The story?
Begins in the sleazy bars in New Orleans in the late 1800s.

We tell the story of how the plantation blues developed through two separate routes into jazz, although it wasn’t called jazz then.

Starting with piano, adding a guitar or banjo and some drums, the returning musicians from the civil war bands joined in on the act trying to make a living by being a professional musician, although they all needed day jobs as well then.

They formed brass bands, often relying on untrained musicians who played by ear. The best known example is Louis Armstrong.

The first recording of jazz music was made by an all white band who cashed in on the new opportunities provided by the invention of gramophone records – the Original Dixeland Jass Band recorded “Livery Stable Blues” in 1917. It was a great success so they went on to record lots more now famous tunes in the same year: At the Jazz Band Ball, Tiger Rag, Royal Garden Blues, Ory’s Creole Trombone.

We do a special feature of Louis Armstrong’s original performance of St Louis Blues, transcribed off an original recording by local musician Simon Coles.

Sadly, musicians got caught up in the Mafia dominated Chicago music scene during the 20s. We play the dance craze music of the time – the Charleston and the Black Bottom.

We play tribute to Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington, performing great standards like “Stompin at the Savoy” and “IT Don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”.

This show ends with the greatest tunes recorded by Glenn Miller, but we are preparing a follow-up show “The Story of Jazz and Swing part 2”!

Contact 01723 354891 / 07831260924