Great British Jazz Band

Candid Recording(s):

Biography:

Digby, now generally recognized as Britain's best known Jazz cornettist, currently divides bandleading with solo appearances at Jazz Festival and weekly presentation of BBC Radio 2's 'Jazz Notes.' His professional career, which began in 1977, has included collaborating with all of Britain's best mainstream Jazzmen. In spare moments he has made time to write books about Jazz and teach the subject and is founder of the Association of British Jazz Musicians and the National Jazz Archive at Loughton. Awards for Digby include the BBC Jazz Society 'Musician of the Year' (1979), British Jazz Awards for trumpet (1992) and 'Services to Jazz (1993).

JOHN BARNES: REEDS
John began his career with the Zenith Six in the 1950s and went on to work with Mike Daniels and Alan Elsdon before longtime stints with Alex Welsh and Humphrey Lyttelton's great bands. John won the new-star category for baritone saxophone in Downbeat Magazine in the 1960s and has won the British Jazz Award on that instrument every year since 1987. He is equally adept on alto and clarinet and his long career has involved countless recordings with Welsh and Lyttelton as well as a recent solo album ('Fancy our Meeting' on Calligraph Records). Americans with whom he has shared the stand include Earl Hines, Henry 'Red' Allen, Ruby Braff, Bud Freeman and countless others.

ALLAN GANLEY: DRUMS
The great Allan Ganley currently works with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, amongst a variety of premier British commitments which also include the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band and Dave Shepherd's Quintet. Allan has won so many polls and awards since his career began, in the early 1950s with Jack Parnell and John Dankworth, that his mantelpiece is due for its second extension. Among his most prestigious associations are those with Dankworth, the Tubby Hayes Quintet (1962-4) and with American visitors including Stan Getz, Freddie Hubbard, Roland Kirk, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, Scott Hamilton, George Shearing and Harry Allen. He is also busy as a composer and arranger for Jack Sharpe's Band and the Radio Big Band amongst others.

LEN SKEAT: DOUBLE-BASS
Known as the 'Time Lord', Len perpetuates the great values of the double-bass Ray Brown-style: time, tone and taste. The three T's have seen him through years with Ted Heath, Stephane Grappelli and the late Eddie Thompson's Trio. Len is the first-call for British bands from Dave Shepherd's Quintet to the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band and for American visitors from Ruby Braff to Bill Watrous amongst literally dozens of others. His many awards include BBC Jazz Society Musicians of the Year (1986) and regular British Jazz Awards since then.

ROY WILLIAMS: TROMBONE
Six-time British Jazz Award winner, Roy is Britain's best and most successful swing trombonist. After many years with Alex Welsh (1963-78) and Humphrey Lyttelton (1978-82), he has continued a headlining career playing all over Britain, Europe and America as a soloist. Prominent American working colleagues for Roy include Peanuts Hucko, Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart, and in Britain he is a founder member of the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band and the all-trombone band Five-a-Slide.

DAVE SHEPHERD: CLARINET
Early achievements for Dave (after forming his Quintet in 1954) include tours with Jazz the Philharmonic, Billie Holiday, and Gerry Mulligan and from 1967 five years of collaboration with Teddy Wilson for touring and recording. Often called Britain's Benny Goodman, but in reality a player who takes in all the great swing influences. Dave is England's most gifted, elegant and creative Jazz clarinettist and for the last fourteen years he has led the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band. He has won the British Jazz Awards on his instrument for two consecutive years.

BRIAN LEMON: PIANO
Britain's unsurpassed Professor of Jazz Piano, Brian is 'first-call' for American visitor such as Scott Hamilton, Warren Vat and Ruby Braff, and when not with them spends time in the best of British company, Kenny Baker, Dave Shepherd's Quintet, the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band, Charlie Watt's award-winning Quintet, the Fairweather-Brown All Stars and the Alex Welsh Band. He has won the British Jazz for piano six times.

JIM DOUGLAS: GUITAR
British Jazz Award winner Jim began his professional career with the Clyde Valley Stompers then moved on in 1964 to an historic nineteen-year stint with Alex Welsh's Band. With Alex his gift for the classical guitar styles, typified by George van Eps, found perfect expression. Since 1983 he has worked with Alan Elsdon's Band. The Alex Welsh Reunion Band, Keith Smith's ensembles and with a variety of American visitors and bands including Ed Polcer's 'Tribute to Eddie Condon' (1993).