Trad. Jazz Radio

Cambell Burnap passes.

2008-06-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

From Mike Pointon comes this sad news;-
This morning, following a short illness, Campbell Burnap died.
I had a long association with Campbell, which more or less started with the Legends of American Dixieland Tour in 1989, with Wild Bill Davison and Art Hodes. Campbell was featured on most of the dates on what became the last tour both the American octogenarians. He was a fine jazz singer with a magnificent voice and in my view he could have had a career as a singer had he been so inclined. As well as his trombone playing career in such top UK bands as Terry Lightfoot’s and Acker Bilk’s, Campbell’s warm, rich voice, combined with his passion and knowledge for swinging jazz , made him a natural choice for presenting informed and intelligent jazz shows on BBC Radio. The birth of Jazz FM in the 80s, promised much and delivered little. The station did offer a further glimpse at the skills of this fine broadcaster with his excellent show, ‘Mainstem’, which not only played great recordings from the past, but gave exposure to new CDs, which most other stations ignored. British traditional jazz has lost many legendary figures during the past year, George Melly, Dick Charlesworth, Humph and today Campbell. Somewhere in heaven there must be a hell of a jam session going on". - I first had contact with Campbell when he rang to ask for a list of NW gigs to bring a balance to his programme after we lost "Tony's Tradtime" on JazzFM. We have been in occasional contact ever since and Barbara & I were lucky to meet up with him, first at Maghull, and then at Rawtenstall' s Rhythm Station where we sat with John & Jasmine Lawrence who brought Campbell over. It was to be John's funeral when we were to meet again for the final time. In all that time he never forgot Barbara's name and always asked about her. We are deeply saddened to hear this news about a gentleman and a musician who still had a lot to give. - Fred

Humphrey blows his last note.

2008-05-28T02:05:00.000-07:00

Humphrey Lyttelton, broadcaster and jazz musician, dies aged 86Humphrey Lyttelton, the jazz musician, journalist and radiopresenter, has diedat the age of 86.Humph, as he was affectionately known, was still working and planning a tour with his band right up to his admission to hospital on 16 April for surgery torepair an aortic aneurysm. He died at 7pm this evening in BarnetHospital, north London.His admission to hospital had forced the spring series of I'm Sorry IHaven't a Clue, the Radio 4 comedy show he presented for 30 years, to becancelled earlierthis week. In an email to members of the show's fan club, its producer, Jon Naismith, had said he was "otherwise fine and in good spirits".Last month, Lyttelton had given up his role as presenter of BBC Radio 2's Bestof Jazz, saying he was leaving to "clear a space for some of my other ambitions". He had been at the helm of the show since 1967,introducing thousands of listeners to many different styles of jazz. At the time, the Radio 2 controller, Lesley Douglas, said: "Humphrey Lyttelton is not only a giant in the world of jazz, but has also remained a giant of music broadcasting for the past 40 years. The world of music broadcasting will be poorer without his weekly show."He was still touring with his eight-piece band, performing sell-out shows around the country, although his forthcoming tour had been cancelled due to his illness. Lyttelton was born on 23 May 1921 at Eton College, where his fatherwas a housemaster, and where he duly became a pupil. He first picked up atrumpet in1936 and, after spending the Second World War as an officer in the Grenadier Guards, became a pioneering figure in the British jazz scene. Onbeing demobbed from the Guards he spent two years at Camberwell Art School, an experience he later called upon when he joined the Daily Mail as a cartoonist in1949. He wenton to work as a journalist for Punch, The Field, and the British Airways magazine, Highlife. Lyttelton formed his first band in 1948 after spending a year with George Webb's Dixielanders, a band that pioneered New Orleans-style jazz in the UK. The Humphrey Lyttelton Band quickly became Britain's leading traditional jazz group, and continental tours gave them a following in Europe.In 1949, he signed a recording contract with EMI which led to a string of records in the Parlophone Super Rhythm Style series and which have become highlysought after. 1956 was a good year for Humph. Eight years earlier, at the Nice International Jazz Festival, Louis Armstrong had said of him: "That boy's comin'on," and now the King of Jazz asked Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band to open a series of shows in London for him. The same year, Lyttelton became the first musician to enter the top 20 with a British jazz record, "Bad Penny Blues", which stayed in thecharts for six weeks. By the late 1950s he was branching out, enlarging his band and experimenting with mainstream and non-traditional material, and shocking his established fans in the process. In 1959, the band made a successful tour of the United States.He was a keen amateur calligrapher and birdwatcher, and in 1984 formed his own record label, Calligraph. He composed more than 120 original songsduring his career. In 1993 he won the radio industry's highest honour, a Sony Gold Award. He also won lifetime achievement awards at the Post Office BritishJ azz Awards in 2000, and the in augural BBC Jazz Awards the following year. Lyttelton played for the younger generation too: he performed on Radiohead's track "Life in a GlassHouse" in 2000, later joining the band on stage for aconcert in Oxford. He said it was one of the most moving experiencesof his musical career. Throughout his life, keeping a sense of humour remained a priority. On announcing his death, his website carried his words: "As we journey through life, discarding baggage along the way, we should keep an iron grip,to the very end, on the capacity for silliness. It preserves the soul fromdessication."
- Sadie Gray, The Independent, London, April 26, 2008

The Dutch Swing College Band on TJR

2008-04-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

A popular saying goes: "There are two kinds of music, good music and bad music". For the true fan of good traditional jazz music the choice is simple, because there is only one Dutch Swing College Band. The Dutch Swing College Band started out as an amateur-college combo on liberation day (1945, may 5th) and through the years it has grown into a worldfamous jazz ensemble that has toured all five continents to much acclaim. The DSC played a prominent role during the post-war period. At the time many youngsters fell under the spell of the original Amerian music: jazz. The band, which has existed for more than sixty years, has given concerts all over the world and the sounds have been registered on practically all types of sound recordings since 1945. The band also appeared frequently on TV and in film productions.
Through the years many big names in jazz music were backed by the DSC, from Sidney Bechet, Joe Venuti and Rita Reys to Teddy Wilson. The expression "The Haque School" was born out of the big influence of the DSC on the Dutch jazz scene. Deservedly many jazz fans consider the DSC almost as an institution. Fortunately, the Dutch Swing College Band has never presented itself as a show or glitter orchestra. The musicians have always succeeded in capturing the public's attention with their excellent jazz performances. Cheap show tricks were absolutely out of the question. In 1960, the DSC turned professional. Throughout the music's evolution and in spite of quite a number af personnel changes (and contary to many imitators) the DSC remained the showpiece of Dutch traditional jazz music. Bob Kaper heads the current line-up, in succession to Frans Vink Jr (1945-'46), Joop Schrier (1955-'60) and Peter Schilperoort (1946-'55 and 1960-'90).
From the very beginning the most striking characteristic of the band has always been its unique and recognizable sound. In other words, no recordings of American virtuosos were ever copied: the DSC created their own interpretations, arrangements or compositions. An entirely personal approach. The current line-up of the highly experienced band has proved that the old name Dutch Swing College Band still guarantees professional performances of traditional jazz music of international standard!

