Ken Colyer & The First Traditional Jazz Band

Lifted from an excellent TV documentary presented by George Melly. This bit of nostalgia gives the story behind the Ken Colyer Jazzmen and the Chris Barber Band. When as was our habit we visited the Burton Stone inn for a pint after band practice in Lumley Barracks just round the corner, we found some of the Chris Barber band doing a similar thing, during the interval while appearing at the Clifton Cinema, behind the pub. I remember Pat Halcox inspecting my trumpet which was near the bar in its case. He became a legend in his own lunchtime!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ken
• colyer
• jazzmen
• chris
• barber
• george
• melly
• trad
• jazz

[COLYERFAN]

19,878 George Melly Fans!

[COLYERFAN]

Yes - just saw it on the news - George Melly died today 5/7/07 aged 80. I met him in the Crown, Lincoln when he was recording a series for TV.

[grai]

did you speak to him? What was he like?

[COLYERFAN]

Yes we had a pint together. A very jovial chap - a bit posh rather like Boris Johnson, very entertaining, during the interval from the theatre across the street.

One of the girls at work was crazy after him and attended all his appearances!

[fangiobanjo]

Fantastic. The great man himself, in cheerful mood. Ken Colyer's music lives on. Thanks for posting this fascinating clip.

[skipjive]

I learnt to jive in a small hut in Cranford, Middlesex, it was called the Crane River Jazz Club. A lad Paul taught me how to jive like a maniac and the traditional jazz music must have been blaring out from Ken Collyer in his early days!!

[kiwihans]

as Pete 'kiwi' Keegan me and my skiffle group used to busk all round the west end in those days. I remember Chris Barber more for his great 'slap' bass playing on early skiffle records...I am still 'skiffling' ( Ken's term) after 53 years! Trad skiffle & blues...you cant beat it!

[wyrda222]

is there a part two?! The Skol bar towl brings back memories!

[yammayammaman]

@eldorado62 You must be absolutely bonkers!

[usafsarge7]

I like the music.in 1957 i heared itbeing played in the UK.my thoughts were somebody heared turk murphy,and bob scoby.and just copied it note for note.iven the jazz men from new orleans did not like bunk johnson.i still prefer the style of the red hot chiliy perpers before every one went for "dixyland"