again!  Be there or be square!!

The Mercia Jazz Five began life in 1984.  It was started by a group of jazzmen who had previously played mainly traditional jazz, but who had always enjoyed, appreciated and wanted to play music from the swing era.

The band in the past had usually consisted of trumpet, saxes & clarinet, guitar, double bass and drums but has at times also included trombone or piano.

The numbers that the band play have been taken from mainly the repertoires of bands such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and the small groups drawn from these bands, featuring players such as Lester Young, Johnny Hodges, Buck Clayton, Cootie Williams, Harry Edison, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster & Gene Krupa.

This quintet has been fortunate enough to play as a resident band every second Tuesday of every month at the Bournville Social Club and every third Wednesday of the month at the Trumpet, High St. Bilston. Next week they adorn our stage; we look forward to welcoming them.

Remi Harris is an exciting guitarist from the UK who's unique style draws inspiration from artists such as Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Peter Green and Led Zeppelin. He has performed at Buckingham Palace, Montreal Jazz Festival, BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Jamie Cullum, on BBC 4 Television and live on BBC Radio 2 & 3.

In his live shows Remi plays an eclectic mix of jazz standards, improvisations, original compositions and new arrangements of his favourite tunes. He plays a variety of acoustic and electric guitars and the shows are interspersed with his commentary about the history of the music and instruments he’s playing.

"extraordinary musician"

Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2

"astonishing stuff"

Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 6 Music

"Brilliant"

Martin Taylor MBE

"tremendously gifted”

John Etheridge

"Terrific”

The Telegraph

"extraordinary"

R2 Rock'n'Reel Magazine

Tickets for concerts in advance, either enquire at the desk or send a S.A.E. and cheque made payable to Jazzamatazz to Emma Pearse, 1 Long Close Avenue, Allesley Village, Coventry, CV5 9GH.   Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.

Last year’s session of Sweet and Hot went down a storm, so it was a no-brainer when Jeff & Anne approached the club for a re-booking in this year’s programme.  We are always pleased to give Jeff & Anne Barnhart a warm welcome to our club and we look forward to an eclectic mixture of fantastic jazz, a huge dose of humour and an inexhaustible supply of historical chat and anecdotes.

The band as before will feature Jeff Barnhart on piano, Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals, Graham Smith on the vintage drum kit and Tom ‘Spats’ Langham on banjo and guitar.

Lady be Good is an all-female, saxophone-filled jazz band that brings a touch of class to your event. Think classic swing and jazz from the likes of the Rat Pack, Julie London, Nina Simon and Peggy Lee, plus more modern numbers with our unique twist.  With lush vocals from Kate O'Malley, plus a guest male singer for duets if the occasion calls for it. and a very funky upright bass you've probably never seen or heard anything like Lady Be Good before.  Perfect music to get you up on the dancefloor and keep you there, without overpowering those who just want to sit and tap their feet at the back.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day.

“Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to"

Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981.

Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

Established nearly twenty years ago, The Martinique Jazz Band fast became one of the top jazz bands on the local scene in the Midlands.  They have played at many of the premier venues both in the UK and on the continent, and played with many of the top stars in jazz.  Their annual German tour has always gone down well with both the musicians and the audiences.  The Band has also played in Fritzels on Bourbon Street in New Orleans during the Jazz and Heritage Festivals.  After being invited to play at one of the Mayors charity presentations, the whole band were declared "Honorary Citizens of New Orleans!".  The Band refuses to be labelled as a "Dixieland" band and they take pride in playing many different styles of jazz, from King Oliver to King of the Swingers, from Beiderbeck to Brubeck, from Louis Armstrong to Louis Prima through to Louis Jordan.  Their musical repertoire is as broad as it is long.  Many of their numbers will be recognised by even non-jazzers but they also continue to play lesser-heard obscurities because of their unique musical value. The play-list includes, Old Classic Jazz, Blues, Show Tunes, Sinatra and some good old swingers but the main aim is to send people home very happy.

Due to circumstances beyond our control the programme has changed.

Amy Roberts & Richard Exall will be welcoming their new bundle of joy into the world instead of playing at our club.

Filling their slot is Jim Douglas, who is hosting a jazz jam benefit session for Roy Williams (trombone) who sadly suffered a stroke earlier this year.  Lots of musicians are springing forth to offer their services. This promises to be a session not to be missed.

The band has established itself as one of the most respected and entertaining outfits on the British jazz scene, with their adventurous and eclectic repertoire gaining plaudits wherever they perform. Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends have recently headlined at Upton On Severn Jazz Festival, Pershore Jazz Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Bromyard Music Festival, Jazz On a Summer’s Day in Blisworth, Wellingborough Jazz Festival, Wantage Jazz Club, Olney Jazz Club, Carlton Music Festival and at The Spice of Life Jazz Club, one of London’s top jazz venues.  The band comprise of Tad Newton (trombone/vocal), Alan Haughton (piano), Ronnie Fenn (drums), Tomas Pedersen (bass), Mike Wills (reeds) and one of London's top young jazz players as a special guest Lester Brown (trumpet/flugelhorn).  This poses to be a fantastic session, one that will be remembered for many weeks to come.

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band.  They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire.  Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band!  Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  A s the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing!  One of the clubs favourites.

The Eagle Jazz Band founded in 1951 delighted audiences worldwide for an amazing fifty-four years, one of the oldest formed bands in the UK.  The band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s.  Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer   Julyan “Baby Jools” Aldridge (drums) has returned to the fold and added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required.  Along with            Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone, drums & vibes).  The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features.  All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals.

Kevin Grenfell (Trombone) is a first-class trombonist with a great sense of humour.  He has put together a fine all-star band, including guest stars, touring in the area.  Joining Kevin for this date is our club favourite Paul Harrison, who has graced our stage and dazzled us with his musicality on many occasions.  Whomever joins Kevin and Paul on this gig is sure to deliver an entertaining, high octane, harmonious and enjoyable afternoon.

Inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Most Gypsy Jazz bands today consist entirely of stringed instruments.  Django, however, also later recorded with accordionist Gus Viseur and various clarinettists, including Hubert Rostaing.  Our quartet follows this lead with a line-up of accordion, clarinet, guitar and double bass, playing well-known HCF numbers as well as more contemporary Gypsy Jazz numbers.

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists.

This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones).

In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano).  Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties.  Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band.  He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon.  Baby Jools (drums), Mike Owen (trombone), Denny Illet (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Brian Mellor (banjo and guitars).

One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair(piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums to help us kick the Christmas spirit into a swinging time.

Carl comes from a family of strong musicians he first started playing the piano when he was only six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of the Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!

By special arrangement will be joined by swinging, versatile reedsman Jeremy Huggett (saxophone, flute, vocals), also a club friend and favourite alongside Simon Smith (bass).  This session promises to deliver a real swinging, feel good session to kick off the festivities, a great fun party.  Be there or be square!!  It is as simple as that!!  The doors will open at 12:00, so if you want ‘your seat’ be there early.  Seats cannot and will not be reserved.  Strictly first come, first served.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This highly popular and talented band is comprised of leading musicians in their field each of whom have a long standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz.  With a high standard of musicianship and a touch of humour the band will provide first class entertainment.  Their music is drawn mainly from popular composers and date from a period of between 1900 and 1950 in a Traditional style along with numbers from the swing era including Sinatra type compositions.  The band is West Midlands / Shropshire based and covers adjacent counties that include Worcestershire, Staffordshire Herefordshire and Warwickshire with occasional excursions further afield.

Christmas Party Fun.  Mince pies, crackers, surprise present raffle, Christmas Hamper Raffle draw, and lots of fun.

Alligator Gumbo, an exciting band based in Leeds, inspired by the sights and sounds of New Orleans jazz and blues!

Performing extensively around the UK since 2011, the band continues to wow audiences far and wide with their good-natured mix of foot-stomping rhythms and toe-tapping tunes, combining the authentic sounds of New Orleans jazz with their infectious on stage energy and unique performance style.

The band is lead by James Paylor on the double bass and vocals, Greg Surmacz on clarinet/saxophone, Chris Williamson on trumpet, Mike Simpson on guitar, Jose WIlliamson playing drums/washboard and Chris Lloyd on piano.

Tickets for concerts in advance, either enquire at the desk or send a S.A.E. and cheque made payable to Jazzamatazz to Emma Pearse, 1 Long Close Avenue, Allesley Village, Coventry, CV5 9GH.   Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.

Plumb Loco is a 7 piece band, comprising of freelance professional musicians from the Leics/Notts/Derbys areas with an odd one  from Crewe. Each member of the band has over 55 years performing experience except for guitarist Richard Smith, who is not even 50 yet – but as he’s regarded as one of the best players in the UK, we forgive his youthfulness. We play music that varies twixt jazz and rock ‘n’ roll and if you don’t blink, you might catch a bit of country in there. Although the musicians work separately, the band gets together for weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, circumcisions, and gigs such as this one. Most members have appeared at the club several times in almost as many bands, but the band is making its third appearance here.

Members (providing nobody gets the plague before they appear):

Stuart Battle (v), Roger Keay (t/s). Richard Smith (g), Ian Wheatley (g), Steve Peters (p), Al Harris (b), Keith Chaplin (d)

Kevin Grenfell (Trombone) is a first-class trombonist with a great sense of humour.  He has put together a fine all-star band, including guest stars, touring in the area.  Whomever joins Kevin and Jeremy on this gig is sure to deliver an entertaining, high octane, harmonious and enjoyable afternoon.

The Ben Holder Trio is a stellar line-up of incredible musicians, blending an energetic mix of traditional jazz and swing with Ben's own infectious originals, which hark back to the fun and swing of the 1920s and 1930s. The group is one of the most exciting trios to emerge in recent years. Led by the fiery enthusiasm of 26-year-old Ben Holder, who not only wows on violin but also on the keys, the trio is strengthened by the phenomenal Jez Cook on guitar, and the suave talent of Paul Jefferies on double bass.

The Ben Holder Trio masterfully mix old jazz favourites with some more recent material and leave audiences up and down the country shouting for more.

The Washboard Resonators hail from Leeds in England and can be described as sounding and looking like ‘a ragtime street band meets a Hollywood musical on a theatre stage somewhere in around 1932’. Their favorite performers include the jazz, ragtime, hokum, blues, comedy and vaudeville sounds of Louis Armstrong, Blind Boy Fuller, Fred Astaire, The Washboard Rhythm Kings, Robert Johnson, Gene Krupa, Max Miller, George Formby, Tampa Red and The Memphis Band. The spirit of these long gone artists and their music is summoned back to life every time Martyn and Jack take the stage with their mixture of old traditional songs and new songs written by the band. Formed in 2014, they started out busking while playing together in blues trio Leeds City Stompers. Word spread and quickly the duo was in demand, playing many times per week.

Jack Amblin (washboard, drums, percussion, jug, sings and tap-dances). Martyn Roper (guitar, banjo, ukulele, jug and vocals).

The Eagle Jazz Band founded in 1951 delighted audiences worldwide for an amazing fifty-four years, one of the oldest formed bands in the UK. The band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s.  Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer Tim Jones has added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required, along with Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone drums vibes).

The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features. Whatever we play, the major priority is to entertain the audience but to always maintain a high standard of musicianship and presentation.

