|
Personnel
|
|
|
Chris
Pearce, reeds, started his musical career a
Cathedral Chorister at Liverpool Anglican (the Beautiful One) Age 8 to
13. He was a member of Bluenote Jazz Band
Bristol for 28 years, with whom he toured Holland, Germany and Malta.
They had a Top 20 Jazz LP Circa 1978 and sold 90+ LP’s in one mad
evening in Hannover. Chris has played with Earl Hines, Wild Bill Davidson,
Bud Freeman, Humphrey Lyttleton, Bob Wilber, Kenny Davern and Digby
Fairweather. His main influences have been Omer Simeon, Johnny Dodds,
Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Chris Barber, Sandy Brown, Sidney
Bechet and New Orleans which he has visited
three times so far and played two nights on Bourbon St with Jaques
Gauthe, Jamie White, and Bernie Attridge.
|
|
|
|
Chris
Mercer, trumpet,
started playing jazz cornet in Yorkshire in 1948 and can sometimes be found playing second cornet with the Jim Shelley
Frisco Jazz Band. He was, for many years, a member of Leicester’s Classic Band. He likes the
classic jazz of the late 1920s, but will play most
styles. He is the proud owner of two silver
Getzens, the Doc Severinsen trumpet and an Eterna medium bore cornet. Chris
joined in April 2003 and has helped to take the band forward thanks to his
commitment and experience.
|
|
|
|
Richard Leach, trombone, classically trained in the 1960's at
Bushey Grammar School, Richard led his own Watford based Northside Jazz
Band for 26 years. During this time he experienced playing alongside many
top names including Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttleton, Johnny
Dankworth and George Chisholm. He joined Pete Allen in 1998 and toured
extensively in the UK and Europe before going freelance in 2004 and forming
Richard Leach's 7 Stars of Jazz. After succeeding Keith Hocking in the
Antique Six Jazz Band he then won Stafford Jazz Society's 'Musician of the
Year' award in December 2005.
|
|
|
|
Clinton
Sedgley, banjo
& guitar, the cornerstone of many
a Midlands rhythm section, began his musical career at the age of 6, when
he took up the violin, making his first public performance soon afterwards.
He is a native of West Bromwich where he was once a boy chorister
! Clinton switched to banjo at the age of 17 and was a founder
member of the famous Artesian Hall Stompers along with Dan Pawson and Stan
Stephens. More recently he had a long association with the John Dunmore
Band and Derby’s Brookside Jazz Band. Envious collectors would like
to get their hands on either of his two Clifford Essex Paragon banjos or
his Gibson L4C guitar, just three instruments amongst many others.
|
|
|
|
Andy
Robins, bass,
started playing the bass at the age of 12, encouraged by his dad who was
resident pianist and Shove- Ha’penny champion at the Fox and Hounds
public house Woodford Bridge Essex. By the age of 15, Andy was
playing semi-professionally in London with Len Morris and the South Sea
Serenaders, whose claim to fame was a rejection by Opportunity
Knocks! Andy is a ‘kept man’ as his wife Alison puts it,
having recently taken redundancy and now has more time to devote to his
music. Like many musicians Andy cannot dance. Andy plays a flat
backed double bass made in Mittenwald Germany around 1870, an upright
electric bass by Thomas Fichter, and uses a Gallien Krueger amplifier.
|
|
|
|
Graham
Smith, drums,
was born in Birmingham but grew up in Pershore, Worcestershire. He started
playing the drums at the age of 14 in his father's dance band. After
pursuing a successful career in banking he formed, with his father, the
popular Jazz Allsorts in1993. He has deputised with many Midland based
bands as well as performing with his own son, also a percussionist, with
the Arrow Valley Brass Band. He has even performed for H M the Queen! Graham
has more drum kits than Keith has trombones and favours his mahogony
Gretsch kit with Zildjian cymbals for most gigs, although you could ask him
about the pink champagne, the blue pearl and the gold plated snare drum!
|
|
The
Antique Six Jazz Band would like to thank gerry@rick for taking the current
band photos. All photos and text are copyright © Antique Six Jazz Band. If you wish to use photos in publicity then please
contact either graham.smith@antiquesixjazzband.com or webmaster@antiquesixjazzband.com for higher quality images.
|
 Listen to this Sample Track
Listen to this Sample Track
       
Copyright
© Antique Six Jazz Band 2007
|