About Us

HISTORY

Aggborough Jazz was formed in 1997, playing every Monday night to,initially, sizeable audiences. The initial flush of success, unfortunately did not last for too long and whilst we were from the start, a free venue this did have to change. After a couple of years we found that audience levels during the summer months were insufficient to cover band costs and so we began what was a two season year i.e Autumn - September to December and Spring - January to May. June, July and August we

remained closed.However we have been forced to change again and now run only once a month (usually the last Monday) but we continue throughout the year without the Summer break. This format appears to work well.

Because the venue in dictated by the demands of the Football Club, it has been necessary from time to time to change the nights on which we operate. Although we are now back to a Monday night we have also tried Tuesdays and Thursdays but the popular request from our followers is for a Monday night.

Aggborough Jazz is mainly a 'Trad' Club but we do cater at times for a more mainstream type of music and also Big Band music. King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys have performed three gigs over the past few years and we have also hosted Barry Martyn and the Young Bloods, The Ralph Allin Quartet and many more.

Our main supply of very talented musicians are drawn mainly from the Midlands area although many people would be surprised at the distances some of the musicians have to travel. Some of our regular bands have been The Heart of England JB, The Zenith Hot Stompers, John Everitts Red Dragon JB, Richard Leaches 7 Stars of Jazz, Perdido Street JB, Martinique JB and The Antique Six. However more recently we have seen The Zoltan Sagi Quartet, Slide by Slide (Kevin Grenfell and Richard Leach),Sir Alan's Hot Groovers and Gary Allcocks Jazz & Swing Band. We aim to try to keep things fresh by bringing in new bands as and when we can.

All Gigs £7 (from 2012) unless otherwise stated

BAND DETAILS

The Bateman Brothers Jazz Band

This is one you cannot afford to miss. Check link opposite

SLIDE by SLIDE

THE SPORTINGHOUSE STRINGS

The Sportinghouse Strings (31 March ) featuring Thomas 'Spats' Langham (Banjo, Guitar & Vocals)., Martin Litton (Piano) and Richard Vernon (Double Bass)

Thomas 'Spats' Langham is one of the finest exponents of classic jazz guitar/banjo playing around today.He also has a very flexible voice capable of evoking manyof the vintage crooners. He is an exponent of Django Reinhardt's driving gypsy style and was originally inspired at the age of 10 by the music of the Temperance Seven.

Martin Litton studied piano at the Colchester Institute graduating with a BA (Hons) degree. He then joined Harry Gold's Pieces of Eight and later, in 1982 joined the Kenny Ball J B for two years. Martin has also worked with many American musicians including, Bob Wilbur, Scott Hamilton, Peanuts Hucko, Al Casey and many more He is a regular recording artist and has played in most Countries around the World.

Richard Vernon born in 1950, the son of a 1920's percussionist band leader, Originally playing guitar and then bass guitar, he converted to double bass in 1977. Richard provided bass accompaniment for Tommy Burton until his untimely death in 2000.

He has worked across a wide spectrum of musical styles and has accompanied such greats as Humphrey Lyttleton, Roy Williams, Digby Fairweather, Kenny Baker, Nat Gonella, Max Collie, Kenny Davern, Bob Wilbur and many more.

Kidderminster Harriers Football Club

Our Jazz Club Venue

HARLEM Big Band

Full details of Paul Munnery's Big Band - please click on link opposite

THE ZOE LAMBERT QUINTET (now HOTSY TOTSY)

A few years ago the all female band, the Creole Belles stole a few hearts at the Purcell Rooms in London, going on to perform to popular acclaim around the Country at various Clubs and Festivals. This newly formed line up came from that popular band, and reflects particularly what Debbie Arthurs ( drums, tenor sax, alto sax and vocals), Gabriele Gad (piano and vocals) and Rachel Haywood (guitar, banjo and vocals) have continued to do since their trio. Debbie is well known as the Charleston Chasers leader and drummer, and is in high demand as a brilliant vocalist, specialising in the songs made famous by Annette Hanshaw. Gabriele served her apprenticeship with the Frog Island Jazz Band, and is now with Brian Carricks Algiers Stompers, and Rachel plays with Harlem and Swing Street as well as the excellent New Orleans Band, Ken Pyes Creole Serandaders. The talented Zoe Lambert (reeds and vocals) of ArtDeco Blue Five fame now heads this Band and Isabel Toner (bass) from Kaminski Connection amongst other Bands, completes the line up.

Always something going on, the Band generates plenty of energy and enthusiasm and is highly popular at Jazz Clubs and Festivals throughout the Country

THE MILLENIUM EAGLE JAZZ BAND 27 February 2012

Click on photo opposite to get to Bands web site

Richard Leach's 7 Stars of Jazz

This Chicago-style band models itself on the great Alex Welsh band of the 1950's and 60's.It includes all of the repertoire of the Welch band and more.

The musicians who have contributed to the band are :- Richard Leach - Trombone, Gordon Whitworth and Allen Beechley - Trumpet, Chris Pearse - Reeds, Mike Graver - Piano, Brian Mellor - Guitar & Banjo, Roger Davis - Bass and Graham Smith - Drums.

Richard Leach was classically trained at Bushey Grammar School in the 60's and since then has played with the best bands in the Country including :- Acker Bilk,Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttleton, Johnny Dankworth and George Chisholm. He formed his present band in 2004.

An exciting band to listen to.

The Ralph Allin Quartet

This is a night not to miss - these are superb musicians led by violin virtuoso RALPH ALLIN. The last time they played Aggborough we had a near capacity audience, so be early to get a good seat.

Video clips available on Ralph's site.

www.ralphallin.co.uk

THE ANTIQUE SIX JAZZ BAND - 28 November 2011

Click on photo opposite to get to Bands web site

Perdido Street JB

Still going strong despite the sad loss of some principal players over the years.

Present line up consists of :-

Trevor Emeny Tenor Sax, Clarinet

Ted Taylor Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Martin Veasey Trombone

John Watkins Banjo, Guitar & Vocals

Kenny Wright Drums

Dave Lee Electric Bass

The Bill Bailey Band (July 2010 Gig)

Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12/06/2008

A gig by the Bill Bailey Band is sheer entertainment! They are not the tightest jazz unit by any means but the fans love the unpredictability and improvisation by the manic trombonist Terry Brunt, complete with beret and ten foot scarf of many colours. Plus the doyen of the drums "Sir" Alan Buckley with hair which competes with Brunt's scarf.

Led by Richard Bailey on trumpet and neatly kitten out in orange shirts and black trousers, two sets of "favourite" numbers were enthusiastically applauded on the coldest night of Autumn, as Bailey attempted to keep his motley crew in some semblance of order!

Matt Palmer on clarinet and sax shared the vocals with Bailey on 'Dr Jazz', 'Move The Body Over', 'Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone' and 'My Bucket's Got A Hole In It' with solo drums and "anything goes" performances!

Bass player Jim Swinnerton, "a Travolta look alike" showed his back up talents whilst quiet man Peter Robinson on banjo blended the rhythm section and was given the chance to shine with 'Algiers Strutt'.