The band has established itself as one of the most respected and entertaining outfits on the British jazz scene, with their adventurous and eclectic repertoire gaining plaudits wherever they perform. Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends have recently headlined at Upton On Severn Jazz Festival, Pershore Jazz Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Bromyard Music Festival, Jazz On a Summer’s Day in Blisworth, Wellingborough Jazz Festival, Wantage Jazz Club, Olney Jazz Club, Carlton Music Festival and at The Spice of Life Jazz Club, one of London’s top jazz venues. The band comprise of Tad Newton (trombone/vocal), Alan Haughton (piano), Ronnie Fenn (drums), Tomas Pedersen (bass), Mike Wills (reeds) and one of London's top young jazz players as a special guest Lester Brown (trumpet/flugelhorn). This poses to be a fantastic session, one that will be remembered for many weeks to come.

Steve “Big Man“ Clayton was born in Birmingham and is a highly gifted piano player and singer. After finishing his classical studies, he decided to dedicate his musical life to his love of blues piano, and has remained true to himself and blues piano for over 40 years. His own compositions demonstrate his love for this music; a mixture of blues, boogie woogie, gospel and rock and roll, are all available to hear on 11 CD´s.

He presents himself on the stage totally relaxed and with great humour, although from the very first note, the audience realize that Steve “Big Man” Clayton is a very serious artist, an artist of the highest calibre, an artist that is very much keeping the art of blues piano alive and kicking!

The “Big Man” will be accompanied by the wonderful Howard Smith on drums and backing vocals plus the superb upright bass playing of Simon Smith & mind blower Terry Roberts on Sax.

With 40 years of experience as a professional jazz and blues pianist and band leader, John Beckingham has drawn together a group of highly experienced musicians and vocalists from some wonderfully diverse performance backgrounds - from blues, street jazz and traditional jazz to West End musical theatre.They all have in common a passion for the popular music of the 1920s to the early 1950s, including Jazz Standards, Swing, Latin, Blues, The Great American Songbook and the movie & musical theatre numbers of the era. The band consists of John Beckingham: Piano and vocals, Gilly Leeper: Vocals, Phil Probert: Guitar Banjo and vocals, Keith Tolley: Double Bass and vocals, John Caplin: Saxophones and vocals, and Graham Twist: Drums.

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon.

Scarlette's Serenaders are named after Mike Owen's daughter, their repertoire includes jazz standards, old popular songs, and pretty much any songs they happen to like on the day itself!
A quartet from the Midlands in the New Orleans style of playing dance hall music which is great for dancing to, as well as listening to.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day.

“Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to"

       Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. 

Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

At present, we are planning our jazz sessions as business as usual.  We are following our Governments advice regarding this pandemic.

Indoor gatherings of 100+ people are currently not restricted.  However, we are expecting a further Government announcement early next week.

All changes will be reflected on our website, and a message will be on the jazz club landline 024 7640 3120.

Even if we are meeting as usual, please act responsibly to help to slow the spread of this virus by staying away.

If you have;

• A sore throat
• A cough
• A temperature / fever / chills

Or, you have been in close contact with someone at home or work with;

• A sore throat
• A cough
• A temperature / fever / chills

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND JAZZ,  SELF ISOLATE FOR 7 DAYS AND GET MEDICAL HELP THROUGH 111, IF REQUIRED

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material.

The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour. Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenomenally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass.

Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠 

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine 024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! 

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine tel:024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine tel:024 7640 3120. Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine tel:024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine tel:024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

🦠 CANCELLED JAZZ 🦠

🦠 DUE TO 🦠 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 🦠

Please be advised that, given the current government advice regarding action of ‘social distancing’, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, that all Jazzamatazz gigs are cancelled until further notice.

I will continue to monitor the government strategy on a week to week basis.  

All changes to our jazz programme will be reflected on our website, Facebook page and on our land line answering machine tel:024 7640 3120.  Please check weekly as to if the forthcoming gig is going ahead or not.

Our thoughts remain with the artists and bar staff who have lost their income overnight.

Let’s hope normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

Address; Eastern Green Social Club, Church Lane, Coventry, CV5 7BX between 12:30 - 15:00

Kevin Grenfell (Trombone) is a first-class trombonist with a great sense of humour.  He has put together a fine all-star band, including guest stars, touring in the area.  Joining Kevin for this date is our club favourite Jeremy Huggett who has graced our stage and dazzled us with his musicality on many occasions.  Whomever joins Kevin and Jeremy on this gig is sure to deliver an entertaining, high octane, harmonious and enjoyable afternoon.

The Washboard Resonators hail from Leeds in England and can be described as sounding and looking like ‘a ragtime street band meets a Hollywood musical on a theatre stage somewhere in around 1932’. Their favorite performers include the jazz, ragtime, hokum, blues, comedy and vaudeville sounds of Louis Armstrong, Blind Boy Fuller, Fred Astaire, The Washboard Rhythm Kings, Robert Johnson, Gene Krupa, Max Miller, George Formby, Tampa Red and The Memphis Band. The spirit of these long gone artists and their music is summoned back to life every time Martyn and Jack take the stage with their mixture of old traditional songs and new songs written by the band. Formed in 2014, they started out busking while playing together in blues trio Leeds City Stompers. Word spread and quickly the duo was in demand, playing many times per week.

Jack Amblin (washboard, drums, percussion, jug, sings and tap-dances). Martyn Roper (guitar, banjo, ukulele, jug and vocals).

The man from No 10 (BORIS).......he says YES!!! We can go ahead!

Seats should be booked in advance.

A special concert dedicated to the great jazz influences, composers and players featured with jazz luminaries such as Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Johnny Hodges, Lester Young.

Gary Wood [trumpet/flugelhorn/vocals] Tad Newton [trombone/vocals]
Sue Greenway (reeds) Tomas Pedersen [ bass]
Dave Browning [piano] Ronnie Fenn [drums]

Eastern Green Social Club, Church Lane, Coventry, CV5 7BX

For an afternoon of terrific jazz, head to The Eastern Green Club, where you'll be welcomed warmly by the Jazzamatazz folks.

£10.00 admission, plus raffle.

CANCELLED DUE TO COVENTRY MOVING INTO TIER 2 CoViD 19 RESTRICTIONS FROM MIDNIGHT FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER.

Jazz would be impossible to organise safely within these guidelines.  Watch this space for updates on re-starting.

The Jazzaholics continue a tradition that has been decades in the making. In the days before The Beatles became famous, Trad Jazz was in the charts and it fuelled a youth movement that danced, enjoyed and learned about the American music of the 1920's-40s. They branded it Traditional Jazz. The bands of Acker Bilk (Stranger On The Shore), Kenny Ball (Midnight In Moscow) and The Temperance Seven (You're Driving Me Crazy) sold millions and set the scene for the bands that followed. The Beatles started out as a young band that played the interval set for Acker Bilk at The Cavern Club (which was a jazz club back then) in Liverpool before they hit the big time in 1964. Heady days indeed.

The Jazzaholics have a lineage to that musical tradition.  Formed by banjoist Jim McIntosh in 2007, he was a former member of the popular UK jazz band Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars.  ​The Jazzaholics gets the audience's attention from the word go! With a lively repertoire of music from jazz giants King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Kid Ory, George Lewis, Gospel/Spiritual numbers and New Orleans brass band parade tunes also included in our repertoire. The Jazzaholics are full of vitality and musicality - they guarantee a fantastic traditional jazz experience for all.

The Jazzaholics maintain a traditional format of six musicians. Finley Milne (Trumpet), George Simmonds (Trombone *not pictured), Karl Hird (Sax/Clarinet), Baby Jools (Drums), Sean Moyses (Banjo) and   Jim Swinnerton (Double Bass).

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s.  Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire.  Drummer Tim Jones has added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required, along with Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone drums vibes).  The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts.  The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features.  All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals. Whatever we play, the major priority is to entertain the audience but to always maintain a high standard of musicianship and presentation.

Led by Jeremy Huggett on Piano & Vocals the Jazz & Boogie Band does exactly what it says on the tin by playing all your Jazz & Boogie favourites.

The current line-up features some of the UK’s top musicians:-
Jeremy Huggett – piano & vocals
Alex Clarke – saxophones
Kevin Grenfell – trombone, trumpet & vocals
Simon Smith – double bass
Alex Goodyear – drums

This lively and swinging band is great for both listening and dancing, and is guaranteed to give us a foot tapping session of Jazz & Boogie.

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards, and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021, Alex is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile young reeds players emerging on the British jazz scene. Praised for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, she brings a youthful, intuitive approach which sounds authentic in a variety of musical settings from New Orleans through to bebop. Alex's sound is steeped in the tradition of jazz; her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in a melodic approach reminiscent of Scott Hamilton and Lester Young. For this afternoon’s session, she will be joined by highly popular Midlands musicians Jez Cook (guitar), Paul Jefferies (bass) and Nick Millward (drums). Expect an afternoon of high-energy swing, featuring a broad programme of mainstream standards through to New Orleans spirituals & British Trad.

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band.  They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire.  Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band!  Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing!  One of the clubs' favourites.

The band has established itself as one of the most respected and entertaining outfits on the British jazz scene, with their adventurous and eclectic repertoire gaining plaudits wherever they perform. Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends have recently headlined at Upton On Severn Jazz Festival, Pershore Jazz Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Bromyard Music Festival, Jazz On a Summer’s Day in Blisworth, Wellingborough Jazz Festival, Wantage Jazz Club, Olney Jazz Club, Carlton Music Festival and at The Spice of Life Jazz Club, one of London’s top jazz venues.  The band comprise of Tad Newton (trombone/vocal), Alan Haughton (piano), Ronnie Fenn (drums), Al Swainger (bass), Richard Exall (reeds) and one of London's top young jazz players as a special guest Lester Brown (trumpet/flugelhorn).  This poses to be a fantastic session, one that will be remembered for many weeks to come.

NB This session will be 12:00 - 13:00 & 13:30 - 14:30 (due to venue availability)

The Dragons started life as Johnny Everett’s Red Dragons.  Since the very sad passing of John, Barbara, his late wife has kept his memory alive in the music he played and loved.

There are four original members of the Dragon Band; John Bodenham (clarinet & soprano sax) who started his jazz career 60 years ago with the Side Stream Jazzband.  Ron Smith (drums) who has comprehensive drumming experience, he came to jazz late, after playing Country & Western and Rock’n’Roll.   He has played alongside Jazz Salon Rouge and The Allsorts in the past.  Permanently at his side in the band is Mark Johnson (double bass & sousaphone).  Other regulars are Dave Deakin (trombone) who started his musical career in silver bands; he joined the Dragons in 2012.  The two ‘new boys’ are the enthusiastic Peter Roberts (banjo), who has played banjo and sung in folk and jazz groups since the '60's with many bands, including Jazz Salon Rouge & Dene River Jazzmen.  John Stone (trumpet) joined the Dragons after supporting Johnny through his illness. Ex- Denise Lawrence’s Storeyville Tickle, he’s been a muso on trumpet and bass for 67 years.

The style of the band is best described as Dixieland. There are items from the ‘Trad’ repertoire but their developing repertoire also features some more unusual items from the Golden Era of jazz.

Jazz Sans Frontières had its origins in a trio, playing mainly for high-budget weddings. Its popularity led to the expansion into the six-piece you hear today. Led by ex-Harlem Bob Caldwell on reeds, with trumpet ace Dave Leithead, we have Avo Avison on trombone. Banjo & guitar are played by John Irwin, bass by Chris Newnham ( both from the “core” trio) and drums by Keith Chaplin. The music is broad-spectrum traditional jazz with many excursions into the mainstream field.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!

