It’s Trad Dad!

Since Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band stopped doing concerts in 2013, Acker’s trombonist, Ian Bateman has been flying the flag for British traditional jazz with a series of jazz productions.  He is ideally placed to do this, having also spent many years with Terry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen and indeed many appearances with Humphrey Lyttelton and also Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.  Ian’s ‘Kenny Ball’s Greatest Hits’ show (the ‘official’ Kenny Ball tribute show) is being received very well around the country.

This latest show features music recorded during the ‘Trad Boom’ by Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot, Chris Barber, Alex Welsh, Humphrey Lyttelton and more!  This show will bring back memories of the early 1960’s ‘Trad Boom’ when traditional jazz dominated the charts before The Beatles came along.  

This seven-piece band features a group of musicians who worked extensively with the big stars of the Trad era and continue to keep the music alive with their superb playing and sheer love of the music.  This concert includes the following musicians (and who they have played for)

  • Ian Bateman trombone (Terry Lightfoot, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball)
  • Ben Cummings trumpet/vocals (Kenny Ball)
  • Trevor Whiting clarinet/saxes (Chris Barber)
  • Sean Moyses banjo/guitar (Pasadena Roof Orchestra)
  • Craig Milverton piano (Digby Fairweather, Terry Lightfoot)
  • Tom Clarke-Hill bass (Pete Allen)
  • Nick Millward (Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot)

Great care has been taken to perform them as they were recorded 60 years ago, so you will get as close to the authentic sound as you possibly can rather than a 2023 version! Of course, you will get the big hits like Acker’s ‘Stranger on the Shore’, Kenny’s ‘Midnight In Moscow’, ‘Samantha’ and Humph’s ‘Bad Penny Blues’.  You’ll also get some surprises like Stars and ‘Stripes Forever’ and ‘Peter and the Wolf’!  This concert will bring back memories for everyone and will have your feet tapping!

Please go to the Datelist page for details of our future performances.