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This
six peice band was formed in 1972 and since then the personnel have remained
virtually unchanged.
From 1985 through
to 1994 Cuff Billett was part of Butch Thompson's "King Oliver
Centennial Band" touring the
UK
and Europe and broadcasting in
New York
in 1993.
He has also
appeared on unofficial recordings with Bud Freeman, Bill Coleman,
"Peanuts" Hucko, Al Casey, Johnny Varro, Benny Waters and the Harlem
Jazz and Blues Band. Since the time with Barry Martyn there have been issued
recordings with the New Europa Jazz Band, Ralph Sutton and Alton Purnell.
In January 1998 he visited
New Orleans
and made recordings with Sammy Rimington and
New Orleans
musicians which were issued on the 504 label.
Cuff is also a long term member of the "Excelsior Brass Band" and for
the last 4 years he has guested with the Rudi Balliu Society Serenaders for the
Ghent
festival week.
The aim of the band is to offer a free-wheeling style,
playing lesser known tunes from the 20's - 30's, introducing these refreshingly
interesting melodies to a wider audience. The band has played festivals in
Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.
 Lively and exciting music in the New
Orleans and Traditional styles of jazz. Formed and lead by brilliant reedsman, Jeremy
Huggett in 2005, this six-piece line-up features some of the top musicians in
the U.K.
John
Maddocks’ Jazzmen headed the first birthday celebration of the Verwood
Traditional Jazz Club in April 2008. John
Maddocks, one of
Britain
’s most outstanding and popular reeds players, has
evolved his own style based on that of the great Johnny
Dodds. This popular band has been playing together for over 35 years. They have
their own sound brought about mainly by the unique and driving style of John's
clarinet playing. Since moving to Dorset, in 1973, he has been leading
his Jazzmen to wide acclaim across the
UK
and in
Europe
.
 This
band was launched as a fully fledged 6 piece in the year 2000 at the
North Cotswold Jazz Club, though Bude Jazz Festival regulars may recall
some sensational sessions in the preceding years shared by the multi-reeds stars
John Maddocks and George Huxley. The North Cotswold
session was so successful that George and John have continued to put the
band together for special occasions.
In
July 2003, Peter Kings wrote:-
I
have known and
admired George Huxley and John Maddocks for quite a few years and I've recorded
both of them several times, but prior to this session I had only once recorded
them together.
That was at Bude in 1999 when George was a guest with John Maddocks' Down Home Jazzers.
(Not released). I think it was the first time they had played together and their
rapport and ability
to create spontaneous and exciting hot jazz was immediately apparent.
The
name of the band is well-chosen, for what we have here is no cheap cutting
contest but a fine
example of real musical teamwork between two world-class reed-men at the top of
their form, ably assisted by a superb four-piece rhythm section.
This
is a musical match made in heaven - enjoy it!
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Appearing with George and John are:-
Jon Penn, Pianist.
John Fellows, Bass.
Geoff Over, Banjo, Guitar.
Barry Norman, Drums. |
Richard Leach's 7 Stars of Jazz has
a style reminiscent of the Alex Welsh Band, which, from the mid 1950's to the
early 1980's, was Britain's foremost Chicago/Dixieland style jazz band............. Please
visit the website for full details.
 Renamed
from the Chris Blount Band a few years after the untimely death of Chris in
1998, the Band play in the style set by Chris. Based
on the famous bands from the 1940s and beyond, the influence of the likes of
Bunk Johnson, George Lewis, Kid Thomas, etc., can clearly be heard in this
extremely professional band which has an exceptional international profile.
Dave
Stradwick moved to Sussex for a quiter life and stepped down from leading
"The Vintage Jazz Band" after many years at the helm. However it soon
became obvious that people missed his humour fronting a band and so he decided
to form "The Sussex Jazz Kings". In teh opinion of many, this popular
band is a fine exponent of happy traditional jazz in the broad New Orleans
style.
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The
original Verwood and TLX Community website.