One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Amended times for this gig 12:00 - 13:00 & 13:15 - 14:15 (apologies for this change but out of our control)

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.
Signing to one of the UK's most prestigious Jazz labels ‘Lake Records’ they recorded albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' essentially recording all live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. Four albums released in five years; ‘Cotton Mouth’, ‘Next Stop!’ ‘Everythin's Jake’ and ‘Break a Leg’ all met with rave reviews;​
"A masterpiece of nostalgic music. The band display real virtuosity and create a wonderful sound that will be hard for any other band to repeat"  Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended"  Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity. Very enjoyable, very listenable"  Blues & Rhythm
"A wonderful album. Expert musicianship and superb arrangements"  Fatea
"Good time music from a good-time group"  The Jazz Rag​
January 2020 saw the release of album number 6, 'Goodbye Booze' which commemorates 100 years since the start of the American prohibition, again released on the Green Bullet label. ​
The line up is:
Duncan Wilcox (Vocals & Double Bass)
Neil Hulse (Vocals & Guitar)
Liam Ward (Vocals, Harmonica, Jug & Stomp Box)
Bryony-Rose (Vocals & Washboard)

The Jazzaholics continue a tradition that has been decades in the making. In the days before The Beatles became famous, Trad Jazz was in the charts and it fuelled a youth movement that danced, enjoyed and learned about the American music of the 1920's-40s. They branded it Traditional Jazz. The bands of Acker Bilk (Stranger On The Shore), Kenny Ball (Midnight In Moscow) and The Temperance Seven (You're Driving Me Crazy) sold millions and set the scene for the bands that followed. The Beatles started out as a young band that played the interval set for Acker Bilk at The Cavern Club (which was a jazz club back then) in Liverpool before they hit the big time in 1964. Heady days indeed.

The Jazzaholics have a lineage to that musical tradition.  Formed by banjoist Jim McIntosh in 2007, he was a former member of the popular UK jazz band Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars.  ​The Jazzaholics gets the audience's attention from the word go! With a lively repertoire of music from jazz giants King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Kid Ory, George Lewis, Gospel/Spiritual numbers and New Orleans brass band parade tunes also included in our repertoire. The Jazzaholics are full of vitality and musicality - they guarantee a fantastic traditional jazz experience for all.

The Jazzaholics maintain a traditional format of six musicians. Finley Milne (Trumpet), George Simmonds (Trombone *not pictured), Karl Hird (Sax/Clarinet), Baby Jools (Drums), Sean Moyses (Banjo) and   Jim Swinnerton (Double Bass).

This highly popular and talented band is comprised of leading musicians in their field each of whom have a long standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz.

With a high standard of musicianship and a touch of humour the band will provide first class entertainment.  Their music is drawn mainly from popular composers and date from a period of between 1900 and 1950 in a Traditional style along with numbers from the swing era including Sinatra type compositions.  The band is West Midlands / Shropshire based and covers adjacent counties that include Worcestershire, Staffordshire Herefordshire and Warwickshire with occasional excursions further afield.

Sarah relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA.  She has also joined the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally.  In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe.

Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival.  Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

Personnel of the Transatlantic Band are Sarah Spencer (reeds and vocals), Chez Chesterman (trumpet and vocals), Mike Owen (trombone and vocals), Brian Mellor (banjo, guitar and vocals), Tony Sharpe (string bass) and Jools Aldridge (drums).

The Ben Holder Trio is a stellar line-up of incredible musicians, blending an energetic mix of traditional jazz and swing with Ben's own infectious originals, which hark back to the fun and swing of the 1920s and 1930s. The group is one of the most exciting trios to emerge in recent years. Led by the fiery enthusiasm of 26-year-old Ben Holder, who not only wows on violin but also on the keys, the trio is strengthened by the phenomenal Jez Cook on guitar, and the suave talent of Paul Jefferies on double bass.

The Ben Holder Trio masterfully mix old jazz favourites with some more recent material and leave audiences up and down the country shouting for more.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day.

“Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to"

       Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. 

Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

Graham Smith’s JAZZ ALLSORTS - Allsorts of Jazz, played by Allsorts musicians, for Allsorts of tastes. This popular band, led (from the rear) by drummer Graham Smith,  features the trumpet playing of Midland jazz scene stalwart Tony Pipkin, trombonist Dave Deakin, renowned reeds man and ex-member of the Big Chris Barber Band Zoltan Sagi, Simon Smith on bass, Dave Browning on piano keyboard is noted for performing  Classic, New Orleans, Traditional, Swing and Mainstream styles of jazz music that showcase the talents of these experienced musicians too set your feet tapping or taking to the dance floor.

Scarlette's Serenaders are named after Mike Owen's daughter, their repertoire includes jazz standards, old popular songs, and pretty much any songs they happen to like on the day itself!  An excellent band hailing from the Midlands in the New Orleans style of playing dance hall music which is great for dancing to, as well as listening to.  Fantastic line up….. Mike Owen (trombone), Sarah Spencer (sax, clarinet), Spats Langham (banjo, guitar), Malcolm Sked (double bass, tuba) & Graham Smith (drums). CANT WAIT!!!

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material.

The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour.  Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented        Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass.

Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!

One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Are you looking for the best jazz and swing from the last century? The girls of Lady be Good have it covered.  From Ella Fitzgerald through to Caro Emerald, and Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble, we just love to play your favourite songs. Featuring the unforgettable vocal talents of Lynne Dawes and Joe Greaves, don't forget your dancing shoes!

The Dart Valley Stompers was formed by Jeremy in July 2005 with the aim of playing lively, exciting music in the Traditional and New Orleans styles of jazz.  Since its formation the band has proved to be hugely successful with a strong following throughout the UK.  The Dart Valley Stompers is one of the most popular and busiest bands in the country regularly performing to capacity audiences at Jazz Clubs and Festivals both in the UK and abroad.  The front line features Jeremy Huggett on tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet & vocals, Graham Trevarton on trumpet & vocals, and Kevin Grenfell on trombone & vocals. The hard-driving rhythm section includes Howard Williams on banjo & guitar, Keith Tolley on double bass and Chris Stockings on drums. The band’s repertoire is firmly rooted in traditional & New Orleans jazz and is guaranteed to get your feet tapping and stomping – definitely a band not to be missed!

The Jazzaholics continue a tradition that has been decades in the making. In the days before The Beatles became famous, Trad Jazz was in the charts and it fuelled a youth movement that danced, enjoyed and learned about the American music of the 1920's-40s. They branded it Traditional Jazz. The bands of Acker Bilk (Stranger On The Shore), Kenny Ball (Midnight In Moscow) and The Temperance Seven (You're Driving Me Crazy) sold millions and set the scene for the bands that followed. The Beatles started out as a young band that played the interval set for Acker Bilk at The Cavern Club (which was a jazz club back then) in Liverpool before they hit the big time in 1964. Heady days indeed.

The Jazzaholics have a lineage to that musical tradition.  Formed by banjoist Jim McIntosh in 2007, he was a former member of the popular UK jazz band Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars.  ​The Jazzaholics gets the audience's attention from the word go! With a lively repertoire of music from jazz giants King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Kid Ory, George Lewis, Gospel/Spiritual numbers and New Orleans brass band parade tunes also included in our repertoire. The Jazzaholics are full of vitality and musicality - they guarantee a fantastic traditional jazz experience for all.

The Jazzaholics maintain a traditional format of five musicians. Kevin Grenfell  (Trombone), Karl Hird (Sax/Clarinet), Baby Jools (Drums), Warren James (Banjo) and   Jim Swinnerton (Double Bass).

Cadillac Xpress is the newest band to drive into town playing a mixture of Jazz, Jump Jive & Swing and some Rock & Roll favourites.

Led by Jeremy Huggett on saxes, keyboards & vocals the band features Kevin Grenfell (trombone, trumpet & vocals), Luke Adams (guitar), Simon Smith (bass) and Alex Goodyear (drums).

The exciting, lively sound and the versatility of the band appeals to audiences of all ages making Cadillac Xpress one of the most popular bands in the UK and ideal for both listening & dancing.

They brought the house down at the last Bude Jazz Festival so make sure you come along and hitch a ride with Cadillac Xpress.

Saxarama is lead by club favourite Jeremy Huggett on saxophones and vocals. Alongside him in the frontline is Alex Clarke on saxophones.

Jeremy and Alex first played together at the headline session of the Old Duke Jazz Festival in Bristol in August 2019. Such was the positive feedback of the crowd that they’re going to join forces once again.

They’ll be backed by a fantastic swinging rhythm section of Rich Hughes (piano), Simon Smith (Bass) and (drums).

With a saxalicious repertoire that’s great for listening and dancing this is a session not to be missed!

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band.  They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire.  Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band!  Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.

As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing!  One of the clubs favourites.

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists.

This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones).

In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano).  Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

The band has established itself as one of the most respected and entertaining outfits on the British jazz scene, with their adventurous and eclectic repertoire gaining plaudits wherever they perform. Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends have recently headlined at Upton On Severn Jazz Festival, Pershore Jazz Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Bromyard Music Festival, Jazz On a Summer’s Day in Blisworth, Wellingborough Jazz Festival, Wantage Jazz Club, Olney Jazz Club, Carlton Music Festival and at The Spice of Life Jazz Club, one of London’s top jazz venues.  The band comprise of Tad Newton (trombone/vocal), Alan Haughton (piano), Graham Smith (drums), Tomas Pedersen (bass), Mike Wills (reeds) and Gary Wood (trumpet/flugelhorn).  This poses to be a fantastic session, one that will be remembered for many weeks to come.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day.

“Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to"  Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. 

Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

This band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s.  Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire.  Drummer Tim Jones has added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required, along with Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone drums vibes).  The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts.  The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features.  All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals. Whatever we play, the major priority is to entertain the audience but to always maintain a high standard of musicianship and presentation.

Jazz Buddies came about when Birmingham trumpeter Arthur Brown was asked to put a band together at twenty-four hours notice to appear at his local jazz club, the Northfield CEM, (now known as the Quarry Sports & Social Club). By pure luck famed trombonist Mike Owen had returned to the UK just days before and was looking for gigs, Arthur also secured the services of Brian Mellor (banjo & guitar), Dennis Mowatt (bass), Tim Jones (drums) and Matt Palmer (reeds). It was one those great moments when the band just ‘clicked’ from the word go and it was decided this couldn’t be left as a ‘one off’, the band secured a monthly residency at the CEM which continued for several years and they also appeared at many leading jazz venues.  Many things have changed since then but the band still perform occasionally with the current line-up of Arthur Brown (trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax), Pete Robinson (banjo & guitar), John Gibson (drums) and Simon Smith (bass).  The Buddies present a eclectic selection of traditional favourites ranging from early American jazz classics to hits from the “British Trad Boom”.

The history of of band is this; Stan Stevens (Trombone), Alan Jones (Drums), Dave Johnson (Bass), Ian Dalziel (Banjo), Dave Wood (Reeds) were for many years’ members of the New Georgia Jazz Band run by the cornet player Dave Smith. Dave left the band at the end of 2016 having moved to Wales, and Ian the Banjo player decided to retire. We recruited another but very different Dave Smith on Banjo and rebranded ourselves as New Orleans Bump and stayed as a 5 piece, playing our first gig in 2017. Inevitably, without the usual trumpet we have a different sound to regular line-ups. Our repertoire includes many standard plus a growing number of less well known tunes.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!  One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

The Dragons started life as Johnny Everett’s Red Dragons.  Since the very sad passing of John, Barbara, his late wife has kept his memory alive in the music he played and loved.

