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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. 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 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)

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.

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.

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 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

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!

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”.

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!