JANUARY 2023
1 NO CONCERT
8 MATT PALMER’S EAGLE JAZZBAND
One of the UK’s most enduring & busiest traditional jazz bands. Always entertaining and led by gifted reeds player Matt Palmer with Pete Brown on trumpet, cornet & valve trombone, Terry Williams (trombone), Brian Mellor (banjo/guitar), Brian Lawrence (double bass) & Tim Jones (drums). “Bring me Sunshine” is their signature closing number – they always do!
15 ROBIN MASON’S APEX JAZZ & SWING BAND
Originally formed by Robin Mason over twenty-five years ago from members of the Hazelslade Big Band and retaining a “little big band” feel in its style and repertoire. Robin is on reeds, Jon Stone (trumpet), Ron Hills (trombone), Jim Harney (drums), Bob Boucher (bass) and Rod Kelly (piano). Always highly polished and entertaining performers.
22 NEW ORLEANS HOTSHOTS
A traditional, New Orleans style jazz band led by Dave Harmer on trombone with Dave Leithead (trumpet) and Dave Wood (clarinet + saxophone) completing the front line. Al Harris is on double bass, Keith Chaplin plays drums and top ragtime exponent Joe Nutman on piano keyboard.
29 BABY JOOLS’ JAZZAHOLICS
A band brimming with established stars of the current traditional jazz scene and certainly one of the most popular. “Baby” Jools Aldridge leads on drums, “Lord” Jim Swinnerton (string bass), Warren “Lonnie” James (banjo & guitar), Karl Hird (reeds), Mike “Magic” Henry (trumpet) and Kevin Grenfell (trombone).
FEBRUARY 2023
5 NO CONCERT
12 MATT PALMER’S GATSBY GO-GETTERS
Matt Palmer brings a new combination of players to make their first appearance at SJS as the “Gatsby Go-Getters”. Joining the reedsman bandleader will be Dave Leithead (trumpet/vocals), Joe Nutman (ragtime piano), Al Harris (bass) and Nick Ward (percussion).
19 JAKE LEG JUG BAND
A hugely popular band bringing authentic, nostalgic sounds of America in the 1920s/1930s era and displaying expert instrumental virtuosity to superb musical arrangements laced with good humour. Duncan Wilcox leads on double bass, Bryony Rose on vocals & washboard, Neil Hulse (guitar), Liam Ward (harmonica & jug), Warren “Lonnie” James (banjo) & Alex Clarke (clarinet/sax). Complete entertainment.
26 SARAH SPENCER’S TRANSATLANTIC BAND
A return appearance at Stafford for this star-studded band led by Sarah Spencer who has been critically acclaimed as “the hottest tenor saxophonist on the jazz scene today”. Mike Owen is on trombone, Mike “Magic” Henry (trumpet), “Lord” Jim Swinnerton (string bass), Hugh Crozier (piano) and “Baby” Jools Aldridge (drums).
MARCH 2023
5 NO CONCERT
12 WABASH JAZZMEN featuring NICK WARD
Traditional New Orleans jazz rooted in the styles of Ken Colyer & early Chris Barber. Mark Challinor leads on banjo, guitar and ukulele, with Mike Hayler (reeds), Richard Leach (trombone), Tony Pipkin (cornet), Richard Vernon (string bass) and special guest Nick Ward on percussion.
19 PAUL HARRISON’S “OVER ‘ERE UK TOUR” BAND
Heralded by the European jazz press as a “refreshing, world class player”, this renowned British-born reeds player based in Denmark makes a long-awaited return visit to the UK and especially to SJS in the company of Kevin Grenfell (trombone/trumpet), Soren Stausbol (piano/vocals), Simon Smith (double bass) and “Baby” Jools Aldridge (drums). A rare opportunity to see and to hear a virtuoso international performer with his all-star touring band.
26 FRET & FIDDLE
Featuring Sally Minchin on jazz violin, Andy Bole (guitar), Richard Hughes (piano), Jadie Carey (string bass) & Steve Street on drums, this award-winning band originated from a mutual enthusiasm for the music of the Hot Club de France; therefore expect strong and authentic echoes of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.
APRIL 2023
2 SLIDE BY SLIDE
Kevin Grenfell and Richard Leach – two of the very best trombonists on today’s jazz circuit with Kevin adding some fine trumpet playing (& cheeky humour!) and featuring Simon Smith (string bass), Richard Hughes (piano), and Jack Cotterill (percussion). Slide by Slide – without question one of the most musical and entertaining of bands.
9 CHICAGO TEDDYBEARS SOCIETY JAZZBAND
Four times winner of SJS’s Band of the Year Award, this concert presents traditional New Orleans and Dixieland jazz at its infectious foot-tapping best & always laced with good humour. The all-star line-up features Brian Singleton on drums, Rae Owens (banjo/guitar), John Padfield (reeds), Jim Lucas (trumpet), Andrew McKenzie (trombone) & Deano Revera on bass.
16 NO CONCERT
23 WARREN JAMES’ “THE LONNIE DONEGAN STORY”
“The King of Skiffle” – Britain’s most inspirational star before The Beatles. From banjo player in the Barber and Colyer jazz bands to the heights of international success – Lonnie had over 30 chart entries in 4 years. This show features all his major hits as well as a salute to jazz legends Chris Barber, Ken Colyer and Beryl Bryden. Starring: Warren “Lonnie” James on guitar and banjo, jazz bass ace Jim “Lord” Swinnerton, top New Orleans style drummer “Baby” Jools Aldridge, award-winning saxophonist & clarinetist Alex Clarke, and guitarist to many stars, Howard Gregory.
30 MIKE OWEN’S SCARLETTE’S SERENADERS
A return visit by this very popular band, today featuring the renowned Hungarian-born saxophonist, clarinettist and former Chris Barber Band reedsman Zoltan Sagi who joins Mike (trombone) in the front line. Ian Wynne is on piano, Jim “Lord” Swinnerton (bass) and in the engine room “Baby” Jools Aldridge (drums).
MAY 2023
7 JANE WILLIAMS’ JAZZ QUINTET featuring ANDY LEGGETT
Making her debut at SJS, Cardiff based Jane Williams is very much in demand as a jazz vocalist throughout Wales. Joining her will be guitarist Mike Frost, Don Sweeney on string bass, Greg Evans on drums and the greatly admired Andy Leggett on saxophone. A backing vocalist for the iconic recording star Van Morrison, Jane and her band bring jazz music from the “Land of Song”.
14 JEFF & ANNE BARNHART’S (USA) SWEET & HOT
A quartet of supremely talented jazz musicians who play a wide range of musical styles with great panache and enthusiasm. USA’s Jeff and Anne Barnhart are on keyboard and flute respectively, Thomas “Spats” Langham plays banjo and guitar and Graham Smith is on drums.
21 NO CONCERT
28 PEDIGREE JAZZBAND “SALUTE TO TRAD JAZZ”
Those familiar foot-tapping hits of the Ball, Bilk & Barber bands and others in the late ‘50s, early ‘60s are nostalgically and authentically played by Chris Walker (clarinet), Tony Mann (trombone), Andy Chislett (trumpet), and with a rhythm section of John Noddings (banjo/guitar), Sy Gorelick (drums) & Mike Bennett on double bass. Enjoy once again the iconic sounds of the “Trad Boom”.