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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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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!