The Big Chris Barber Band
At the Concorde Club
Wednesday 3rd December at
9pm
British jazz trombonist Chris Barber celebrates his 59th year as
a band leader in 2007-2008. Inspired by the King Oliver Creole Jazz
Band, Chris formed his first Barber New Orleans Band in 1949 aged
19. In 1953 with Monty Sunshine & Lonnie Donegan he joined
forces with Ken Colyer, then, with the replacement of Colyer by Pat
Halcox, Ken Colyer's Jazz Band became Chris Barber Jazz Band in
1954 and has been Europe's most successful traditional jazz bands
ever since.
Chris leads this 11-piece band, with its 7 strong front line,
playing a wide selection of his favourite music: from his roots in
New Orleans style in 'Bourbon Street Parade' (still his signature
tune) and 'Chimes Blues' to the early music of Duke Ellington
('Black & Tan Fantasy' and 'Jubilee Stomp'), and Sidney Bechet
('Petite Fleur') on to the music of Bob Crosby ('Big Noise from
Winnetka' and 'South Rampart St Parade') and further on to blues by
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee ('Cornbread, Peas and Black
Molasses') to soul (Joe Zawinul's 'Mercy Mercy Mercy) and soulful
blues like Miles Davis' 'All Blues'...... and probably back to
"When the Saints'!
Over the years Chris Barber has influenced many of today's
leading Jazz and Blues musicians... especially contemporary artists
such as Mark Knopfler, Eric Burdon, John Mayall, The Stones, Eric
Clapton and Van Morrison (with some of whose bands Chris has often
been a featured guest). The Big Chris Barber Band combine all these
ingredients into an evening of exciting and often moving Jazz and
Blues music, great entertainment for all!