The Ian Wheeler interview

2008-04-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

During a tour I did with the Best of British Jazz Gala, a special all-star line picked by a German promoter for a one week tour of Germany, I had chance to sit one afternoon with clarinet legend Ian Wheeler. We talked about his last 60 years of playing jazz.
Sean: Ian how did you get into music?
Ian: In a ‘round about way I started with stringed instruments. Ukulele first and I played a little bit of piano when I was very young, about 6 or 7 years old. That did not last for very long. The I discovered George Formby.
Sean: How did you get into clarinet from ukulele?
Ian: I went via guitar. I stopped George Formby-ing and started Josh White-ing. I really wanted to play trombone. I was playing with Charlie Connor, playing guitar and Dickie Bishop was playing banjo in the band. I was also with the Mike Jefferson Trio on guitar in about 1949/50.
Sean: This was before the trad. jazz revival then?
Ian: Yes it was, this was around East London. I used to go down to a place called the Dutch House, which had a jazz club once a week. Then there was the Red Barn at Bexley. I was about 18 or 19 year old.
Sean: What were the audiences like then?
Ian: They were Contempories really, as they still are! I eventually joined Charlie Connor, although I originally wanted to play trombone. I hadn’t been able to afford one and then the trumpet player offered to sell me a cheap high-pitched clarinet for 25 Bob. Because it was high pitched one but I put a bit of string down the centre and it lowered the pitch. If you cut the string to the right length it would go a semitone down. Charlie taught me two or three notes and then next week I was playing it in public, only the two or three notes of course, but I would back Charlie with them.
Sean: Was Charlie your teacher then?
Ian: No, he taught me the rudiments but I taught myself. We all did really, we didn’t have teachers, we’d listen to records. The only lessons I ever had were a few on guitar.
Sean: What was the first gig like?
Ian: The first professional gig I ever did was a New Years Eve with a dance-band quartet. I used to be a motorcycle nut and this trio used to come and play at our club meetings sometime. Anyway, this time they had to augment to a quartet and asked me. I played a round hole acoustic guitar and played until just past midnight and got Two pounds fifty.
Sean: So gig fees have not gone up that much then?!
Ian: Not really, but that was my first paid job.
Sean: How did your association with Ken Colyer start?
Ian: I’d met most of the guys before. I had played with my own band called the River City Jazz Band, based in S.E. London. By that time I knew most of the jazz people. It was a small scene and most people knew everybody. I’d met the Cranes and Pat Halcox and we talked about forming a band together. I was with the Mike Daniels Band; he said I wasn’t very good but showed promise! I would never have been interested in jazz had my wish of becoming a pilot come true. I suffered from ill health and I ran away to sea. A friend had left me his record collection and I started listening to jazz.
Sean: Do you remember that first record that started it off?
Ian: Yes, it was an HMV of Sidney Bechet, "Texas Moaner". That was it! I was still with the Mike Daniles Band but Pat and I were thinking of forming a band together.
Pat had been playing with the Chris Barber Band, which became the Ken Colyer Band.
Ken came back from New Orleans so Pat left. Then Ken left and formed another Band with Acker Bilk, Eddie O’Donnell and Diz Disley I think was in it. Pat Halcox was asked to join Chris Barber in the summer of ‘54 and did not want to be a chemist anymore. Meanwhile I had got into listening to George Lewis, which I was impressed with, so I started going around sitting in with Ken. I must confess that I wanted to join his band so I sort of "worked it" by being there, sitting in as much as possible. Acker decided he was going to go back to Bristol so my strategy eventually worked. Ken asked me to join and that was about four or five months after Pat joined Chris. I remember when he (Pat) was asked to join we had a long discussion together at my house with my Dad, whether or not he should do the big leap to turn professional, and my Dad said "you’re young, it won‘t hurt for a couple of years". And then the same thing happened to me when a few months later when I was asked to join Colyer.
Sean: How long were you with Ken?
Ian. 1954 until 1960, 6 years. The first gig was a residency in Germany. I actually got off the sick bed to do that! I had a bout of bronchitis or something and Acker actually did the first jobs we had booked with the band in Ireland. We did two months in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Luneberg and were the first jazz band at that time to do the German scene.
Sean: How did the German audiences differ from what you had back in London?
Ian: At that time the German audiences were businessmen, with nightclubs made up to look like jazzclubs. Ken thought it was great. We played every night, long sessions from half past eight until two the next morning, four at weekends. The way we did it was we would play three numbers, take a break and so on and then take a long break so they could sell the beer and food. We were not blowing our heads off. We all thought we had iron lips and thought we would blow everybody off the stage when we came back to England. However, our first job we did when we got back was a concert and we played for two hours. We were not used to playing that long!
Sean: How did you bump into Rod Mason?
Ian: Rod had been with Acker I think. I decided for various reasons to move to Cornwall and along with Jimmy Garforth we ran a small scuba diving company. This was in the 1970’s. I had heard of Rod and gave him a ring and he asked me to join his band. I’d been with Chris Barber for eight years by then and left him to go down to Cornwall. The first band with Rod lasted about six months when Rod went back with Acker, so I formed a local band. I was doing the scuba diving and playing a bit. Then Rod came back, having left Acker so we formed the Rod Mason-Ian Wheeler Band, which, though I say myself, was a damned good band.
Sean: Who was in the band then?
Ian: Jimmy Garforth, Chris Haskins, Dicke Bishop and then Pete Sumner, Bobby Fox, Rod and myself. We were really big in Germany and used to sing a song about how good it was to be back on the road, and we really meant it then. A big time promoter in Hamburg wanted us to be his "top" band and asked us to spend two thirds of the time in Germany but the other guys did not want that, so that was it really. Then Rod wanted to team up and form what he called the Bad Joke Band. This is when it all fell apart. He wanted to stay working in and around Plymouth so I decided that was enough and I teamed up with Keith Smith. He had been working in Denmark with Papa Bue but came down to Cornwall and we formed Hefty Jazz, which was the remnants of one of the little bands I was running down there. Hefty Jazz was only a front line. Bobby Fox, Keith Smith and myself. We would pick up a rhythm section and toured all over, East and West Germany for example. I lived in Denmark for a while too and for a few months joined a band before moving back to England. I also took a pub in Saltash for about a year that had a big music room.
Sean: So you were a promoter?
Ian: Not really, I was promoting my own band! Then Chris Barber asked me to rejoin so I did.
Sean: How long were you with Chris?
Ian: Altogether, 27 years in total.
Sean: So you know each other quite well?!
Ian: Yeah! I have a lot of respect for Chris really. He would go through a thing like doing a lot of Kurt Weil numbers. When I left the first time he was doing things like the Battersea Rain Dance and then he decided he wanted to do more New Orleans things so I rejoined. It was when Norman Emberson was on drums. When I left he started running the big band, which he is running to this day. He is very enthusiastic for anything he does and really believes in what he does. Because he is so good at business and what he does he can say "hang the rest of you" and do it, which is a nice position to be in. I do respect him.
Sean: Tell us about the favourite record that you ever made?
Ian: Oh, it was a duet with Ed Hall, High Society. The most annoying thing is that although it has been reissued four or five times, it has never said who was on it. It was with the Chris Barber band but it was just Ed and I who started it until right at the end the band comes in. It really is, to me, the epitome of what I love. It worked so well. That is really something! It was when Ed Hall came over for a two or three-week tour and we went into the recording studio and right out of the blue we just did it. It may sound terribly big headed but sometimes you can’t tell if it was Ed or me, it just worked. He took me right up there to be with him. Anyway, that is my greatest moment and most annoying.
Sean: Word has it you are bit of a genius constructing things?
Ian: It has always been my hobby, since I was about eight I’ve made flying model aircraft. So, it is a thing I can spend my spare time in. I did photography too, but it was just a craze.
Sean: What advise would you give any up and coming jazz musicians?
Ian: Exactly the same advice I gave about forty years ago…"don’t listen to me, listen to the originators!".
Sean: That sounds advise Ian, and many thanks for your time.
Sean Moyses.
http://www.seanmoyses.com/

Acker Bilk vintage rarities featured this month on TJR

2008-01-20T08:03:00.000-08:00

Bernard Bilk was born in Pensford, Somerset on January 28th, 1929, and the nickname of "Acker" was given to him at school. No-one, not even Acker himself, knows what it means (if anything), but this is of little consequence. The name somehow seems to fit, and it is certainly original. There's only one Acker whichever way you look at it. If Bilk's name came by chance, then also it would appear. did the fact that he took up music. 1947 was the date, Egypt the place, and Acker had been imprisoned for falling asleep on guard duty. He asked for a clarinet to help pass the time. and eventually got down to practising five hours a day. Acker's interest in music, and traditional jazz in particular. thus aroused he formed a semi-pro jazz band when he went to Bristol after his demob. Soon, his proficiency became such that he felt ready to come to London-and conic he did, joining the Ken Colyer band in 1954. But the urge was strong to again form a group of his own, and so it was that the Paramount Jazz Band came into being in 1957. One of their first assignments was to go to Poland, and then, after a while back in London, they did a stint at the Beer Bar in Dusseldorf with quite a measure of success. Back in London again it was not such a happy story, and shortage of work almost forced the group to disband. However, the original issue of the recordings contained in this album raised quite a lot of interest amongst agents and major recording companies, and things started to go Acker's way. The rest of the story is history. A great deal of clever publicity certainly helped to make the Acker Bilk story, but there was more to it than that; Acker's own ability and personality, aided and abetted by as loyal and dedicated a bunch of sidemen as any leader could wish for. These original recordings are not as polished as those which came later (nor in fact, of course, are the earlier recordings of Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats!), but they do have a character, sincerity and vitality all of their own, and a great feeling for the New Orleans idiom which will never date.
DOUG DOBELL

Just about as good as it gets!

