Before the Beatles put the Cavern into the musical history books the venue was one of many thousands of vibrant jazz clubs that vibrated and sweated to the beat of a music born in New Orleans – that music is called JAZZ!
Very soon that music exploded into a craze quite unlike any other as British teenagers jived the night away to the sounds of black American music.
The biggest stars of British jazz at that time were Ken Colyer and Chris Barber (Petite Fleur), however, many more were to follow into the music charts of the 1960s, including, Kenny Ball (Samantha), Acker Bilk (Stranger on the Shore) and Humphrey Littleton, whose Bad Penny Blues inspired Paul McCartney’s hit song Lady Madonna and The Temperance Seven (Oh, You’re Driving Me Crazy).
During the 1950s the British jazz scene gave birth to the Skiffle Craze, powered by Chris Barber and Lonnie Donegan, the jazz rhythm which inspired all of the 60s pop stars to make their own music.
Since then the British jazz scene has blossomed and bloomed into a unique genre all of its own, one that is marveled the world over.
Come and join Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics, Britian’s best New Orleans jazz combo, as they take you on a musical journey through the birth of British Jazz – from Colyer and Barber to Bilk and Ball – this is JAZZ BRITANNIA!
Warren James 