There are four original members of the Dragon Band; John Bodenham (clarinet & soprano sax) who started his jazz career 60 years ago with the Side Stream Jazzband.  Ron Smith (drums) who has comprehensive drumming experience, he came to jazz late, after playing Country & Western and Rock’n’Roll.   He has played alongside Jazz Salon Rouge and The Allsorts in the past.  Permanently at his side in the band is Mark Johnson (double bass & sousaphone).  Other regulars are Dave Deakin (trombone) who started his musical career in silver bands; he joined the Dragons in 2012.  The two ‘new boys’ are the enthusiastic Peter Roberts (banjo), who has played banjo and sung in folk and jazz groups since the '60's with many bands, including Jazz Salon Rouge & Dene River Jazzmen.  John Stone (trumpet) joined the Dragons after supporting Johnny through his illness. Ex- Denise Lawrence’s Storeyville Tickle, he’s been a muso on trumpet and bass for 67 years.

The style of the band is best described as Dixieland. There are items from the ‘Trad’ repertoire but their developing repertoire also features some more unusual items from the Golden Era of jazz.

Due to power failure at Eastern Green, The Jake Leg Jug Band will now be performing at the Solihull venue.

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.

Signing to one of the UK's most prestigious Jazz labels ‘Lake Records’ they recorded albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' essentially recording all live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. Four albums released in five years; ‘Cotton Mouth’, ‘Next Stop!’ ‘Everythin's Jake’ and ‘Break a Leg’ all met with rave reviews;​
"A masterpiece of nostalgic music. The band display real virtuosity and create a wonderful sound that will be hard for any other band to repeat"  Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended"  Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity. Very enjoyable, very listenable"  Blues & Rhythm
"A wonderful album. Expert musicianship and superb arrangements"  Fatea
"Good time music from a good-time group"  The Jazz Rag.

January 2020 saw the release of album number 6, 'Goodbye Booze' which commemorates 100 years since the start of the American prohibition, again released on the Green Bullet label.
​
The line up is:
Duncan Wilcox (vocals & double Bass)
Neil Hulse (vocals & guitar)
Liam Ward (vocals, harmonica, jug & stomp box)
Bryony-Rose (vocals & washboard)
Alex Clarke (clarinet & saxes)
Jack Tasker (banjo, mandolin and vocals)

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists.

This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones).

In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano).  Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band.  They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire.  Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band!  Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.

As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing!  One of the clubs favourites.

Sarah Spencer relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA.  She has also joined the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally.  In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe.

Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival.  Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

Personnel of the Transatlantic Band are Sarah Spencer (reeds and vocals), 'Magic' Mike Henry (trumpet and vocals), Rob Pearce (trombone and vocals), Hugh Crozier (piano), Jim Swinnerton (string bass) and Jools Aldridge (drums).

Graham Smith's Jazz Allsorts, Allsorts of jazz, played by Allsorts musicians, for Allsorts of tastes. This popular band, led (from the rear) by drummer Graham Smith,  features the trumpet playing of Midland jazz scene stalwart Tony Pipkin, trombonist Dave Deakin, renowned reeds man and ex-member of the Big Chris Barber Band Zoltan Sagi, Simon Smith on bass, Dave Browning on piano keyboard is noted for performing  Classic, New Orleans, Traditional, Swing and Mainstream styles of jazz music that showcase the talents of these experienced musicians too set your feet tapping or taking to the dance floor.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

The Ben Holder Trio is a stellar line-up of incredible musicians, blending an energetic mix of traditional jazz and swing with Ben's own infectious originals, which hark back to the fun and swing of the 1920s and 1930s. The group is one of the most exciting trios to emerge in recent years. Led by the fiery enthusiasm of 26-year-old Ben Holder, who not only wows on violin but also on the keys, the trio is strengthened by the phenomenal Jez Cook on guitar, and the suave talent of Paul Jefferies on double bass.

The Ben Holder Trio masterfully mix old jazz favourites with some more recent material and leave audiences up and down the country shouting for more.

GIG CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES

Thrill to the comedic antics of early film comedy stars, including Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd in an entertaining session of mirth and music for the entire family.

Few people have experienced the art form that ushered in the movie industry that we now take for granted.  The silent film era lasted from 1895 to 1927.  A silent film was without synchronized recorded sound or spoken dialogue.  In silent films the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, mime and title cards with a written indication of the plot or key dialogue.  This is a unique opportunity for movie fans of all ages to experience vintage entertainment and learn more about the genre.  Car chases, stunts, suspense and romance await you as Jeff weaves his musical magic from scene to scene.  An unforgettable session of education, entertainment and above all, LAUGHTER!

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day.

“Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to"  Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. 

Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

This highly popular and talented band is comprised of leading musicians in their field each of whom have a long standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz.

With a high standard of musicianship and a touch of humour the band will provide first class entertainment.  Their music is drawn mainly from popular composers and date from a period of between 1900 and 1950 in a Traditional style along with numbers from the swing era including Sinatra type compositions.  The band is West Midlands / Shropshire based and covers adjacent counties that include Worcestershire, Staffordshire Herefordshire and Warwickshire with occasional excursions further afield.

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards, and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021, Alex is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile young reeds players emerging on the British jazz scene. Praised for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, she brings a youthful, intuitive approach which sounds authentic in a variety of musical settings from New Orleans through to bebop. Alex's sound is steeped in the tradition of jazz; her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in a melodic approach reminiscent of Scott Hamilton and Lester Young. For this afternoon’s session, she will be joined by highly popular Midlands musicians Jez Cook (guitar), Paul Jefferies (bass) and Steve Street (drums). Expect an afternoon of high-energy swing, featuring a broad programme of mainstream standards through to New Orleans spirituals & British Trad.

The Dragons started life as Johnny Everett’s Red Dragons.  Since the very sad passing of John, Barbara, his late wife has kept his memory alive in the music he played and loved.  There are four original members of the Dragon Band; John Bodenham (clarinet & soprano sax) who started his jazz career 60 years ago with the Side Stream Jazzband.  Ron Smith (drums) who has comprehensive drumming experience, he came to jazz late, after playing Country & Western and Rock’n’Roll.   He has played alongside Jazz Salon Rouge and The Allsorts in the past.  Permanently at his side in the band is Mark Johnson (double bass & sousaphone).  Other regulars are Dave Deakin (trombone) who started his musical career in silver bands; he joined the Dragons in 2012.  The two ‘new boys’ are the enthusiastic Peter Roberts (banjo), who has played banjo and sung in folk and jazz groups since the '60's with many bands, including Jazz Salon Rouge & Dene River Jazzmen.  John Stone (trumpet) joined the Dragons after supporting Johnny through his illness. Ex- Denise Lawrence’s Storeyville Tickle, he’s been a muso on trumpet and bass for 67 years.  The style of the band is best described as Dixieland. There are items from the ‘Trad’ repertoire but their developing repertoire also features some more unusual items from the Golden Era of jazz.

The Jazzaholics continue a tradition that has been decades in the making. In the days before The Beatles became famous, Trad Jazz was in the charts and it fuelled a youth movement that danced, enjoyed and learned about the American music of the 1920's-40s. They branded it Traditional Jazz. The bands of Acker Bilk (Stranger On The Shore), Kenny Ball (Midnight In Moscow) and The Temperance Seven (You're Driving Me Crazy) sold millions and set the scene for the bands that followed. The Beatles started out as a young band that played the interval set for Acker Bilk at The Cavern Club (which was a jazz club back then) in Liverpool before they hit the big time in 1964. Heady days indeed.  The Jazzaholics have a lineage to that musical tradition.  Formed by banjoist Jim McIntosh in 2007, he was a former member of the popular UK jazz band Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars.  ​The Jazzaholics gets the audience's attention from the word go! With a lively repertoire of music from jazz giants King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Kid Ory, George Lewis, Gospel/Spiritual numbers and New Orleans brass band parade tunes also included in our repertoire. The Jazzaholics are full of vitality and musicality - they guarantee a fantastic traditional jazz experience for all.  The Jazzaholics maintain a traditional format of six musicians. ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (Trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (Trombone), Karl Hird (Sax/Clarinet), Baby Jools (Drums), Warren James (Banjo) and ‘Lord’ Jim Swinnerton (Double Bass).

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!  One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Scarlette's Serenaders are named after Mike Owen's daughter, their repertoire includes jazz standards, old popular songs, and pretty much any songs they happen to like on the day itself!  A quartet from the Midlands in the New Orleans style of playing dance hall music which is great for dancing to, as well as listening to.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band.  They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire.  Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band!  Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  A s the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing!  One of the clubs favourites.

Sweet and Hot have always gone down a storm, so it was a no-brainer when Jeff & Anne approached the club for a re-booking in this year’s programme.  We are always pleased to give Jeff & Anne Barnhart a warm welcome to our club and we look forward to an eclectic mixture of fantastic jazz, a huge dose of humour and an inexhaustible supply of historical chat and anecdotes.  The band as before will feature Jeff Barnhart on piano, Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals, Graham Smith on the vintage drum kit and Tom ‘Spats’ Langham on banjo and guitar.

We have taken the decision to go ahead with the Swing Kings session tomorrow. As a mark of respect of the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, you may wear black to honour her life, dedication of service and commitment to our country and the commonwealth. RIEP Your Royal Highness.

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists.  This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones).  In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano).  Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.  Signing to one of the UK's most prestigious Jazz labels ‘Lake Records’ they recorded albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' essentially recording all live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. Four albums released in five years; ‘Cotton Mouth’, ‘Next Stop!’ ‘Everythin's Jake’ and ‘Break a Leg’ all met with rave reviews;​
"A masterpiece of nostalgic music. The band display real virtuosity and create a wonderful sound that will be hard for any other band to repeat"  Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended"  Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity. Very enjoyable, very listenable"  Blues & Rhythm
"A wonderful album. Expert musicianship and superb arrangements"  Fatea
"Good time music from a good-time group"  The Jazz Rag
​January 2020 saw the release of album number 6, 'Goodbye Booze' which commemorates 100 years since the start of the American prohibition, again released on the Green Bullet label.  The line up is: Duncan Wilcox (vocals & double Bass), Neil Hulse (vocals & guitar), Liam Ward (vocals, harmonica, jug & stomp box), Bryony-Rose (vocals & washboard), Alex Clarke (clarinet & saxes) &  Jack Tasker (banjo, mandolin and vocals)

Led by Gethin Liddington (trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals) and featuring Ceri Rees (clarinet and sax) , Richard West (piano), Robin Hames (Bass) and Greg Evans (drums).  All busy professional musicians based in South Wales, and performing all around the UK.  This band plays a great mix of Dixieland and mainstream jazz with big an emphasis on swing!

The Jazzaholics continue a tradition that has been decades in the making. In the days before The Beatles became famous, Trad Jazz was in the charts and it fuelled a youth movement that danced, enjoyed and learned about the American music of the 1920's-40s. They branded it Traditional Jazz. The bands of Acker Bilk (Stranger On The Shore), Kenny Ball (Midnight In Moscow) and The Temperance Seven (You're Driving Me Crazy) sold millions and set the scene for the bands that followed. The Beatles started out as a young band that played the interval set for Acker Bilk at The Cavern Club (which was a jazz club back then) in Liverpool before they hit the big time in 1964. Heady days indeed.  The Jazzaholics have a lineage to that musical tradition.  Formed by banjoist Jim McIntosh in 2007, he was a former member of the popular UK jazz band Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars.  ​The Jazzaholics gets the audience's attention from the word go! With a lively repertoire of music from jazz giants King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Kid Ory, George Lewis, Gospel/Spiritual numbers and New Orleans brass band parade tunes also included in our repertoire. The Jazzaholics are full of vitality and musicality - they guarantee a fantastic traditional jazz experience for all.  The Jazzaholics maintain a traditional format of six musicians. ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (Trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (Trombone), Karl Hird (Sax/Clarinet), Baby Jools (Drums), Warren James (Banjo) and ‘Lord’ Jim Swinnerton (Double Bass).