2007-11-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

Fresh off the press are four double CDs sent to me by "Smith and Co" featuring the absolute cream of the crop from the "Trad. Jazz" era. The sound and product quality is truly excellent and it is like having the band in your front room - without the cigarettes and beer bottles! The double CDs have between 40 and 50 tracks per package. Ordering details are from http://www.gfi-promotions.com/ or trySmith and Co Sound and Vision B.V. http://www.smithco.nl/

I'll be featuring 8 tracks from each CD next month on Trad. Jazz Radio in the run-up to "Rudolph the RNR" time and be sure to hear some more from these wonderful CDs in the following months.

Jazz in Spain with John Westwood

2007-10-19T04:17:00.000-07:00

Regular Trad Jazz Radio contributor sent me this which may be of interest to listeners. John is also responsible for sending a lot of home recordings which will be featured from time to time on the station playlist. These are little gems of bands doing what they do best...playing to an audience in a relaxed atmosphere. I hope you enjoy them.
Best wishes,
Sean Moyses.

www.SeanMoyses.com

Trad. Jazz Radio goes into another year.

2007-09-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to tell you that the yearly license for TJR has been re-newed and, fingers crossed, Live 365 will provide the service. I have updated the playlist to include some old rarities and modern CDs that bands continue to send in (thanks!) for consideration. I'm always pleased to hear from listeners and if you wish me to play a particular song, band etc, please post it to me and I'll do my best to fulfill your wish. Sponsorship always helps the staion and I'm pleased to say that Cynthis Sayer, Peter "banjo" Meyer and the Dutch magazine Doctor Jazz stepped in just before the yearly fee was requested by Live 365.

I have an idea to present a whole show from a live band at some point and will be taking my trusty MP3 recorder along to a few events in future. I have a couple of live interviews that I will be airing over Christam time along with some other special programmes.

Best wishes and keep listening in.

Sean Moyses.

Trad. Jazz Radio.

Making Whoopee!

2007-08-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Between 1991 and 1997 I had the pleasure of playing banjo with the hilarious comedy jazz show Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band. Bob has paid his dues as a musician and has taken his unique brand of musical comedy where few have been before or since. In late July 2007 I went to visit him at his home in Suffolk where we talked about his music career of nearly 50 years.
Sean: Bob can you tell the Just Jazz readers a little about yourself, where you were born and how you started playing music?
Bob: So long ago…I can’t remember!….Is that enough? I was born in Fulham, London, in 1940 on Saint Valentines day. When I was about 16 or 17 I had a great desire to play trumpet. I don’t know why, it came right out of the blue. I had no idea what I was going to do with my life at all. I was training to be a draughtsman, absolutely hated it, and thought the only way to get away from this is to learn an instrument.
Sean: Who were you early musical influences?
Bob: My early influences were Louis Armstrong (he still is) and Bix Beiderbecke. The first record I bought was Louis Armstrong, it had two songs each side of the disk. Billy Cotton was also doing his radio show then and he played some things I enjoyed too. It was right after the war, in the 1950’s, I and was living in Boreham wood, also called Elstree, where we had moved out to because our house had been blitzed. I used to go to St. Albans ( a much nicer place!) where I played with people like Donovan, Maddy Prior and mostly "folkies". We had a jam session in the backroom of The Cock public house in St. Albans. I was also playing a little bit of guitar and we all really got on. We were 20-ish and there were really some very good musicians.
Sean: Was this during the so called Trad. Jazz Revival?
Bob: No, it was a little before all that I think. I must say I never really liked the Trad. Jazz Revival. I always much preferred listening and trying to emulate the American players who knew what they were doing and really swung. The British bands were also very much into the "backs to the audience stuff" which I did not like at all. You should at least tell the audience what you are about to play.
Sean: Tell us about your first band.
Bob: When I started I played with many little bands in London. I did an audition for Ken Barton and his brother… who turned me down. I was only about 19 and couldn’t have been much good! We later became very good friends and I did eventually forgive him! My first real band was Spencer’s Washboard Kings, run by trumpeter Carl Spencer. I was playing alto saxophone and bass saxophone in that group.
Sean: It’s an unusual combination to learn both trumpet and saxophone?
Bob: When I first came to London there we so many trumpet players I thought "I have to learn another instrument", so I saw this alto saxophone hanging up in a shop window for 20 Quid, saved up and bought it. I adapted my trumpet style to the saxophone. I also found a Conn bass saxophone, which I loved, and bought for 40 Quid…it would be worth about 20 grand now!! I started to really study Adrian Rollini with Bix.
Sean: Was Spencer’s Washboard Kings a touring band?
Bob: Yes, within a week of joining them I did 20 days in Denmark. You can’t really do that anymore. Although I was playing alto saxophone and bass saxophone in that group, I also did some second trumpet on King Oliver tunes.They went down a storm in the jazz clubs. It was a "serious" band but we did do a sort of comedy cabaret act too. We didn’t use drums. We had Bill, a fantastic washboard player, and Stan the pianist who did all the arrangements. We had a great time… but eventually I got the sack. I got sacked from all the bands… which is why I eventually formed my own band ….and then the musicians had to leave me!
Sean: What did you do once you "left" the Washboard Kings?
Bob: I joined a band called The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. They were just turning professional, were touring up and down the country and they were a lot of fun.
I also eventually got the sack from them! What happened was we did a gig at a students residence or something and a load of leather clad bikers turned up looking for trouble. We were all dressed in our strange outfits on stage so they made a beeline for us. I picked up the dustbin which we used for a gag and as the bikers were coming up the stairs I thought "they’re not going to get me" and I chucked it at them and ran off stage. The manager, dear old Reg Tracey, told us to go back on but I refused, as did Big Sid (the banjo player) and my dear friend Vernon, and it all got very messy. Reg said "If you don‘t go back on, your fired!" so I said "OK, so I‘m fired" and left.
Sean: So who did you play with next?
Bob: Well, about a week after leaving the Bonzo’s a drummer friend of mine called Henry Harrison called me and said that he had a call from this guy who had written a song which could be a big hit and he was asking him to find some guys to front a band called The New Vaudeville Band. The song, Winchester Cathedral, which had already been recorded with session musicians, did became a number one hit. We did the television show Top of the Pops. In those days the band mimed but the singer had to sing live, so I had to tape the words to the side of the organ to get through it. It was all a big leap from what I had been doing. The song was also a number one in the USA and we were very big business for a while, although we didn‘t make very big money. We even did the Ed Sullivan show and went to Las Vegas...it was a wonderful experience.
Sean: Tell me what happened to New Vaudeville Band and where did your carer take you next?
Bob: I was sacked of course! I was called to see the band's manager Peter Grant, who later managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, and he said "I’m sorry, I like you and all that, but the boys want a change", he gave me a months money and that was it. I knew the band had reached its peak anyway so I didn’t worry about it too much. I went and formed my own band, Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band. Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell, Sam Spoons, Gieves and some of the other guys who had left the Bonzos (since they had changed musical directions) came and joined me so by 1967 I was my own band leader.
Sean: Tell us about your first Whoopee Band tour.
Bob: We were playing at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London, where I met a guy called Dieter Nentwig (later to became Germany’s top jazz promoter) who was knocked out by our show and wanted to know how to get the band over to Germany. I told him that was simple - get us three jobs and we would go. So I eventually got a call back from Dieter saying he had got us three jobs. We were an eight piece band in those days and the old bus that we had would have hardly got out of London, so I got a "new" bus which got as far as Belgium before a piston blew. We got it to the garage and were rescued by a guy who knew someone with a coach that would take us to our gigs.
Our first job was at a bank, who we holding a jazz evening. It was very palacial with marble everywhere. "Evil" John "Gieves" Watson, our banjo player who had been with the Temperence Seven in there heyday, did a funny dancing act with a life size dummy. We were to play the introduction whilst he went offstage and got his dummy… but he never came back. We played the introduction over and over again until someone eventually went looking for him. It turned out he had slipped over on the marble floor and had fallen over onto the dummy, cracking a rib. He was moaning and groaning and could not speak German, but someone eventually realised he needed help and called an ambulance. The medical guys came rushing in to be confronted with Gieves and the life-size dummy both laying on the floor and didn’t now which one to take to Hospital! So he didn’t do one job on that tour!
Sean: You have been running the Whoopee Band for Forty years now Bob, what do you think the secret of the bands success is?
Bob: The Whoopee Band tries to connect with the audience. We endeavour to involve them, talk to them and our musical comedy travels very well. The band has changed a little through the years, people come and go, but the same basic concept is to have fun and convey that. For example, we played at the Reading Jazz and Beer Festival recently where the audience was mainly younger people who absolutely loved it. We had to do three encores to get off. Festivals are always good for the band. We try to keep the show up to date (a bit) and we are still able to do that… so we might as well carry on. We are just different in our music and presentation style to everyone else.
Sean: What would you consider some of the "highlights" from the Whoopee Band’s 40 years history?
Bob: Almost the very first gig I got came from the guy who used to play clarinet with the Temperance Seven. He was producing a TV series about all the American presidents and he wanted us to do the music. His particular song was "I like Ike, shout it over the mike!", all very trite stuff . Also, in 1970 we were offered our own six half hour series for London Weekend Television. We had made a half hour pilot show at the Half Moon pub (the bands spiritual home) in Putney with Bob Godrey, the famous animator who did the children’s show "Rhubarb and Custard" and he wanted to do this show involving us and him. We got the series but LWT didn’t want to use Bob Godrey, which I thought was terrible, but went ahead of course and took the series.
Sean: Did any of those shows make it onto DVD or are they archived somewhere?
Bob: No, I think it was recorded on wire in those days! It would be wonderful to see them because we were always working on Friday nights when it went out, 6pm to 6.30pm and we never saw any of them. Nobody had video recorders in those days. A funny story is that one evening were hurrying to get back after an afternoon show to get within the range of LWT so we could at least watch one show and we found a Chinese take-away restaurant with a television set behind the counter. We all rushed in and asked the Chinaman to switch to channel 3, which he did. He looked at the TV and looked at us and said "Ahhh …you!…on terravision!". We ordered some food and began to watch the show until suddenly the chef came out of the kitchen and switched the TV off. We threw our food at him and ran off. So, no more Chinese food in Luton for a while!
Sean: Tell us about the recent reunion of the Bonzo Dog Band?
Bob: A Classic Rock promoter wanted to get the band together for a "one off" concert at the Astoria Theatre in London and it was so successful it was decided to take the show on tour. This year we are touring again and we have just finished making a new CD. It has nice mixture of styles and should be out in October. The band has all the original members apart from Vivian Stanshall who unfortunately died about 5 years ago. His wife has been to see us a few times. Of course, nobody could replace Viv, so TV comedians Adrian Edmondson and Phil Jupitus joined us. They grew up with this offbeat stuff at university and they love us, we are Gods to them. The Bonzos were forerunners to the Monty Python team and of course they laid the foundations for a whole generation of offbeat comedy stuff. This style of entertainment is still funny today, there has always an audience for the likes of Spike Jones, The Alberts, Dr. Crock and his Crackpots, The Temperance Seven, even Spike Milligan, The Goons, they were all offbeat humour. Kids nowadays are very receptive to this style of music because they have never seen it on TV or heard it on Radio, even so called "live" performances are with playbacks now. They just love it, sit there with there mouths open. It is simply not making it on television which is a huge shame. A lot of modern comedy is "cringe-worthy".
Sean: Bob, you have been a successful musician all your life. Have you any other ambitions yet to be fulfilled?
Bob: Well, although I have been playing with comedy bands most of my life I do enjoy playing straight jazz too. In fact when I joined legendary jazz trumpeter Kenny Ball on stage at my last jazz festival he said to me "I knew if you played a bit slower, you’d be alright !". Whoopee tempos can be a bit frantic!
Sean: Yes Bob, tell me about the Stradbroke Jazz Festival that you organise each year?
Bob: Well, this year was its tenth year and it has been sold out each year. It is held in a big marquee at the back of the pub and was also web-cast now on the internet. I had emails from people all over the world who had seen it on the web. The festival combines Real ale and jazz and as well as having the Whoopee Band performing, I invite guest players and this year Kenny was our featured star. He loved it.
Sean: Well Bob, we’ll wrap things up there and many thanks for talking about your life and career.
Bob: My pleasure Sean, cheers!
Copyright Sean Moyses.
http://www.seanmoyses.com/

