The Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra

Since they were formed in 1968, the eight piece Orchestra have released EP's, LP's, cassettes and CD's (click here for latest CD) as well as appearing on numerous television shows including a 30 minute feature as part of Granada TV's Music on the Move series. When HRH the Prince of Wales visited Liverpool, the Blue Mags were invited to play for him. The chaps are, of course, widely travelled throughout the UK and Europe. At the Den Bosch festival in Holland, they won the prestigious Band of the Year award in the face of competition from 100 bands all over the world. What makes the Blue Mags so popular is that their style of playing and their uninhibited approach fits in, whatever the occasion. They are constantly in demand for University balls, dinner dances, sports clubs, jazz festivals, weddings, because they are masters at appealing to all age groups.

The line up consists of clarinet, trumpet, saxophone and trombone. The rhythm section has drums, piano, banjo and double bass. The chaps will tell you that they are entertainers rather than a 'serious' jazz band and their repertoire supports this view. They claim that jazz is an entertaining and enjoyable music that can be appreciated by everybody. However, let's not underestimate the Blue Mags. You don't win Band of the Year awards and get asked to play at all the major jazz festivals year after year just by producing a happy sound. Nor are recreations of the Morton Hot Peppers and King Oliver classics possible by other than skilled musicians. It is just that the band's philosophy is " enjoy yourselves!!"

The Boy Scouts did Jazz and the Blue Magnolias a favour when they told Les he was too small to be a drummer! They gave him a bugle instead. Just like the Scout motto `Be Prepared', Les was prepared to learn the bugle and three years later progressed to trumpet. Later in life Les played for the Chris Hamilton Band and Bags Watmough before joining the Blue Mags in 1973. Les is the proprietor of a jeweller's shop where he lives in Frodsham with is wife flying Carolyn and children Simon and Nicola. Les is keen on outdoor pursuits. When he's not flying his micro-light, you'll find him canoeing or sailing. Jazz favourites: Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke and Bobby Hackett.

Dennis could play the piano, violin, double bass and guitar but had never played the banjo, when he was told the Blue Mags were short of . . . that's right a banjo player. Dennis promptly volunteered and he joined the band on six months probation. 20 years later he's still going strong. Dennis was born in Edmonton, North London and as a 15- year-old played with the Kit Kats (`Bay City Rollers eat your hearts out'). He moved to Liverpool in 1976 and now lives on the Wirral with his two children Daniel and James. Dennis is a computer studies tutor. Favourite musicians: Eric Clapton and King Oliver.

Bob was only 10 years old when he began tickling the ivories on the family piano at his Wolverhampton home. As a self-taught musician, he quickly picked up the boogie influence from the likes of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons and traditional Jazz Bands of the 40's and 50's. Bachelor Bob has lived in Wallasey since 1963 and has been with the band since their early days in 1968. Tongue-in-cheek, he will tell you he considers himself shy - until he sits at the piano. Formerly a lecturer in art and design at the Wirral Metropolitan College, Bob is now retired and enjoys playing golf, and boating. Favourite musicians: Fats Waller and Oscar Peterson.

Musical education started early as a boy soprano in the local parish church choir. As a teenager he was infected by the `Jazz bug' on hearing a record of Pee Wee Hunt s l2th Street rag. A metal clarinet quickly followed (bought mail order) and with pals started the Riverside Dixielanders, in Canal Street (Runcorn not New Orleans). Years followed working for local dance band leaders, including the famous Geraldo. Harold joined the Blue Mags in 1994 following the departure of Trevor Stent. Favourite Jazz players: Barney Bighard, Ben Webster and Johhny Hodges. Harold retired recently after 40 years as a press photographer and lives in Rainhill with his wife Joan.

Arthur is the newest member of the band and the only Yorkshire man to boot. He started playing at school in Bradford at the age of 13, sharing a baritone with his elder brother. Six months later his music teacher suggested changing to the trombone to avoid sharing. At the age of 15 he played Eb Bass in the first National Youth Brass Band and at the age of 17 he left Brass Bands to concentrate on playing in Dance Bands. He has played with various bands spanning forty years - New Orleans Express, Wabash Jazzmen etc. Also he has played alongside several celebrities e.g. Humphrey Lyttelton, Max Collie, Kenny Ball, Chris Barber and Jabbo Smith. Influence by Chris Barber in the early days also Trummy Young and Jack Teagarden. After 40 years in Distribution Management, he has now retired and lives with his wife Gill in Hartford, Northwich.

Early guitar /violin lessons sparked a love of stringed instruments and his graduation to the bass fiddle. Since then Chris Jones has played big band shows, various jazz groups, run music workshops and played conga drums in Salsa band. Chris joined the Blue Mags in 1998 Later he "Ran away to sea" playing on the Cunard QE2 for two world cruises before returning to the band in .2007. With his "Jones" surname, no surprise when his family left his birthplace, Manchester for North Wales. where Chris still resides. In addition to Jazz he likes Afro- American, Blues, & Soul music, His favourite bass players Ray Brown & Cachao.

"40 Years"

Some 18 tracks including.

BUDDY'S HABIT, DAPPER DAN, FISH SELLER, SAVOY BLUES, WEARY BLUES ETC

	Trumpet1	Trumpet2	Clarinet	Drums	Bass	Banjo	Trombone	Piano	Saxo- phones	Roadie/ Sound
1968	Ken Simms	Jon Critchley	Trevor Stent	John Cochrane	Jeff Samuels	Geoff Walker	Alan Miller	Bob Hayward
1972				Tony Antrobus	Gerry Grogan	Tom Kirby			Ken Dockers
1973	Les Harris
1974					Roger Hewitt	Phil Probert				Frank. Hudston
1976						Dennis Harrison
1978							Bob Hambleton
1994			Harold Troughton
1993							Arthur Pedder
1998					Chris Jones					Gareth Wyn- Williams
2004					Keith Small
2008					Chris Jones

The tracks on this CD have been selected to include all past and present members; they have been taken from EP's, LP's, cassette and CD recordings of the band, the first one being recorded in 1969. Trying to condense 40 years into 40 minutes was almost as difficult as charting the band's history!!

INTERNET CD OFFER £11 inc Post & Package Cheques/ PO to Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra

The cost (including Post-package UK only) = £11.00

No.	Track Title	No.	Track Title
1.	Come On And Stomp	8.	Treasure Island
2.	Running Wild	9.	Sweet Georgia Brown
3.	Miss Jenny's Ball	10.	The Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid
4.	Stranger On The Shore	11.	Yellow Dog Blues
5.	Milenburg Joys	12.	Somebody Stole my Girl
6.	Old Fashioned Love	13.	Creole Love Call
7.	Papa Dip	14.	King Of The Swingers

INTERNET CD OFFER £11 inc Post & Package Cheques/ PO to Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra

BLUE MAGNOLIA Internet Offer
c/o Harold Troughton,
18, Mooreway,
Rainhill,
Merseyside,
L35 6PD.
email: haroldtroughton at msn.com
(please use the normal email format using @ )