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material.  The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour.  Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass.  Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

The Washboard Resonators hail from Leeds in England and can be described as sounding and looking like ‘a ragtime street band meets a Hollywood musical on a theatre stage somewhere in around 1932’.  Their favourite performers include the jazz, ragtime, hokum, blues, comedy and vaudeville sounds of Louis Armstrong, Blind Boy Fuller, Fred Astaire, The Washboard Rhythm Kings, Robert Johnson, Gene Krupa, Max Miller, George Formby, Tampa Red and The Memphis Jug Band.  The spirit of these long gone artists and their music is summoned back to life every time Martyn and Jack take the stage with their mixture of old traditional songs and new songs written by the band.  Formed in 2014 they started out busking while playing together in blues trio Leeds City Stompers. Word spread and quickly the duo was in demand, playing many times per week. This lead to many major festivals and shows such as The Great British R&B Festival and Upton Jazz Festival as well as completing tours of the whole of the UK every spring and winter.

Kevin Grenfell is back with his Jazz Friends!  All of Kevin’s fine musicians have appeared at our jazz club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with his Jazz Friends, of whom they are!  No name, no pack drill applies!  The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

Jazz Buddies came about when Birmingham trumpeter Arthur Brown was asked to put a band together at twenty-four hours notice to appear at his local jazz club, the Northfield CEM, (now known as the Quarry Sports & Social Club). By pure luck famed trombonist Mike Owen had returned to the UK just days before and was looking for gigs, Arthur also secured the services of Brian Mellor (banjo & guitar), Dennis Mowatt (bass), Tim Jones (drums) and Matt Palmer (reeds). It was one those great moments when the band just ‘clicked’ from the word go and it was decided this couldn’t be left as a ‘one off’, the band secured a monthly residency at the CEM which continued for several years and they also appeared at many leading jazz venues.  Many things have changed since then but the band still perform occasionally with the current line-up of Arthur Brown (trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax), Pete Robinson (banjo & guitar), John Gibson (drums) and Simon Smith (bass).  The Buddies present a eclectic selection of traditional favourites ranging from early American jazz classics to hits from the “British Trad Boom”.

With 40 years of experience as a professional jazz and blues pianist and band leader, John Beckingham has drawn together a group of highly experienced musicians and vocalists from some wonderfully diverse performance backgrounds - from blues, street jazz and traditional jazz to West End musical theatre.  They all have in common a passion for the popular music of the 1920s to the early 1950s, including Jazz Standards, Swing, Latin, Blues, The Great American Songbook and the movie & musical theatre numbers of the era.  The band consists of John Beckingham (Piano and vocals), Gilly Leeper (Vocals) Phil Probert (Guitar Banjo and vocals) Keith Tolley (Double Bass and vocals) John Caplin (Saxophones and vocals) and Graham Twist (Drums).

Kevin Grenfell is back with his Jazz Friends!  All of Kevin’s fine musicians have appeared at our jazz club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with his Jazz Friends, of whom they are!  No name, no pack drill applies!  The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

The story and songs of Lonnie Donegan's rise to fame as the "King of Skiffle", Britain's most inspirational pop star before the Beatles.  From the banjo player with Chris Barber and Ken Colyers' Jazz Bands to the heights of international success.  Lonnie achieved over 30 top chart entries in 4 years.  This great show features all of Lonnie's major hits as well as a salute to the jazz legends Chris Barber, Ken Colyer and Beryl Bryden.  Warren James (banjo, guitar & vocals), Baby Jools (drums) & ‘Lord’ Jim Swinnerton (double bass).

There is never a shortage of fun, excitement and raw good music whenever the Savannah Jazz Band takes the stage.  The Savannah is one of the most popular UK bands around.  With their talent for satisfying listeners and dancers alike, they have built up a truly international reputation at major festivals in the UK and overseas.  The band's driving and exciting New Orleans style attracts large audiences whenever they play.  They have travelled, to Holland, Germany, Denmark. Finland, Majorca, Canada and all parts of the UK, delighting new audiences and collecting loyal supporters along the way.  The band's reputation has not suddenly emerged; it has been hard earned and well-deserved for nearly 4 decades.  Formed in 1979, The Savannah started their swinging Thursday night sessions at the Station Tavern at the railway station in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.  The Savannah Jazz Band is as much a musicians' band as it is a magnet for its impressive number of loyal fans.  The band has a varied and ever changing program, and is constantly adding new numbers to their extremely wide repertoire. The Savannah Jazz Band is never predictable!  This is a dynamic band, a hard working band, and a truly professional band. Long may they play!

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old.  He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'.  A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop.  By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique.  Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham.  But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities!  One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums and a guest on the frontline TBC.  Carl ALWAYS makes a splash at our club, I am sure our Christmas Party will go off with a BANG with Carl at the helm.

The famous vintage big band grew out of the Dud Clews Orchestra, in the Coventry/Rugby area in the early 1980s, led by the late trombonist Paul Munnery.  The band gained fame, playing all over the UK and on the continent.  They were most notably the original band for the theatre show “A NIGHT AT THE COTTON CLUB" Paul Munnery sadly passed away in 2019, and had told his friend and fellow trombonist Bob Hunt, that he could “have" the band.  The Lockdown gave Bob the opportunity to think about this, and together with original Harlem lead alto and arranger Zoltan Sagi, they reformed the band.  Using many of the original arrangements by Zoltan, together with arrangements by Bob from his highly successful “Duke Ellington Orchestra" and the “Charleston Chasers", Harlem lives and breathes once more!  Adding an extra dimension to the band, Ellington scholar Michael Kilpatrick has contributed to the repertoire with exact copies of Ellington hits from 1928 - 1938, taken from the original handwritten scores and parts from the Smithsonian Institute in D.C.  The band features: Trumpets: Enrico Tomaso, Wil Robinson, Charlie Manning Trombones: Bob Hunt, Graham Woodhouse Clarinets/saxes: Zoltan Sagi (ss, as), Michael Kilpatrick (as, bs), Richard Exall (ts) Piano: Art Toper, Banjo/guitar: Rachel Hayward, John Irwin Bass: Graham Read Drums: Richard Pite. Superb vocals and narration by the one, the only…….Sarah Spencer

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material. The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour. Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass. Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

This highly popular and talented band is comprised of leading musicians in their field each of whom have a long standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz.  With a high standard of musicianship and a touch of humour the band will provide first class entertainment.  Their music is drawn mainly from popular composers and date from a period of between 1900 and 1950 in a Traditional style along with numbers from the swing era including Sinatra type compositions.  The band is West Midlands / Shropshire based and covers adjacent counties that include Worcestershire, Staffordshire Herefordshire and Warwickshire with occasional excursions further afield.

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. Signing to one of the UK's most prestigious Jazz labels ‘Lake Records’ they recorded albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' essentially recording all live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. Four albums released in five years; ‘Cotton Mouth’, ‘Next Stop!’ ‘Everythin's Jake’ and ‘Break a Leg’ all met with rave reviews;
"A masterpiece of nostalgic music. The band display real virtuosity and create a wonderful sound that will be hard for any other band to repeat" Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended" Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity. Very enjoyable, very listenable" Blues & Rhythm
"A wonderful album. Expert musicianship and superb arrangements" Fatea
"Good time music from a good-time group" The Jazz Rag
January 2020 saw the release of album number 6, 'Goodbye Booze' which commemorates 100 years since the start of the American prohibition, again released on the Green Bullet label.
The line up is: Duncan Wilcox (Vocals & Double Bass), Neil Hulse (Vocals & Guitar), Liam Ward (Vocals, Harmonica, Jug & Stomp Box), Bryony-Rose (Vocals & Washboard) & Alex Clarke (clarinet & saxes)

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day. “Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to" Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Andy Henderson (trumpet & vocal).

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon.  Baby Jools (drums), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Magic Mike Henry (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Warren James (banjo and guitars).

When Sarah Spencer first started on the UK jazz scene, she used to go and sit in with the Bill Brunskill Band and that’s where she and Bob Hunt met. They’ve been firm friends ever since. Although they never did a full gig together back then, when Bob told her that he wanted to get back to playing some true New Orleans jazz of the great Revival period of that music, they decided to put a band together to be able to that, including the wonderful New Orleans trumpet of Brian Bates. This is that band. And, as a special treat, they’ve brought Spats Langham back to his New Orleans roots.  Brian Bates – trumpet, Bob Hunt – trombone, Sarah Spencer – reeds, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham – banjo, Malcolm Sked – string bass & Jim Denham - drums

JG Jazz And Swing are a small unit swing band that play tunes and songs from the classic swing eras. The band features ‘JB’ himself, John Beckingham, on piano and vocals. John has worked extensively in the UK and Europe and has a number of TV and recording credits. John is ably supported by Gilly Leeper a vocalist who after a successful career as a singer and actress on the stage in London returned to Gloucestershire to seek a band that could backdrop her talents. Also with John and Gilly are Diane Arthurs (Sax), Paul Arthurs (drums), and Keith Tolley on upright bass. Together they are five fine musicians certain to give you a tasteful and enjoyable experience at our club.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day. “Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to" Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

The story and songs of Lonnie Donegan's rise to fame as the "King of Skiffle", Britain's most inspirational pop star before the Beatles. From the banjo player with Chris Barber and Ken Colyers' Jazz Bands to the heights of international success. Lonnie achieved over 30 top chart entries in 4 years. This great show features all of Lonnie's major hits as well as a salute to the jazz legends Chris Barber, Ken Colyer and Beryl Bryden.

The Roaring Twenties will give you an evening of entertainment from the era of beautiful fashions, elegant celebrities, flappers, gangsters and last but by no means least, Hot Jazz. Tunes from bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Wolverines and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings are all part of the bands repertoire. Added to this are the classis songs from the era, sung by Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith in the blues and vaudeville styles. The band that recreate the ‘roaring twenties’ are Simon James, trumpet; David Hepworth clarinet / saxophone; Andy Bramall, banjo / guitar; Liz Hepworth, double bass, Rob Cotterell, drums; and featuring vocalist Suzanne James.

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists. This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones). In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano). Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band. They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire. Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band! Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few. As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing! One of the clubs favourites.

John Hallam has been playing the clarinet since the age of 14 followed soon after by the alto saxophone and flute. He gained experience with a military bands, a dance band but also formed a jazz band whilst still at school. Under his musical belt, among other experience is, a twenty-one year stint with the Smoky City Jazzband and included playing alongside Humphrey Lyttelton, George Melly, George Chisholm, Joe Harriot, Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Stephane Grappelli, Roy Williams, John Barnes, Peter Schilperoort, Dick Wellstood, Danny Moss and many more. During this time the band played at a number of festivals in Europe and did many broadcasts on radio and T.V.

Amy Roberts was voted winner of the Miscellaneous Category in the 2015 British Jazz Awards, and the Rising Star Category in the British Jazz Awards in both 2009 and 2011, Amy has earned an enviable reputation throughout not only the UK but also abroad. She has worked in prestigious venues and festivals all over the UK and across Europe and has become known on the jazz circuit as a charismatic performer. Amy currently leads several bands which feature some of the most exciting musicians on the jazz scene. She also regularly makes guest appearances with other highly acclaimed ensembles and internationally celebrated orchestras. Fuse these two talents together, and you have a musical performance with serious saxappeal!