Important news update from TJR.

2007-06-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hello dear listeners of Trad. Jazz Radio. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you are enjoying the music?

As you may have heard, all American internet radio providers/broadcasters are facing a new piece of (proposed) legislation to effectively increase the license fee to around $500 per year for hobby stations such as Trad. Jazz Radio. Let me tell you right now that this will silence Trad. Jazz Radio. The only option (apart from upturing this new draconian legislation) is for Live365, who host the programmes, to obtain an offshore provider. It all comes to a head in the middle of July so keep your fingers crossed. The yearly license renewal for Trad. Jazz radio also comes up for renewal at the end of next month.

Trad. Jazz radio has been well supported for a hobby internet station and it gives a lot of enjoyment to people all over the world. It gives bands (who would not achieve ANY airplay on "normal" radio) a chance to be heard and of course promote not only thier name, website but also a chance to sell their CDs. If you are in the USA please email the http://www.savenetradio.org/ group and support the not only TJR but all internet broadcasting both now and in the future. The Internet does not need to be controlled like this and it is all down to earning money (of course) and is another marvelous display of greed and bullyboy tactics from the guys on Capitol Hill.

With a bit of luck, Trad. Jazz Radio and Live 365 will prevail. If not, we have just over a month of broadcasting to go.....

Sean Moyses.

http://www.seanmoyses.com/

In the days before The Beatles.

2007-02-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to inform listeners to TJR that the wonderful "1961" album from the legendary British band The Temperence Seven was uploaded onto the playlist alongside tracks from Terry Lightfoot's band from 1960. Listening to the recordings conveys a little to me of the sense of fun and enthusiasm that this period in British "pop" music had. Musically tight and played with real conviction. The "1961" album was incidently recorded by George Martin, who three years later recorded a little guitar band from Liverpool called The Beatles. "The Temps" exsist today and still play the jazz cicuit.
I hope you like the additions and if you have any other requests that you would like to hear, please let me know and I'll do my best to fulfill your musical whims.
Sean.

Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger

2007-02-01T05:25:00.000-08:00

New this time to the playlist of Trad. Jazz Radio are the combination of Eli Newberger and Jimmy Mazzy. Both are fine musicians and provide some nice tunes and songs from the more obscure repertoire of the 1920's. The CD featured this month is called "Shake it down" and is on the Stomp Off label, (CD1109) although two more CDs are available, The Men they will become (Stomp Off CD1352) with Butch Thompson on piano and clarinet and Half Way to Heaven (Stomp Off 1319) with Joe Muranyi on clarinet and vocals. The two other CDs will be added to the TJR playlist in due course.
The CDs are of course very well produced, as are all of the Stomp Off productions and if you fancy something different, this is the one for you.

Ken Colyer on Trad. Jazz Radio

2007-01-17T01:43:00.000-08:00

Jazz legend Ken Colyer makes his debut on TJR this month with a recording from 1972. Upbeat records URCD210 is featured with Sammy Rimmington, Barry Palser, Ray Smith, Stu Morrison, Alan "Jinx" Jones and Colin Bowden supporting Ken's traditional lead. The tunes on the CD are You gotta see Mama every night, At a Georgia camp meeting,Lonesome road, Maple leaf rag, My blue heaven, When I leave this world behind, Maryland, my Maryland, St. Philip Street breakdown, Tiger rag, and Goin' home.
The CD is a real gem and for lovers of Ken's style is well worth searching out.

