THE ORIGINAL PANAMA JAZZBAND
Click on a musician for details
Contacts:
Jon
Critchley 01829 751815
Dave
Thomas 0194 267 4516
E-mail:
joncritchley@jazzonline.org.uk
The
OPJB has a style of clean crisp Dixieland and New Orleans jazz and is well
respected amongst musicians and audiences alike. Rather than sticking in a
particular idiom the repertoire comes from every era and influence. Most
importantly, it's played with competence and a flair for good ensemble work,
dynamics and enthusiasm ideally suited to the many guests featured with the
band, including Humph, Kenny Ball, Roy Williams, Alan Elsdon, Pete Allen, the late Campbell
Burnap, George Chisholm and Tommy Burton.
The internationally renowned New Orleans based record
producer George Buck raved about the tape “The Panama Jazzband” and he put
it out on CD on his GHB Label. Further
recordings “Live at The Vic” and “Something For The Weekend” and
“Smoke That!” are also hugely popular.
Always based in Wirral it has held residencies for
all of this time, including a 15-year stint at The Black Horse in West Kirby,
The Eagle & Crown in Upton Village, The Grange in Moreton and two long
stints at The Hotel Victoria New Brighton.
Currently they can be heard every Wednesday at Upton Tennis Club, Upton
Village, Wirral.
So:
if you’re having
a wedding / birthday / funeral / trial separation / all four, and want it to go
with a swing, look no further!
Jon
was born in the baby-boom years in Bromborough, Wirral and developed an interest
in jazz in the early ‘60s Trad Boom years, lying in the bath on Sunday
mornings listening to Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen on Brian Matthews’ “Easy
Beat” on the radio. Numerous
baths later he bought a trumpet and joined the school orchestra which
fortunately had a nucleus of renegade jazz enthusiasts, including his then
physics teacher Ian Robertson (now trombonist with The Peninsular Jazzmen) and
fellow pupil and bass player Howard Worthington.
With
his brother Peter on drums he formed the West Coast Jazzband, together with
Howard, banjoist /guitarist Roy Gregory (The Parade Jazzband) and piano player
John Hill (The Phoenix Jazzmen and Terry Perry’s “Big Easy”).
Later he joined the Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra and played second cornet
to Ken Sims.
In
1973 he left the BMJO and joined the OPJB when trumpeter John Brabham left to go
to Australia. As well as the OPJB
he has also played with Roger Brown’s “Banjo-Free Zone”, The Harlem Hot
Stompers (5 years) and 3 years with Terry Perry’s “Big Easy” Band.
DAVE
THOMAS: CLARINET / VOCALS
Dave
became interested in jazz in the 1950s when he became aware of George Lewis, and
played with many bands before joining the RAF.
Here he formed a band, which, for a number of years, toured Cyprus (at
the request of England).
He
returned to England in 1962 and joined the OPJB, sharing the clarinet chair with
Keith Jones. He has an instinctive
ear for harmony and his superb tone and attacking style equals that of many
professional musicians. The singing
is pretty good, too. When he’s not playing with the band, Dave has played with
many bands including the Merseysippi JB on their Sacremento Jazz Festival
visits.
The
playing of Chris Barber inspired Bob when he (Bob, not Chris) was aged 14 to
change from piano to trombone. He
has studied at the Open University where he obtained a B.A. in music.
Before that he played with the Original Dam Jazzband (1974-76), led the
Martinique Band (1976-78) and spent 18 years with the Blue Magnolia Jass
Orchestra.
In
1997 Bob joined the OPJB to enjoy a wider ranging repertoire and breadth of jazz
styles.
Bob’s
favourite bands and musicians include Basie, Al Grey, Vic Dickenson, Dickie
Wells and Bob Brookmeyer. He
currently splits the rest of his life with his wife Chris, trombone tuition and
landscape gardening.
Hugh
started bass playing began during his 6th form years at school.
As a student he played in the Liverpool University Jazz Band, and, in the
annual Inter-Varsity Jazz Contests of 1957 and 1958 gained the award of “Most
Outstanding Musician”. After
graduation, he played for 2 years with the Ken Morrell Trio in Sunderland.
The years which followed found him in bands ranging from traditional to
modern: Dave Ellis Trio, Liverpool (1961-63); Deian Hopkin Quartet, Aberystwyth
(1964-66); John Rubin Trio, Liverpool (1966-70); Terry Hawkes Band, Cardiff
(1973-78), and then various other Merseyside groups including The Dave Saul Duo
and John Dunbavand Trio alongside his old chum Trevor Carlisle, backing those
artists mentioned above, as well as Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, Roy Williams and the late Campbell
Burnap.
Hugh
joined the OPJB in 1991. Major
Influences include Ray Brown, Percy Heath, Leroy Vinnegar and Red Mitchell.
Born
in Southport, Terry formed The Darktown Strutters Jazzband in the 1950s and
played alongside many visiting bands including Alex Welsh, Sandy Brown and also
the Original Panama J.B, which he joined in the mid 1960s.
His style of playing is greatly influenced by the early blues players.
Since the acquisition of an electric piano, his mournful cry of “Is
there a piano in the house? Never mind, this’ll do” is happily rarely heard.
Tony
brought his easy swing style of drumming to the band in May 2002.
He’s self taught, and began by playing skiffle when he was fourteen;
later graduating to jazz during the late ‘50’s trad revival.
He turned professional in 1965 and did a seven monthl tour of Americal
military bases in Spain and Morocco. On
his return he established himself as house musician on the Liverpool night club
circuit: later playing theartres, summer seasons and cruises.
He is a regular with many bands and at the Isle of Man
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