This band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s. Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer Tim Jones has added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required, along with Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone drums vibes). The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features. All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals. Whatever we play, the major priority is to entertain the audience but to always maintain a high standard of musicianship and presentation.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old. He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'. A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop. By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique. Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham. But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities! One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. Signing to one of the UK's most prestigious Jazz labels ‘Lake Records’ they recorded albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' essentially recording all live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. Four albums released in five years; ‘Cotton Mouth’, ‘Next Stop!’ ‘Everythin's Jake’ and ‘Break a Leg’ all met with rave reviews;
"A masterpiece of nostalgic music. The band display real virtuosity and create a wonderful sound that will be hard for any other band to repeat" Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended" Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity. Very enjoyable, very listenable" Blues & Rhythm
"A wonderful album. Expert musicianship and superb arrangements" Fatea
"Good time music from a good-time group" The Jazz Rag
January 2020 saw the release of album number 6, 'Goodbye Booze' which commemorates 100 years since the start of the American prohibition, again released on the Green Bullet label.
The line up is: Duncan Wilcox (Vocals & Double Bass), Neil Hulse (Vocals & Guitar), Liam Ward (Vocals, Harmonica, Jug & Stomp Box), Bryony-Rose (Vocals & Washboard) & Alex Clarke (clarinet & saxes)

The Pedigree Jazz Band are a real tribute to Trad Jazz. Chris Walker (reeds), Tony Mann (Trombone), Andy Chislett (Trumpet), John Noddings (Banjo & Guitar), Ken Ames or Mike Bennett (double bass) and Sy Gorlick (drums).

Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters, is named as a tribute to Paula’s husband, Brian Masters - one of Britain’s finest jazz banjoists. The band is made up of great musicians and great friends - ‘we enjoy our music and enjoy our time together. When a band has fun, you can guarantee the audience will too.’ We play Dixieland jazz from its roots in New Orleans through to its heyday during the British Trad boom.’ Paula Jackman – clarinet and saxes (soprano, alto, C melody and tenor), ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (Trumpet), Bob Alcoe (Trombone), Hugh Crozier (Piano), Marc Easener (Sousaphone), Graham Collicott (Drums & Washboard).

Kevin Grenfell is back with his Jazz Friends! All of Kevin’s fine musicians have appeared at our jazz club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with his Jazz Friends, of whom they are! No name, no pack drill applies! The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

Led by Gethin Liddington (trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals) and featuring Richard Exall (clarinet and sax), Richard West (piano), Bill Coleman(Bass) and Jack Amblin (drums). All busy professional musicians based in South Wales, and performing all around the UK. This band plays a great mix of Dixieland and mainstream jazz with big an emphasis on swing!

Sarah relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA. She has also joined the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally. In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe. Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival. Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, J B Jazz is unable to play on this date.  But, you won’t be disappointed…… Warren James is stepping forward to bring us his ‘Hit Parade Heroes’, ladies and gentlemen this is one NOT TO MISS!

This light-hearted and foot-tapping show features the fabulous songs of Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, The Everly Brothers, Lonnie Donegan, Joe Brown, Tommy Steele, and many more hit parade heroes.

Rekindling memories of frothy-coffee bars, teddy boys, washboards, skiffle groups, jiving, and twisting to the pop legends of the day.

This wonderful show features the talented musical entertainer, host, guitar and banjo virtuoso, Warren James, in company with New Orleans drumming legend, Baby Jools and renowned bassist, Jim Swinnerton, who himself has starred in the West End and Broadway productions of “The Million Dollar Quartet” alongside Jason Donovan and Martin Kemp.

They will also feature a special guest from the world of jazz and blues.

Don't miss a great afternoon of music and variety from a theatre quality show.

In the words of Warren himself, “it’ll be a fun day”.

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon.  Baby Jools (drums), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Magic Mike Henry (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Warren James (banjo and guitars).

The story and songs of Lonnie Donegan's rise to fame as the "King of Skiffle", Britain's most inspirational pop star before the Beatles. From the banjo player with Chris Barber and Ken Colyers' Jazz Bands to the heights of international success. Lonnie achieved over 30 top chart entries in 4 years. This great show features all of Lonnie's major hits as well as a salute to the jazz legends Chris Barber, Ken Colyer and Beryl Bryden.

Jazz Buddies came about when Birmingham trumpeter Arthur Brown was asked to put a band together at twenty-four hours notice to appear at his local jazz club, the Northfield CEM, (now known as the Quarry Sports & Social Club). By pure luck famed trombonist Mike Owen had returned to the UK just days before and was looking for gigs, Arthur also secured the services of Brian Mellor (banjo & guitar), Dennis Mowatt (bass), Tim Jones (drums) and Matt Palmer (reeds). It was one those great moments when the band just ‘clicked’ from the word go and it was decided this couldn’t be left as a ‘one off’, the band secured a monthly residency at the CEM which continued for several years and they also appeared at many leading jazz venues. Many things have changed since then but the band still perform occasionally with the current line-up of Arthur Brown (trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax), Pete Robinson (banjo & guitar), John Gibson (drums) and Simon Smith (bass). The Buddies present a eclectic selection of traditional favourites ranging from early American jazz classics to hits from the “British Trad Boom”.

Lady be Good is an all-female, saxophone-filled jazz band that brings a touch of class to your event. Think classic swing and jazz from the likes of the Rat Pack, Julie London, Nina Simon and Peggy Lee, plus more modern numbers with our unique twist. With lush vocals from Kate O'Malley, plus a guest male singer for duets if the occasion calls for it. and a very funky upright bass you've probably never seen or heard anything like Lady Be Good before. Perfect music to get your guests up on the dancefloor and keep them there, without overpowering those who just want to sit and tap their feet at the back.

Having known each other and played together for over 30 years, Sarah and Bob decided that they actually ought to play a full gig together! This is a band formed to play New Orleans Revival jazz and celebrate long friendships.  Brian Bates - trumpet, Sarah Spencer - reeds, Bob Hunt - trombone, John Irwin - banjo, Howard Worthington - string bass, Jim Denham - drums.

The Roaring Twenties will give you an evening of entertainment from the era of beautiful fashions, elegant celebrities, flappers, gangsters and last but by no means least, Hot Jazz. Tunes from bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Wolverines and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings are all part of the bands repertoire. Added to this are the classis songs from the era, sung by Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith in the blues and vaudeville styles. The band that recreate the ‘roaring twenties’ are Simon James, trumpet; David Hepworth clarinet / saxophone; Andy Bramall, banjo / guitar; Liz Hepworth, double bass, Rob Cotterell, drums; and featuring vocalist Suzanne James.

Kevin Grenfell is back with his Jazz Friends! All of Kevin’s fine musicians have appeared at our jazz club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with his Jazz Friends, of whom they are! No name, no pack drill applies! The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material. The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour. Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass. Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day. “Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to" Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn & vocal).

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band. They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire. Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band! Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few. As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing! One of the clubs favourites.

Sarah relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA. She has also joined the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally. In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe. Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival. Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

The stellar line up for this musical extravaganza is
Jeremy Huggett on piano & vocals, Alex Clarke on saxes, Kevin Grenfell on trombone and stupid jokes, Simon Smith on double bass and Steve Street on drums. 

Should be a good one, be there or be square!

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists. This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones). In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Roger Heath (double bass) and Rod Kelly (piano). Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

The Washboard Resonators hail from Leeds in England and can be described as sounding and looking like ‘a ragtime street band meets a Hollywood musical on a theatre stage somewhere in around 1932’. Their favourite performers include the jazz, ragtime, hokum, blues, comedy and vaudeville sounds of Louis Armstrong, Blind Boy Fuller, Fred Astaire, The Washboard Rhythm Kings, Robert Johnson, Gene Krupa, Max Miller, George Formby, Tampa Red and The Memphis Jug Band. The spirit of these long gone artists and their music is summoned back to life every time Martyn and Jack take the stage with their mixture of old traditional songs and new songs written by the band. Formed in 2014 they started out busking while playing together in blues trio Leeds City Stompers. Word spread and quickly the duo was in demand, playing many times per week. This lead to many major festivals and shows such as The Great British R&B Festival and Upton Jazz Festival as well as completing tours of the whole of the UK every spring and winter.

Jazz Buddies came about when Birmingham trumpeter Arthur Brown was asked to put a band together at twenty-four hours notice to appear at his local jazz club, the Northfield CEM, (now known as the Quarry Sports & Social Club). By pure luck famed trombonist Mike Owen had returned to the UK just days before and was looking for gigs, Arthur also secured the services of Brian Mellor (banjo & guitar), Dennis Mowatt (bass), Tim Jones (drums) and Matt Palmer (reeds). It was one those great moments when the band just ‘clicked’ from the word go and it was decided this couldn’t be left as a ‘one off’, the band secured a monthly residency at the CEM which continued for several years and they also appeared at many leading jazz venues. Many things have changed since then but the band still perform occasionally with the current line-up of Arthur Brown (trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax), Pete Robinson (banjo & guitar), John Gibson (drums) and Simon Smith (bass). The Buddies present a eclectic selection of traditional favourites ranging from early American jazz classics to hits from the “British Trad Boom”.

John Hallam has been playing the clarinet since the age of 14 followed soon after by the alto saxophone and flute. He gained experience with a military bands, a dance band but also formed a jazz band whilst still at school. Under his musical belt, among other experience is, a twenty-one year stint with the Smoky City Jazzband and included playing alongside Humphrey Lyttelton, George Melly, George Chisholm, Joe Harriot, Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Stephane Grappelli, Roy Williams, John Barnes, Peter Schilperoort, Dick Wellstood, Danny Moss and many more. During this time the band played at a number of festivals in Europe and did many broadcasts on radio and T.V.

Amy Roberts was voted winner of the Miscellaneous Category in the 2015 British Jazz Awards, and the Rising Star Category in the British Jazz Awards in both 2009 and 2011, Amy has earned an enviable reputation throughout not only the UK but also abroad. She has worked in prestigious venues and festivals all over the UK and across Europe and has become known on the jazz circuit as a charismatic performer. Amy currently leads several bands which feature some of the most exciting musicians on the jazz scene. She also regularly makes guest appearances with other highly acclaimed ensembles and internationally celebrated orchestras. Fuse these two talents together, and you have a musical performance with serious saxappeal!

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old. He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'. A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop. By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique. Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham. But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities! One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

“Chanson Swing” features the vocal talents of Sophie-Jayne Holder along with her husband Ben Holder on piano. As their name suggests there will be plenty of popular French 'Chansons', swinging jazz standards and a pinch of Spanish “Canción”! As a skilled linguist who spent a long time living in Europe, as well as being a classical flautist, Sophie-Jayne lends her musical ear and language fluency to beautiful chansons like La Vie En Rose, Hymn A L'Amour & La Mer, with Ben on piano adding an air of excitable energy to jazzy swing tunes from Gershwin, Porter & Carmichael to name but a few. For this show double bassist extraordinaire, Paul Jefferies joins “Chanson Swing” adding a rocksteady swinging bass, to make for an incredibly swinging jazz trio! An afternoon of swing, beautiful jazz ballads and chansons awaits!

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon.  Baby Jools (drums), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Magic Mike Henry (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Warren James (banjo and guitars).