The Quay Street Jazzmen make a world debut on TJR!

2006-12-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

The Quay Street Jazzmen, 1962.

It's was my very first-ever attempt at recording anything 'live music'-wise.
We lived in Cheltenham at the time, and I was the proud owner of a Brennell 2-track tape recorder, which I subsequently put to a lot of (sometimes not very effective) use. But there was a signal occasion when I had the opportunity (along with several other enthusiasts) to have a go at 'canning' the local jazz band - the QUAY STREET JAZZMEN.

On 29 November 1962 the band assembled in the local church hall, and set about performing.
Tony Sheppard (trombone) was leader; Robin Couldrey (trumpet); Alvin Wescot (clarinet); Denis Worth (banjo); Roger Davis (string bass) and.... would you believe.... a young Alan Buckley (drums). I believe that this is also the first time this particular basher was caught on tape (no wax this time!)

Eleven tracks were recorded, using a single AKG D19B microphone, and RCA Red Seal tape, which I've since managed to transfer onto CD. If of interest, I'll gladly send you a copy.
I sent one to Alan a couple of years ago, but don't know whether he ever received it; I didn't get any acknowledgment thereof, but then neither did I get a complaint that the promised sending hadn't got there! Meanwhile I (attempt to ) attach the first track (Cockles and Mussels aka Molly Malone) and part of a subsequent interview with Tony, which very much reflects the attitudes of the time. That got broadcast by BBC Radio 2 in one of Peter Clayton's progs., but was never acknowledged by the Beeb. Nothing changes!

We've come on a bit since then; at least we're now able to share it all with interested souls - and at virtually no cost, which can't be bad! If you'd like a copy of the disc, I just need a mailing address.

All good wishes

John

Freddy Mirfield's music is heard for the first time on TJR.

2006-11-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to John Westwood for this original recording which is now being played on Trad. Jazz Radio.
John writes......

I'm still learning how to convert old 78s to MP3 files. This is my latest attempt, and is of the very first time Dankworth entered the recording studios. Freddy Mirfield tried to put together a 'Spike Jones'/'Sid Milward's Nitwits'-type band, but Freddy Randall and Dennis Croker put paid to that! Good pre-trad-boom stuff.

That is a fact!
Best wishes and keep tuning in,
Sean

Paul and his Gang play the music of Bix

2006-10-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

I received a wonderful package in the post today from Sweden from "Paul and his Gang". The band plays wonderful recreations of Bix Beiderbecke tunes and the three CDs I will be featuring over the next year on TJR are "Futuristic Rhythm", "Take your tomorrow and give me today" and "Modernistic Jazz from the Twenties". Each CD is a little goldmine of white 1920's and early 30's jazz with precision playing, reading and recording techniques. I encourage you to visit the band's website, www.paulandhisgang.com for a look at the CDs, musicians and find out where the band can be seen playing. The band is based in Malmö and if you ever get a chance to hear them take it! Bix Lives!!

Join the Jazz Crusade!

2006-10-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dear jazz friends.
This month features several new CDs and I would like to draw your attention to four albums that were sent to me by the CD company "Jazz Crusade Records". The label specialises in New Orleans Trad. Jazz and I am proud that "Walking with the King" (by Gregg Stafford), "New Orleans Reborn" (with various artistes),"Jumpin' in Irigny (by the French Preservation N.O. Jazzband) and "Live in Denmark" (by Sammy Rimmington and Big Bill Bissonnette) have all had tracks uploaded onto TJR. The label is the brainchild of Big Bill Bissonnette and I encourage you to take a look at his website and order his fine musical offerings.
Keep listening for more featured albums in the next few weeks.
Best wishes,
Sean.

Tad Newton's Jazz Friends

2006-09-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

New this time to the playlist on Trad. Jazz Radio is Northampton man Tad Newton and his Jazz Friends. The band has kindly placed a one year advert on the station and various tracks from the two CDs Tad sent to Trad. Jazz Radio will be played over the next year. The band has a varied and wide selection of jazz styles and sound a little like a mix between 1940's Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Guests on both CDs include the wonderful Alan Barnes on clarinet, baritone and alto saxophone and Greg Abate on Alto saxophone.
The Jazz Friends are; Tad Newton (trombone) Zoltan Zagi (clarinet,alto and tenor sax) Gary Wood (trumpet) Graham Scriven (drums)Mike Graver (piano) Tomas Pedersen (bass) and Dave Lipson (guitar).
Both CDs were recorded live in Wellingborough Jazz Festival, Buckingham Jazz Club and Teignmouth Jazz Festival during 2003.
The band has a website with more information, go to www.jazzbandsuk.co.uk or call Tad on (0044) (0) 1604 858549 or e-mail tadnewton@fsmail.net

Millenium / Eagle Jazzband

2006-08-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

Pete Brown (trumpet & vocals) Andy Holdorf (trombone & vocals)Chris Etherington (banjo, guitar & vocals) Brian Lawrence (bass) Julyan "Baby Jools" Aldridge (drums) and Nottinghams own Matt Palmer (clarinet, soprano, tenor and vocals) make up the Millenium Eagle Jazzband. This CD was recorded at the Rocester Football Club on April 7th, 2006 and is good British traditional jazz. The tunes on this CD are as follows:-
Travelling blues, My gal Sal, Chimes blues, Swanee river, Shim-me-sha-wobble, Buddy Bolden's blues, Give me you telephone number, You made me love you, Froggie Moore rag, Someday sweetheart, Original Dixieland onestep, You meet the nicest people, Creole love call, Back in your own backyard and One sweet letter.
For more info on the band, CDs and booking information go to www.meagle.co.uk

Trad. Jazz Radio is one year old!

2006-07-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and listeners of Trad. Jazz Radio.
We have just past the point of renewing the yearly contract with "Live 365" and thanks to the support, enthusiasm (and advertising) I'm happy to tell you that TJR will be on air for at least another next twelve months. The station is now regularly getting at least 1500 people tuning in each month and their is rarely a moment when at least one person isn't tuning into TJR from around the globe.
The playlist is changed around on a "bit by bit" basis, meaning that I add and delete tracks in sections since uploading takes a bit of time. You may have recently heard some very rare tracks (submitted from John Westwood in Spain) of Chris Barbers earliest recordings. These are little "gems" and are unique to TJR. Many thanks to all the bands and individuals who have taken the initiative of sending me their CD to get played and of course the people who have placed adverts with TJR who have made it financially possible for TJR to continue.
The biggest thanks of all must go to you, dear listener, who, without your support, TJR would have faded and died. Your enthusiasm and support make my efforts all worth while.
Keep sending in your e-mails, suggestions, CDs and request via my website at www.SeanMoyses.com and once again, thanks for your enthusiasm in Trad. Jazz Radio.

Sean Moyses.

Roger Marks Armada Jazz Band

2006-07-07T05:03:00.000-07:00

I have recently uploaded a few tracks and an audio advert for the Armada Jazz Band, a West Country group from the United Kingdom led by trombonist Roger Marks. The band has been in exsistence quite a time and was reformed in 1996 to play festivals and clubs around the UK. The album featured on TJR at the moment is called "Windjammer" and is issued by Leap Frog Records. The band is:-
Roger Marks (trombone) John Shillito (trumpet and vocals) Ken Rennison (sporano and alto sax.) Eddie Edwards (banjo) Terry Turland (bass guitar) and Terry Lidiard (drums).
The CD features the following tracks:- Marching through Georgia, The glory of love, Caberet, Fidgety feet, Our love is here to stay, Moose march, Georgia on my mind, Lady of Spain, Bei mir bist du schön, Martha, The way you look tonight, Too busy and the ever popular What a wonderful world.
To find out more about the Armada Jazz Band go to www.Armadajazz.co.uk where you will find the bands' itinery, CD, booking contacts and background information.

Chris Barber's first ever recordings now on TJR.

