Continuing in our chronological series which started with the 1953 Band in 2007, we now present the 1955 Band in 2009! As before, we are setting out to recreate the great sounds of the early Ken Colyer and Chris Barber bands, and in this concert we will be playing mainly tunes that those bands recorded in the year 1955. This was indeed a vintage year for both bands, with Barber on Pye-Nixa and Colyer on Decca at the height of their powers. The band put together for this task comprises Mike Durham on trumpet, Barry Soulsby on clarinet, Gordon Solomon on trombone, Dave Rae on banjo, Bruce Rollo on bass and Mac Rae on drums. Last year’s outing was rapturously received by a packed audience, fuelled by nostalgia for the Golden Age of British Trad: so why not join us again in our musical Tardis, with Doctor Jazz (not Doctor Who) at the controls…..

This hot little combination, an offshoot of Spats & His Rhythm Boys, consists of Norman Field on clarinet and saxes plus Spats Langham on banjo, guitar, ukulele and vocals, underpinned by the mighty bass sax of Frans Sjõstrõm. The late Humphrey Lyttelton described their music as “jazz archaeology of the highest order”: what they will choose to dig up this time is anybody’s guess, but since between them they know just about every hot jazz, hot dance and crooner tune ever written from 1915 to 1935 (not to mention the banjoistic effusions of the estimable Mr. Harry Reser and his ilk), they should have no difficulty filling their allotted time. Suffice it to say that the music will be esoteric, charming, quirky, hot, tender, technically brilliant and above all totally individual…….. just like the three extravagantly talented gentlemen who will be playing it for you. Hot stuff, indeed!

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist this name for a session that brings together three of the finest tenor sax players that we have at the Festival. Steve “Pavarotti” Andrews is a native of Sunderland who now lives in Cumbria. He was for many years leader of the famed Savannah Syncopators in Newcastle, plays great tenor in the Hawkins tradition, and is also renowned for his spontaneous wit. Jean-François Bonnel was one of the founding members of the Hot Antic Jazz Band in 1979: he plays outstanding Swing tenor, also working on clarinet and trumpet with several different jazz bands in Switzerland and France: and teaches music. Matthias Seuffert lives and teaches Economics in Königswinter, but is no stranger to UK audiences. On tenor, he can be anyone from Hawkins to Webster to Ike Quebec, but always swings mightily. Backed by a top-line rhythm section, the Three Tenors are ready to entertain……

Tyneside’s Masters of Classic Jazz (© John Minnion) have been together now for 26 years, but that is a mere blink of the eye compared to the long career of the late and much-loved Humphrey Lyttelton, trumpeter, bandleader, author, raconteur, calligraphist, bird-watcher, radio presenter and wit. For the Festival, the WJRK have decided to reprise a concert created for Christmas 2008 which features tunes recorded by Humph in his Traditional days, including some of his many original compositions. The music is interspersed with pithy excerpts from his writings and some of the saucier bits from the long-running radio panel game quiz show “I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue”, which Humph fronted for 35 years – itself paling by comparison with his “The Best of Jazz” show, which he presented for more than forty years. That programme is now in the hands of Jamie Cullum (O tempora, O mores - O BBC!).

And now for something completely different! Guitar virtuoso Martin Wheatley’s new band, unveiled at Keswick a couple of years ago, plays a wide and eclectic mix of string-band music, ranging from country blues to Hawaiian exotica, from Django-style Hot Club de France jazz to 1920’s vaudeville numbers, from 1930’s pop songs by the great songwriters of the era to Wheatley originals – and even some early Tex-Mex and Country. Aside from Martin with his bewildering array of string instruments, the Arcadians include Spats Langham on even more of them, Mike Piggott on violin (who also plays guitar) and local hero Bruce Rollo on string bass. Vocals are provided by Martin – who even sings in Hawaiian - and Spats, who contributes his Ukulele Ike specialities. Martin also provides a witty and interest-packed commentary on choice of songs and instruments…. did you know that “ukulele” is Hawaiian for “jumping flea”? I thought not….