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. After self-releasing their debut album, the band signed to one of the UK's top independent Jazz labels, recording 3 albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' - essentially recording live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. A further three albums were released in the last four years on the Green Bullet record label including their first ever live album. 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the band and saw them play 100 gigs, taking in dates from Scotland to Cornwall and South Wales to Suffolk. 2023 is the bands busiest ever year and they bring their latest live show to promote their latest album Hello Central.
​
"A masterpiece of nostalgic music" Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended" Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity" Blues & Rhythm
"Good time music from a good-time group" The Jazz Rag
"Pick any track at random and prepare to be entertained " RnR
"the album shows the tightness of a band that have spent many years on the road" Fatea​
"A fine feast of good-time music" Blues News (Norway)
“The band mesh together like a well-oiled machine. Smokin’!” Spiral Earth​
“Pretty damn good!” Blues Matters

The line up is:  Duncan Wilcox (Vocals & Double Bass), Liam Ward (Vocals, Harmonica, Jug, Saw, Washboard & Kazoo), Warren James (Vocals & Banjo) plus a host of guest musicians.

Jon Stone’s Syncopators are made u of some of jazz’s jewels in the British Jazz Crown! George Huxley, soprano sax, clarinet - one of The Midlands’ best kept secrets! George has been playing for over 70 years and is still wowing audiences with his soaring soprano.  Terry McGrath is an ex-Art teacher and multi-instrumentalist, he plays trombone, saxes and sousaphone. Terry has a jazz rich history with Zenith Hot Stompers, Tommy Burton Quartet, Ken Ingram Syncopators, Ben Cohen Hot 7. Brian Mellor, guitar and banjo, ex Bob Wallis' Storyville Jazzmen, Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band and Max Collie's Rhythm Aces, and a member of the renowned Zenith Hot Stompers who he joined in 1972. He has recorded with Humphrey Lyttelton, Chris Barber and Wally Fawkes. John Edgar is really good at making omelettes in Ab. He also plays the sousaphone excellently in many jazz bands including Sauce City Jazzband and Jazz-á-Jo-Jo. Dave Andrews is a veteran drummer of many Midlands jazz outfits including The Sauce City Jazzband, New Orleans Bump and the like and band leader Jon Stone on trumpet. Another ex-teacher (don’t forget your homework, tie and blazer!. He has played for Denise Lawrence’s band, The Big Bear Stompers, Rascals of Rhythm, The Dragons, Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends, and Gemini.

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon. Baby Jools (drums), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), 'Magic' Mike Henry (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Warren James (banjo and guitars).

Following the success of Warren James and his telling of The Lonnie Donegan Story we are delighted to invite the band back to perform for us a more broad and varied selection of songs that had England swinning throughout the 1950s Skiffle Boom. As well as 'The King of Skiffle', Lonnie Donegan, the Skiffle Boom also prouduced hit records such as Freight Train for Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey, Last Train to San Fernando for Johnny Duncan, as well as hits for The Vipers, including Don't You Rock Me Daddio, Cotton Fields and Maggie Maggie May. Many jazz stars of the day had their own skiffle groups, including, Chris Barber, Ray Bush, The Avon Cities Skiffle Group and the City Ramblers. Skiffle was the launch pad for an entire generation of musician, many became jazz players, many went on to influence the 60s folk revival, whilst many more became the pop stars and hit makers of the 50s and 60s. Come and experience the music that was once described as "The Poor Man's Jazz" and "Britain's Jug Band Craze" but will always be "The Music that Made Britain Swing".

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day. “Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to" Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Andy Henderson (trumpet & vocal).

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material. The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour. Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass. Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

Louis Louis Louis are a 4-piece band from Leeds, originally formed in 2011 as a tribute to Louis Prima and Louis Jordan. Over the years, they have extended their repertoire somewhat, and have become specialists in vintage vocal-harmony music, including swing, jump blues, doo wop, rocksteady and soul.

The Amy Roberts/Richard Exall Quintet features two of the most exciting and versatile musicians on the jazz scene today. Both multi-instrumentalists, they perform an eclectic range of high octane music on a range of clarinets, saxophones and flute. With inspiration drawn from the all-time heroes of reed players, Amy Roberts and Richard Exall perform well crafted arrangements that pay homage to Johnny Hodges, Lester Young, Earl Bostic, Benny Goodman, Eddie 'Lockjaw" Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker and many more. Together, Richard Exall and Amy Roberts have produced a product that successfully crosses the traditional divides of the jazz world, performing melodic and intricate arrangements that wow audiences and appeal to listeners of all styles of music. The Quintet were voted "Band of the Year" at the end of 2014 by Rochdale Jazz Society, and have continued to go from strength to strength! One particular highlight was their tour to Sweden which included performances at the Hallevik Jazz Festival to sell-out crowds. Amy and Richard have recorded 2 albums together, "Why Not", and most recently, "Hodge-Stic".

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band. They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire. Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band! Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing! One of the clubs favourites.

Gethin Liddington studied classical trumpet with Terence Lax at Welsh College of Music abd Drama from 1989 - 1993. Since graduating he has mainly worked in jazz and commercial music. He has performed widely in collaborations including Keith Tippetts' Tapestry, The Paul Dunmall Octet and Big Band, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Back to Basie, Blue Harlem, Welsh National Opera, Jeff Hooper, Catrina Finch, Katherine Jenkins, Keith Nicholls, Alex Mendham Orchestra. He has performed for TV and radio and has recorded and given performances at many major festivals throughout Europe and is a jazz tutor at RWCMD. Gethin will be performing for us as part of his star line-up Trio. One not to be missed, Geth always puts on a very good show!

Formed last year as an inspiration to get Rob Cotterell and Wil Robinson together again, on one of our Jazzamatazz gigs.  The dastardly duo will be joined by our club favourites, Richard Exall and Andy Bramall with a new face to us (and the warmest of welcomes to) Al Harris on double bass.

These fabulous musicians all bring a wealth of experience from a wide range of musical influences to culminate into an extravaganza of jazz.  This one will be a gig not to miss!

Richard Exall (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Al Harris (bass & vocal) & Wil Robinson (trumpet, & vocal).

On a gig with the Harlem Jazz Orchestra, Zoltan and Sarah were talking and Zoltan said that he wanted to play a New Orleans Revival-style gig with himself and Sarah. Inspired, Sarah has formed a band of some of the best musicians in the UK who play in that idiom. She decided to highlight the 2-reed front line and go without a trumpet player but, instead, have Mike Owen join them, which makes the band about as authentic in the New Orleans dance hall style as possible.

Sarah Spencer - reeds, Zoltan Sagi - reeds, Mike Owen - trombone, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

Kevin Grenfell is back with his Danish Jazz Friends this time! All of Kevin’s fine musicians have appeared at our jazz club over the years in different bands and under several names, this time they come together and appear with his Jazz Friends, of whom they are! No name, no pack drill applies! The Jazz Friends play a mixture of Traditional & Mainstream Jazz with a hint of Blues so there’s going to be something for everyone – this is definitely a session not to be missed!

The Roaring Twenties will give you an evening of entertainment from the era of beautiful fashions, elegant celebrities, flappers, gangsters and last but by no means least, Hot Jazz. Tunes from bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Wolverines and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings are all part of the bands repertoire. Added to this are the classis songs from the era, sung by Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith in the blues and vaudeville styles. The band that recreate the ‘roaring twenties’ are Simon James, trumpet; David Hepworth clarinet / saxophone; Andy Bramall, banjo / guitar; Liz Hepworth, double bass, Rob Cotterell, drums; and featuring vocalist Suzanne James.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old. He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'. A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop. By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique. Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham. But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities! One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

Sauce City Jazz is a traditional “Dixieland” Jazz Band that plays in and around Worcestershire and the Midlands. We play at a wide range of events including weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Barbecues and even Funerals but also Jazz Evenings, Dances, Summer Park events, Jazz Festivals and “Jazz in the Church” events. Sauce City Jazz was formed in 1992 in Claines, Worcestershire by a group of friends who got together to welcome a local soldier home from the Gulf War. A fun evening soon evolved into a six piece jazz band, now approaching its thirtieth year. Our line up is Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Banjo, String Bass and Drums, playing acoustically or amplified as the occasion demands. Our numbers include a wide range of traditional and popular jazz classics, which will lend a real party atmosphere to special events!

Sweet and Hot have always gone down a storm, so it was a no-brainer when Jeff & Anne approached the club for a re-booking in this year’s programme. We are always pleased to give Jeff & Anne Barnhart a warm welcome to our club and we look forward to an eclectic mixture of fantastic jazz, a huge dose of humour and an inexhaustible supply of historical chat and anecdotes. The band as before will feature Jeff Barnhart on piano and vocals, Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals, Graham Smith on the vintage drum kit and Tom ‘Spats’ Langham on banjo, guitar, jazz anecdotes, education and vocals.

For many years Dave Wood (Reeds) and Stan Stephens (trombone) were members of the New Georgia Jazz Band run by cornet player Dave Smith. Dave Smith left the band in 2016 as he moved to Wales. This left the band without a cornet, it was decided to stay as a five piece and they rebranded their selves as New Orleans Bump (the title of a Jelly Roll Morton tune).  Inevitably, without the usual cornet/trumpet, we have a different, rather more gentle sound to regular line-ups but our repertoire includes many standards plus a growing number of lesser-known tunes. Vocals from Stan and Dave are a regular feature and we are regularly booked at clubs that enjoy dancing.  The Covid lockdown brought about another complete change to the rhythm section which is now made up of Sarah Thatcher (banjo/guitar), Spike Kennedy (bass) and Dave Andrews (drums).

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists. This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones). In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Jim Sutton (string bass) and Bill Hayes (piano). Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

Gethin Liddington studied classical trumpet with Terence Lax at Welsh College of Music abd Drama from 1989 - 1993. Since graduating he has mainly worked in jazz and commercial music. He has performed widely in collaborations including Keith Tippetts' Tapestry, The Paul Dunmall Octet and Big Band, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Back to Basie, Blue Harlem, Welsh National Opera, Jeff Hooper, Catrina Finch, Katherine Jenkins, Keith Nicholls, Alex Mendham Orchestra. He has performed for TV and radio and has recorded and given performances at many major festivals throughout Europe and is a jazz tutor at RWCMD. Gethin will be performing for us as part of his star line-up Trio. One not to be missed, Geth always puts on a very good show!

The stellar line-up for this musical extravaganza is Jeremy Huggett (piano & vocals), Alex Clarke (saxes), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Simon Smith (double bass) and Steve Street (drums).The stellar line-up for this musical extravaganza is Jeremy Huggett (piano & vocals), Alex Clarke (saxes), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Simon Smith (double bass) and Steve Street (drums).

CALYPSO MOON are a UK-based jazz band with a passion for the music of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, made famous by stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Doris Day. CALYPSO MOON are Eleanor Dattani, Lydia Glanville and Amy Coates. ELEANOR DATTANI is a seasoned vocalist and songwriter. She has performed with many bands over the years, including festival heavyweights The Electric Swing Circus, with whom she performed at Glastonbury, Bestival, Womad, Shambala and Secret Garden Party, as well as touring internationally. Songs she has co-written and sang on have been played on BBC Radio 6 Music, and have millions of Spotify plays and YouTube views. After a break from music which involved having a baby during a global pandemic, Eleanor has returned to the mic to lead her own band - the incredible Calypso Moon! LYDIA GLANVILLE, Calypso Moon’s drummer, has had an exciting career gracing stages such as Glastonbury, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, The Barbican and Birmingham Town Hall. She has toured the UK and Europe extensively with many artists and groups, including Boat to Row, John Southworth, Gren Bartley, Kate Doubleday and Jipsy. She has performed live on BBC Radio 6 Music and recordings she has played on have been featured on the One Show. Playing with Calypso Moon allows Lydia the opportunity to revisit the types of music which she loved as a young musician whilst studying at Birmingham Conservative. AMY COATES is a badass jazz bassist and super-talented arranger in very high-demand! Having recently graduated from the University of Birmingham, this year she has performed at Birmingham Symphony Hall and Mostly Jazz Festival to name a few, and performs regularly with many different acts on the Birmingham jazz scene. We are certainly lucky to have such an exciting young talent in Calypso Moon!