2006-07-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends.
For some time I've been mucking about putting old tapes and cassettes onto CDs. Recently I've been trying to get some of the old discs onto CD (which really hasn'tbeen a problem) and onto MP3 files (which has!). Now I think I've managed to MP3 my two Chris Barber Tempo 78's which were cut in their Hampstead studio on 11 Oct 1949. So we have Hugh Middleton- cornet, Alex Revell- clarinet, Chris- trombone, Colin Bennett- piano, Arthur Huxley- banjo and myself drums on drums.
The titles are:-
TR557A Mabel's Dream,
TR558A Working Man Blues,
TR559A Gatemouth,
TR560A Doctor Jazz.
These were the very first recordings made by Chris. Alex, Colin and I had made some earlier 78's with other bands but these "Tempo" label sides are very hard to find now and I thought you might like to hear them -"warts and all", as the saying goes. That is, of course, if my MP3 compression has worked properly!
If it's all producing half-way decent results with my present (very elementary) set-up here, I might spend a few pension-pennies on "upgrading" some of the bits. Hope you don't mind being used as the proverbial 'guinea pig'!
Keep the discs spinning....
Cheers,
John Westwood

"Bouncing Around" with the Foggy Bottom Classic Jazz Band

2006-05-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

New to the Trad. Jazz Radio playlist is a CD from the Foggy Bottom Classic Jazz Band, from Gothenborg, Sweden. The members of the band are Anders Linde (cornet) Thomas Wallin (second cornet and vocal) Johnny Korner (clarinet, soprano sax and alto sax) Peter Trägardh (trombone) Hans Broden (piano) Janet Grootoonk (banjo and vocal) Peter Svedholm (brass bass) and Lars-Gunnar Röök (drums).
The CD is a pleasant mixture of Classic Jazz with some very rare titles making a welcome addition to the music on TJR. They are:-Room rent blues, Trouble in mind, Bouncing around, Buffalo blues, Snake rag, Papa De-da-da, Doctor Jazz, Temptation blues, Joe Turner blues, Sobbin' blues, I'm going away to wear you off my mind, Georgia bo bo, Down by the riverside, Cushion foot stomp, Terrible blues and Cake walking babies from home.
The CD has very thorough background notes on the tunes but unfortunately no contact or ordering information was provided so it is best to have a "google" about on this or email Janet Grootoonk (the bands pretty lady banjoist) via svenssonjonas@telia.com to get your copy of "Bouncing Around".

Hot Lips...more good music!

2006-05-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

The newest CD to be aired on Trad. Jazz Radio is by the Münich based jazzband "Hot Lips". The CD is well produced and professionaly recorded and a good level of musicianship is shown throughout by all band members.
Titles on the "...more good music" CD (which was recorded in 1997) are:- Take the A. train, Cotton club stomp, Livery stable blues, Sweet Lorraine, Oh, you sweet thing! South Rampart Street parade, Black and tan fantasy, Avalon, Wolverine blues, Just a gigolo, The chant, Tollgate blues, Jungle nights in Harlem, Margie, Kansas City stomps and Sideway. The band consists of Bob Strauss (sax and clarinet) Michael Etzel (cornet, vocals and arrangements) Hannes Eikhorst (trombone) Wolfgang E. Ott (banjo) Otmar Dicker (bass) and Heini Buckenmaier (drums).
The CD cover did not state whether the band has a website and the liner notes are in German language only, however the contact telephone number for you to purchase the CD is Whoopee Records, (0049 for Germany) 08142 20112.

Papa Joe's Jazzmen, 20 Jahre Dixieland.

2006-05-02T02:40:00.000-07:00

New to the playlist on TJR this time (which was just upgraded to 150MB!) is the house band from Cologne's famous "Em Streckstrumpf" jazz bar, Papa Joe's Jazzmen. The band itself consists of Didi Zander (trumpet and vocals) Wolfgang Kreth (banjo and guitar) Klaus Wegener (sax and clarinet) Reiner Polz (drums) Weil Derix (trombone) and Michael Schöneich (double bass). The CD is well produced and contains many of the standards one would play in a public bar but the arrangements and musicality of the band is extremely good and worthy of merit. The titles on this CD,which celebrates 20 years of playing in the jazzbar, are Bourbon Street parade, The man I love, Honeysuckle rose, Shimme sha wobble, Rondo ala turk, Flat foot floogie, Always, Ory's creole trombone, Down home rag, African queen, What a wonderful world and Heebie Jeebies. For more information on the band and CDs available go to www.papa-joes-jazzmen.de or email ZCordi@aol.com.
The Em Strickstrumpf jazzbar in Cologne(Köln), Germany has jazz every night of the week and can be found in the "Altstadt" - one street in from the river Rhein, directly in the tourist walking street area. They have a website in English and German at www.papajoes.de and welcome visitors and musicians worldwide.

Introducing ..The Original Wildcat Jass Band

2006-04-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

The most recent addition to the TJR playlist is the Original Wildcat Jass Band from Arizona, USA. The band members are Kelland Thomas (soprano sax) Martin Patfield (trumpet) Rob Boone (trombone) Michael Harrison (trumpet) Rob Wright (banjo) Kelly Thomas (tuba) and Dan Kruse (drums). The band presents a Dixieland musical dish of Muskrat ramble, Some of these days, Dinah, That's a plenty, Tin roof blues, Struttin' with some BBQ, My buckets gotta whole in it, The St. James infirmary blues, Tiger Rag, Basin Street blues, Margie, Blues my naughty sweetie gave to me, Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?, Once in a while and Indianna.
The CD can be ordered via the band's website at www.WildcatJass.com. as well as providing background and booking information.
This is a professionaly recorded CD and has informative liner notes by Prof. Jeffrey Haskell, the professor of music at the University of Arizona.

Rod Mason's Hot Five

2006-04-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

This time I feature a new CD from my regular band, Rod Mason's Hot Five. The CD was recorded in live at a concert in Kornwestheim, Germany early January this year and features my friends Rod Mason (cornet and vocal) John Mortimer (trombone) Andy Leggett (clarinet and saxs) Ralf Peyer (piano) Clive Fenton (sousaphone) and myself Sean Moyses on banjo.
The tiles on the CD are:- Panama rag, Higher ground, Yellow dog, Halle Halelujah, Poor papa, Chicago breakdown, That's my home, Georgia swing, Just a little while to stay, Bye bye blues, Blueberry hill, Way down yonder, South and He's a son of the south.
The CD was recorded by Bauer Studios and can be ordered by mailing me via www.SeanMoyses.com.

Barry Tyler's Original Dixieland Jazz Band

2006-04-03T04:56:00.000-07:00

"Bouncing around" is the bands fourth album and third CD and features Terry Star (trumpet) Johnny Rogers (clarinet and sax) Bob Alcoe (trombone) Bill Gyford (banjo) John Arthy (sousaphone and double bass) Binky Pollock (vocals) occasional guest Eileen Ford (vocals) and Barry Tyler on drums and percussion. The CD was recorded in 2004 in Safron Waldon, Suffolk, England by Wayne McIntyre and produced by Abrasive Disks.
Titles on the CD are as follows:-Bouncing around, Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? Smiles, Bei mir bist du schön, Dippermouth blues, I cover the waterfront, Riverboat shuffle, 100 years from today, Big boy, I gotta right to sing the blues, 1919 march, Blue room, Up a lazy river and Royal garden blues.
To find out more about the band and CD ordering details go to www.barrytyler.co.uk

The Big Bear Stompers

2006-04-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

The Big Bear Stompers were formed in 1989 and model themselves on the great music of Lu Watters and Turk Murphy as well as drawing from the vast pool of wonderful music of the 1920's.
The band members are Ben Cummings (trumpet) Tony Davis (trumpet) Jim Maihack (trombone) Mike Wills (clarinet and soprano sax) Perry Lock (piano) Dave Moorwood (banjo and vocal) Geoff Hull (sousaphone) Tony Isaacs (washboard) and Judy Eames (vocals).
The CD "The bears are back!" was recorded in 2005 by Peter King at P.E.K. sound in the UK and the band can be contacted for jobs and CD orders by the band's website at www.dave-moorwood.co.uk or www.jazz-at-peksound.co.uk
Titles on the CD are Big bear stomp, Bay City, Coal cart blues, Aggravatin' papa, Someone stole Gabriel's horn, Black bottom stomp, Jazzin' babies blues, Melancholy blues, Thick lip stomp, You ain't the one and Friendless blues.

DIXI....the New Orleans Sessions.

2006-03-22T02:03:00.000-08:00

A refreshing sign that traditional jazz has new faces coming into the scene is the band DIXI from Norway.Gunnar Bech (trombone) Hayden Powell (trumpet) Brynjar Rasmussen (clarinet) Daniel Herskedal (tuba) Frank Iversen (banjo) Vidar Norheim (drums) and guests Coco York (vocals) and Fredrick Sanders (organ) appear on this CD called "The New Orleans Sessions". The band was formed in 1996 and the guys have been playing since their teens, inspired by the Molde Jazz Festival which takes place in their home town in Molde, Norway. The band has made tours to the UK, New Otleans, the Faroe Islands and across Scandinavia. Be sure to check the band's website www.dixijazz.no and contact dixijazz@online.no for more information about the band.

Schmackes Brass Band

2006-03-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

The Schmackes Brass Band from Krefeld in Germany is somewhat of a different line-up, consisting of two trumpets, clarinet, banjo and sousaphone. They have been together for eleven years and provide a fun stage performance as well as jazz. The guys in the band are Ecky Odenthal (trumpet/vocals), Boris Odenthal (trumpet /vocals) Wim Maljers (banjo) Dr. Bernie Tebbe-Simmendinger (clarinet) and Rainer Strietzel (sousaphone). The CD featured on TJR is called simply "Vol.2" and titles on the CD are:-Willie the weeper, Somebody stole my gal, Savoy blues, Jazz me blues, Some of these days, Ain't misbehavin', Muskrat ramble, Nobodys sweetheart now, Basin Street blues, Panama, Down by the riverside, Cornet chop suey, That' a plenty, South, Hallo Kleines fräulien, Sister Kate and It's tight like that. Boris Odenthal provides German as well as the standard English texts for many of the songs in their live performances.
Please visit the bands website at www.schmackes-brass-band.de for booking details or e-mail schmackes@boris-odenthal.de

The Vintage Jazz Big Band - Live in Sweden!

2006-02-22T03:04:00.000-08:00

The Vintage Jazz Big Band was formed in Göteborg, Sweden in 1986 with musicians who held a common love for the big band music of the late 1930's and 40's. Without written arrangements to play the task of transcribing from the old records was undertaken by the trumpet player Rolf Sundby with allowance for the band to make slight alterations to fit the instrumentation and unique solos of the musicians. In recent years, arrangements have been added to the repertoire by Magnus Bylund and Johnny Korner, both band members. The band plays for both dancing and concerts.
"Live in Denmark" was recorded in Alborg, Denmark at the Jazz club Satchmo in 2004. Titles on the CD are as follows:-
Sugar foot stomp, Vintage clarinet O'Lee, Mule face blues, Creole love call, Going to town, Swanee river, When the saints, You're just my type, Potato head blues, Some of these days, Rent party blues, Take the A train and One O'clock jump.
The band offers other CDs for sale on its website. Go to www.Vintagejazz.net for more details.

The Gambit Jazzmen

2006-02-10T03:06:00.000-08:00

"You'll see all the hot spots" is one of the new CDs being featured at the moment on Trad. Jazz Radio. It is British Trad. at its best and was sent to me by the band's drummer Pete Lay. With him are Geoff Wilde (cornet) Johnny Rogers (reeds) Barry Weston (trombone) Chris Marney (banjo and vocal) and Roger Link (bass). The CD was recorded in 2005, "live" at the Wooda Farm during the annual Bude Jazz Festival and includes the folloing tracks:-
Just a little while to stay here, Bogalusa strut,Uptown bumps, Let the great big world keep turning, Blame it on the blues, Harlem bound, Roses of Picardy, Black mountain blues, That Teasin' rag, Bourbon Street parade, I want a little girl, Gatemouth and the old ballad the Isle of Capri.
The CD is produced by Raymer Sound (RSCD835) whose website is http://www.raymerjazz.co.uk/ . Raymer Sound also record, produce and stock lots of other British jazz bands, so be check them out!
The band can be contacted by calling Pete Lay in the UK (++44) (0)1737 822726 .
Good luck chaps and thanks for sending the CD in, I am sure the listeners to Trad. Jazz Radio will be pleased to hear your music.

Good Time Jazz, Fest-Jazz!

2006-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to hear from clarinetist Trevor Stent, whom i last saw in Preston with my mum and dad in the mid 1970's when i was a boy. Trevor has lived in France for some time now and has put his talents to good use in his Anglo/French band Good Time Jazz. The set-up consists of Michel Audoire (trumpet, vocals) Peter "Pikey" Butler (String bass and vocals) Sylvian Duthuillé (piano) Gerard Mace´ (drums) and Trevor Stent on clarinet.
Titles on this swinging CD are; I got rhythm, Someday sweetheart, It don't mean a thing, Give me a kiss to build a dream on, Dr. Jazz, Apex blues, Crazy Rhythm, Bei mir bist du shoen, After you've gone, My blue heaven, Undecided, Baby won't you please come home, Weary blues and the ever popular Gershwin title, Summertime.
The CD is available via the bands website and If you are visiting the Brittainy region of France be sure to look up the band, email goodtimejazz@wanadoo.fr
Thanks for sending the CD Trevor i am sure the listeners to Trad. Jazz Radio will be pleased to hear your fine music.

The Second Line Jazz Band

2005-12-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2006! The year will kick off with the featured CD from the Swedish chaps of the Second Line Jazz Band. The guys in the band are:- Jesper Albrektsson (trumpet and vocals) Niklas Carlsson (trombone and vocals) Olof Skoog (saxophone and vocals) Anders Wasen (banjo) Per Bach (double bass) and Anders Östlund (drums). The CD is distributed by Music Mecca (CD 4030-2) and the band has lots more CDs for sale via the band's website at www.secondlinejazzband.com . The titles on this CD (and the band has many more to offer on the website) are Second line, Come on and stomp, stomp, I'm still in love with you, When my dreamboat comes home, China boy, I wish I knew what feels to be free, When I leave this world behind, St.Philip street breakdown, Summertime,Stockholm ström, Tin roof blues and For once in my life.
The band is a touring unit and can be seen at many festivals throughout Europe.
TJR will be playing various CDs from the band over the next months so keep tuned!

Huub Janssen, 45 years in music.

2005-12-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

The featured artist this time is the amazing Dutch drummer, Huub Janssen. Huub is a real showman and a very entertaining drummer with over 50 years of experience and of course spent many years with the famous Dutch Swing College Band. The CD featured is simply called " 45 years in music" and Huub is together with his "Amazing Jazz Band". The 21 titles are Potato head blues, Love oh love, I've been working, I'll be seeing you, That D. minor thing, Camp meeting, Don't get around much anymore, Please don't talk about me, The mooche, Come home Bill, Paradise holiday, Exactly like you, Riverside blues, There's yes, yes, in your eyes, Comes love, For once in my life, Funny rlls, Baby won't you please come home, Mr. Rider, You do something to me,Just a little while. The musicians are all Dutchmen, Cees van den Heuvel, (trumpet/vocals) Bart Dal, (trumpet/flugel) Bas van Gestel, (trombone)Herman vanspauwen, (clarinet/tenor sax) Frits Kaatee, (clarinet/soprano/alto/baritone) Antoine Trommelen, (sporano) Marcel Hendricks, (piano) Richard Endlich, (guitar/banjo) Jos van Bueren, (bass)Daisy Oosterhuis, (vocals)and of course Huub on drums, drums and more drums!
Ordering details are through Timeless Records in Waageningen, Netherlands.