On a gig with the Harlem Jazz Orchestra, Zoltan and Sarah were talking and Zoltan said that he wanted to play a New Orleans Revival-style gig with himself and Sarah. Inspired, Sarah has formed a band of some of the best musicians in the UK who play in that idiom. She decided to highlight the 2-reed front line and go without a trumpet player but, instead, have Mike Owen join them, which makes the band about as authentic in the New Orleans dance hall style as possible.

Sarah Spencer - reeds, Zoltan Sagi - reeds, Mike Owen - trombone, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. After self-releasing their debut album, the band signed to one of the UK's top independent Jazz labels, recording 3 albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' - essentially recording live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. A further three albums were released in the last four years on the Green Bullet record label including their first ever live album. 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the band and saw them play 100 gigs, taking in dates from Scotland to Cornwall and South Wales to Suffolk. 2023 is the bands busiest ever year and they bring their latest live show to promote their latest album Hello Central.
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"A masterpiece of nostalgic music" Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended" Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity" Blues & Rhythm
"Good time music from a good-time group" The Jazz Rag
"Pick any track at random and prepare to be entertained " RnR
"the album shows the tightness of a band that have spent many years on the road" Fatea​
"A fine feast of good-time music" Blues News (Norway)
“The band mesh together like a well-oiled machine. Smokin’!” Spiral Earth​
“Pretty damn good!” Blues Matters

The line up is:  Duncan Wilcox (Vocals & Double Bass), Liam Ward (Vocals, Harmonica, Jug, Saw, Washboard & Kazoo), Warren James (Vocals & Banjo) plus a host of guest musicians.

Following the success of Warren James and his telling of The Lonnie Donegan Story we are delighted to invite the band back to perform for us a more broad and varied selection of songs that had England swinning throughout the 1950s Skiffle Boom. As well as 'The King of Skiffle', Lonnie Donegan, the Skiffle Boom also prouduced hit records such as Freight Train for Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey, Last Train to San Fernando for Johnny Duncan, as well as hits for The Vipers, including Don't You Rock Me Daddio, Cotton Fields and Maggie Maggie May. Many jazz stars of the day had their own skiffle groups, including, Chris Barber, Ray Bush, The Avon Cities Skiffle Group and the City Ramblers. Skiffle was the launch pad for an entire generation of musician, many became jazz players, many went on to influence the 60s folk revival, whilst many more became the pop stars and hit makers of the 50s and 60s. Come and experience the music that was once described as "The Poor Man's Jazz" and "Britain's Jug Band Craze" but will always be "The Music that Made Britain Swing".

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day. “Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to" Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Andy Henderson (trumpet & vocal).

For many years Dave Wood (Reeds) and Stan Stephens (trombone) were members of the New Georgia Jazz Band run by cornet player Dave Smith. Dave Smith left the band in 2016 as he moved to Wales. This left the band without a cornet, it was decided to stay as a five piece and they rebranded their selves as New Orleans Bump (the title of a Jelly Roll Morton tune).
Inevitably, without the usual cornet/trumpet, we have a different, rather more gentle sound to regular line-ups but our repertoire includes many standards plus a growing number of lesser-known tunes. Vocals from Stan and Dave are a regular feature and we are regularly booked at clubs that enjoy dancing.
The Covid lockdown brought about another complete change to the rhythm section which is now made up of Sarah Thatcher (banjo/guitar), Spike Kennedy (bass) and Dave Andrews (drums).

Sarah relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA. Sarah worked for a while for the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally. In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe. Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival. Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band. They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire. Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band! Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing! One of the clubs favourites.

What actually happened here was, that Emma had a couple of dates open and asked Sarah to put a band in which wasn’t the Transatlantic Band or Sax ‘n Bone as they had enough bloomin’ gigs.  Sarah called Mike Owen and asked what he thought they could do and should call a new band…. he suggested a name that he’s had on the back burner for a while…….Forming a 5-piece lineup that would be more New Orleans Revival-style, Sarah has formed the Mississippi Mudbugs (with gratitude to Mike Owen for the band name).  It has a 2-piece front line and a powerhouse rhythm section and plays the music of the New Orleans dance halls.

Mike Owen - trombone, Sarah Spencer - reeds, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material. The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour. Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass. Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

Following the UK's Skiffle music boom of 1956 kids became known as 'teenagers' and for the first time had a music that they could call their own. Many who cut their teeth in Skiffle Groups now began exchanging their washboards for drums, their tea chest bass for an proper electric bass and their old banjos for real guitars as their own musical tastes widened to the sounds across the Atlantic Ocean. It was in 1958 that Buddy Holly brought the first Fender Stratocaster guitar into the UK and from then on the door was wide open for the magnificent and energetic sounds of America to shake up old blighty forever. A new breed of music hero now dominated the British Hit Parade - with home grown talent such as Tommy Steele, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donegan, Adam Faith and Marty Wild and many other American stars such as Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, The Everly Brothers and more. Enjoy 2 hours of musical nostalgia with Warren James as he remembers his Hit Parade Heroes.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

Saxarama is lead by club favourite Jeremy Huggett on saxophones and vocals. Alongside him in the frontline is Alex Clarke on saxophones. Jeremy and Alex first played together at the headline session of the Old Duke Jazz Festival in Bristol in August 2019. Such was the positive feedback of the crowd that they’re going to join forces once again. They’ll be backed by a fantastic swinging rhythm section of Rich Hughes (piano), Simon Smith (Bass) and (drums). With a saxalicious repertoire that’s great for listening and dancing this is a session not to be missed!

The Pedigree Jazz Band are a real tribute to Trad Jazz. Chris Walker (reeds), Andy Chislett (Trumpet), John Noddings (Banjo & Guitar), Ken Ames or Mike Bennett (double bass) and Sy Gorlick (drums).

Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters, is made up of great musicians and great friends - ‘we enjoy our music and enjoy our time together. When a band has fun, you can guarantee the audience will too.’ We play Dixieland jazz from its roots in New Orleans through to its heyday during the British Trad boom.’ Paula Jackman – clarinet and saxes (soprano, alto, C melody and tenor), ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (cornet), Alistair Allan (Trombone), Hugh Crozier (Piano and vocals), ‘Lord’ Marc Easener (Sousaphone), Graham Collicott (Drums & Washboard).

The Roaring Twenties will give you an evening of entertainment from the era of beautiful fashions, elegant celebrities, flappers, gangsters and last but by no means least, Hot Jazz. Tunes from bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Wolverines and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings are all part of the bands repertoire. Added to this are the classis songs from the era, sung by Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith in the blues and vaudeville styles. The band that recreate the ‘roaring twenties’ are Simon James, trumpet; David Hepworth clarinet / saxophone; Andy Bramall, banjo / guitar; Liz Hepworth, double bass, Rob Cotterell, drums; and featuring vocalist Suzanne James.

Jazz Buddies came about when Birmingham trumpeter Arthur Brown was asked to put a band together at twenty-four hours notice to appear at his local jazz club, the Northfield CEM, (now known as the Quarry Sports & Social Club). By pure luck famed trombonist Mike Owen had returned to the UK just days before and was looking for gigs, Arthur also secured the services of Brian Mellor (banjo & guitar), Dennis Mowatt (bass), Tim Jones (drums) and Matt Palmer (reeds). It was one those great moments when the band just ‘clicked’ from the word go and it was decided this couldn’t be left as a ‘one off’, the band secured a monthly residency at the CEM which continued for several years and they also appeared at many leading jazz venues. Many things have changed since then but the band still perform occasionally with the current line-up of Arthur Brown (trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax), Pete Robinson (banjo & guitar), John Gibson (drums) and Simon Smith (bass). The Buddies present a eclectic selection of traditional favourites ranging from early American jazz classics to hits from the “British Trad Boom”.

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon. Baby Jools (drums), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), 'Magic' Mike Henry (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Warren James (banjo and guitars).

Following the UK's Skiffle music boom of 1956 kids became known as 'teenagers' and for the first time had a music that they could call their own. Many who cut their teeth in Skiffle Groups now began exchanging their washboards for drums, their tea chest bass for an proper electric bass and their old banjos for real guitars as their own musical tastes widened to the sounds across the Atlantic Ocean. It was in 1958 that Buddy Holly brought the first Fender Stratocaster guitar into the UK and from then on the door was wide open for the magnificent and energetic sounds of America to shake up old blighty forever. A new breed of music hero now dominated the British Hit Parade - with home grown talent such as Tommy Steele, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donegan, Adam Faith and Marty Wild and many other American stars such as Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, The Everly Brothers and more. Enjoy 2 hours of musical nostalgia with Warren James as he remembers his Hit Parade Heroes.

Louis Louis Louis are a 4-piece band from Leeds, originally formed in 2011 as a tribute to Louis Prima and Louis Jordan. Over the years, they have extended their repertoire somewhat, and have become specialists in vintage vocal-harmony music, including swing, jump blues, doo wop, rocksteady and soul.

This band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s. Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer Tim Jones has  added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required, along with Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone drums vibes).The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features. All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals. Whatever we play, the major priority is to entertain the audience but to always maintain a high standard of musicianship and presentation. The Eagle Jazz Band have made their mark in several UK jazz clubs and at society functions where they are equally at home.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old. He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'. A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop. By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique. Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham. But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities! One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Lady be Good is an all-female, saxophone-filled jazz band that brings a touch of class to your event. Think classic swing and jazz from the likes of the Rat Pack, Julie London, Nina Simon and Peggy Lee, plus more modern numbers with our unique twist. Lady Be Good have it all covered, featuring the vocal talents of Lynn Dawes and Joe Greaves.  From Ella Fitzgerald through to Frank Sinatra. Lady Be Good just love to play your favourite songs. Perfect music to get your guests up on the dancefloor and keep them there, without overpowering those who just want to sit and tap their feet at the back. Don't forget your dancing shoes! Expect some Christmassy classics.

What actually happened here was, that Emma had a couple of dates open and asked Sarah to put a band in which wasn’t the Transatlantic Band or Sax ‘n Bone as they had enough bloomin’ gigs.  Sarah called Mike Owen and asked what he thought they could do and should call a new band…. he suggested a name that he’s had on the back burner for a while…….Forming a 5-piece lineup that would be more New Orleans Revival-style, Sarah has formed the Mississippi Mudbugs (with gratitude to Mike Owen for the band name).  It has a 2-piece front line and a powerhouse rhythm section and plays the music of the New Orleans dance halls.

Mike Owen - trombone, Sarah Spencer - reeds, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters, is made up of great musicians and great friends - ‘we enjoy our music and enjoy our time together. When a band has fun, you can guarantee the audience will too.’ We play Dixieland jazz from its roots in New Orleans through to its heyday during the British Trad boom.’ Paula Jackman – clarinet and saxes (soprano, alto, C melody and tenor), ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (cornet), Alistair Allan (Trombone), Hugh Crozier (Piano and vocals), ‘Lord’ Marc Easener (Sousaphone), Graham Collicott (Drums & Washboard).