Oliver Frank plays Sidney Bechet

2005-11-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

The featured CD this time around is by the Sidney Bechet Heritage Orchestra, simply called "Compostions period Francais" and this one is volume two. The fine tribute to Sidney's soprano saxophone playing comes from Frenchman Oliver Frank. Along with him are Gerard Siffert (trumpet) Benoit de Flamesnil (trombone) Pierre Jean (piano) Gilles Chevaucherie (double bass) and Michel Senamaud (drums). The 18 titles on this well recorded CD are:- American rhythym, Big chief, Si tous vois mere, Madame Becassine, Premier bal, Pattes de mouche, Passport to paradise, the fish seller, -en attendant le jour, Jumping Jack, Lastic, Francis blues, Ce mossieu qui parle, Sobin'and cryin', Dans le rue D'Antibe, Petite fleur, Promonade aux Champs Elysees and Les Oignons.
For booking details of this touring band contact Dieter Nentwig in Erlensee, Germany or contact www.SidneyBechet.fr

Greetings from the Retaguardia Jazz Band

2005-10-19T01:50:00.000-07:00

Hola, pertenezco a un grupo de jazz estilo New Orleans, quizas uno de los mas antiguos en America " Retaguardia Jazz Band"cumplimos 45 años sin interrupción.
Nos gustaría mandarles antecedentes del grupo como musica y curriculum ya que nos encantaría estar presente en su exelente programación.
Nuestra pagina de internet está en construccion en todo caso adjunto una foto del grupo.
Mi nombre es Jorge León y toco banjo en la banda y mi direccion de correo es jrleonc@vtr.net.
Si nos mandan la direccion le haremos llegar nuestra carpeta y nuestro ultimo cd.
Nuestras actuaciones por mencionar algunas han sido en New Orleans EE.UU. Mexico, Brasil, Argentina y en todo nuestro pais Chile.
En espera de su pronta respuesta saluda cordialmente con nuestras felicitaciones por su programacion
Jorge Leo´n

Makin' Whoopee by Mart Roger Manchester Jazz

2005-10-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

The featured CD this time around is Mart Roger's Manchester Jazz from the U.K. A well recorded professional produced album with nice arrangements makes this a very listenable CD indeed. Joining Mart Roger (clarinet) are Marion Montgomery who adds a classy vocal to the band and Allan Dent (trumpet), Terry Brunt (trombone) Alec Collins (piano) Tim Roberts (banjo) Colin Smith (bass) and Pete Staples (drums) all doing a fine job. The band's website which has details of performances in and around the United Kingdom as well as information of other recordings available. Titles of Makin' Whoopee are as follows:- Way down yonder in New Orleans, You took advantage of me, Mean to me, Shake it and break it, Kansas City man blues, If I ever cease to love you, I get the blues when it rains, Sobbin' blues, Dinah, After you've gone, Then it changed, Canal street blues, My melancholy baby, I'm crazy 'bout my baby, Makin' whoopee, Froggie Moore, Love me or leave me and Riverboat shuffle.
For more information and booking details contact Mart Roger Manchester jazz via PO Box 4, Disley, SK12 2NH, UK, or go to the website www.manchesterjazz.co.uk

Shades of Bechet # 2 by Andy Leggett

2005-09-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Our next featured CD is Shades of Bechet # 2 by Andy Leggett, a British soprano saxophonist who idolises the late great Sidney Bechet. This is the follow up album to Shades of Bechet # 1 , and very well done it is too!
The recording quality, arrangements and musicianship is really first class. Joining Andy on the recording is John Emms, Christoph Wackerbarth, Matthias Seuffert, Fraser Gartshore, Benny Daniels and Jörg Möller and myself, Sean Moyses. The 17 titles include Polka dot rag, Waste no tears, Ghost of the blues, Si tu vois ma mere, Black stick, Passport to paradise, I want you tonight, Okey doke, Bechet’s fantasy, Montserrat, Georgia cabin, Blues dans le blues, Halle hallelujah, Blues in thirds, Lastic, Egyptian fantasy and DSC blues. This is a very professionally produced and carefully mixed recording and a must for all fans of Bechet (and Andy!).
The CD can be ordered directly from Andy via his website at www.Andyleggett.com

Our next featured band on TJR is....

2005-08-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

The Old Fashioners from the beautiful coastal town of Enkhuisen in the Netherlands are this months featured band and the latest CD, "Jump and Jazz" is now being featured on the playlist. The line up of musicians is as follows:- Richard Heeres (trumpet and vocals) Jeroen de Graaff (clarinet and tenor saxophone) Sam Verbeek /trombone and vocals) Marcel Degeling (banjo) Jose' Baars (double bass) and Sam Brieffies (drums).
The music is quite distinctive in as such that it evokes memories of the late Max Collie band with its mixture of pure trad. with a little jump jive mixed in and the CD was recorded in June 2004. For those of you who have not visited the Enkhuisen Jazz Festival, the yearly extravaganza of traditional jazz music, laughter and fun, I must tell you that it is one of the friendliest jazz festivals you will ever visit and apart from being a really charming place, something to note is that it involves people of all age groups. Enkhuisen itself can boast over ten traditinal jazz bands, something which most Europen cities cannot match!
For more details of the Old Fashioners and the CD "Jump and Jazz" please visit www.oldfashioners.com email Sam@oldfashioners.com or call +31 (Netherlands) (0) 9228 314791 or cellphone +31 (0) 6264 58200
Trad. Jazz Radio wishes the Old Fashioners continued success and thanks them for supporting the station.

New artistes added to the playlist

2005-08-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

Dear friends. Thanks for all the support and encouraging help (as well as sponsors) in our first few weeks of broadcasting. The current playlist includes The Jazz-o-matic four, Joe Wulf, Andy Leggett, Rod Mason, Mart Rogers, The Jazzbones, Red Nichols, The Oldfashioners, Eddie Condon, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Sammy Rimington, Les Haricots Rouge, Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band, Bajazzerne, Paul Harrison, The New Orpheans and many others. Keep listenening and you will hear some really rare tracks that can only be found here! I am regularly updating the playlist and although you may hear some songs repeated (it has a random shuffle programme) i hope it will not affect your listening pleasure.
The next featured band of the month will be The Oldfashioners from Enkhuisen, Holland. They play a good traditional style which i am sure you will enjoy.
Best wishes,
Sean Moyses

The first featured album on Trad. Jazz Radio is....

2005-07-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

CLAP HANDS by The Jazz-o-matic Four is a really thoughtfully arranged album by Dutchmen Peter Ivan (cornet) Ad Houtepen (bass saxophone) Hans De Bruijn (piano) and Tom Stuip (banjo) who breath some new life into some nice old 1920's tunes. The combination of instruments lends the band it's own sound and they actually sound as full as a bigger band with all the instruments taking solos and with some nice voicing together.
Titles are clap hands here comes Charley, a pretty girl is like a melody, at the jazzband ball, Chloe, Clementine, Jellyroll, do something, keeping out of mischief, linger a while, nature boy, oh miss Hannah, ragamuffin Romeo and sneaker.
The album was recorded in March, 2004 in the Netherlands and is available from Tom Stuip, Java straat 98, 2585AV Den Haag, Netherlands or by contacting Tom at classicjazz@planet.nl or Peter at p.ivan@wanadoo.nl
Trad. Jazz Radio would like to thank the band for their support and wish them success in the future.

Trad. Jazz Radio is up and running!

2005-07-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the huge response from listeners all over the world, TJR has accepted an initial one year contract. Advertising is now on it's way with requests from bands, festivals, agents and music suppliers alike all showing great interest in the potentialy huge market. Advertising of course helps support the station keep on air so this is not a bad thing! If you would like to advertise, rates are extremely cheap!! Contact me at tradjazzradio@seanmoyses.com for details. New CDs will be uploaded at regular intervals and if you would like your band's CD included on the playlist, send it to me at:-
Sean Moyses, Jahnstr.17, 53225 Bonn, Germany.
Keep tuning in for developements and improvements! As always, your suggestions and comments are most welcome.
Sean Moyses.
www.SeanMoyses.com

TRAD JAZZ RADIO IS ON THE AIR!

2005-07-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

We are on the air!!! Click on www.live365.com/stations/seanmoyses and click on the play button to get going. You may have to download a live365 player if you don't have one but it is free and simple to use. Turn up the speakers nice and loud and let everybody know that TRAD.JAZZ IS BACK ON THE RADIO!!!
Thanks for you support,
Best wishes,
Sean
www.SeanMoyses.com

Coming soon to a radio near you!!!

2005-07-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Traditional jazz has been sadly neglected by the media since the 1970's. I think it is time to change that- I will soon be announcing details of a new radio station where you can hear " our " sort of music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Keep checking here for details please!!!!
Sean Moyses
www.SeanMoyses.com
TradJazzRadio@SeanMoyses.com