Tony O' Sullivan - Trumpet
Tony is a self-taught musician who began playing at school then college and graduated onto the London scene in 1961 in a band led by the legendary Uncle John Renshaw, which also featured Roy Maskell. In 1963-4 he lived and worked for a year in New Orleans, studying improvisation with George Guesnon, and trumpet with DeDe Pierce. He also rehearsed with the Gibson Brass Band. On returning to the UK he joined Mike Casimir's New Iberia Stompers and played with the band until 1984. Highlights of this period included engagements with Albert Nicholas, Alvin Alcorn, Paul Barnes and Alton Purnell. In 1978 Dick Cook founded the London Ragtime Orchestra and Tony became trumpet player and presenter, the formality of reading authentic orchestrations of ragtime and early jazz classics adding a new dimension to his playing. Tony has also played with Dick Cook's Jambalaya, the Excelsior Brass Band and Bill Stotesbury's Goin' Home Band. Tony's recorded output includes sessions with the New Iberia Stompers, Paragon Brass Band, Barry Martyn's Eagle Brass Band with Louis Nelson, the London Ragtime Orchestra, Chris Watford's New Orleans Standard Bearers and the Goin' Home Band.
Terry Giles - Clarinet & Alto Sax
Terry was born in Kensington, London in 1941 and was fortunate to have a musical father who encouraged him at an early age to take up clarinet. He appreciates a wide variety of music, with a particular fondness for George Lewis and Bunk Johnson as well as "Jelly Roll" Morton, King Oliver, Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter. Terry has played with many bands and led his own quartet on the continent. He is well respected and liked for his unassuming manner, understands the clarinet's role in New Orleans ensemble and his lyrical style fits the band perfectly.
Roy Maskell - Trombone
Roy was born in Acton, London in 1938 and started to listen to jazz in the mid 1950's. He began playing trombone in 1960 after hearing Jim Robinson with the George Lewis band. Another major influence was Kid Ory. Roy's first tour was to Hamburg in 1961 with Pete Deuchar's Band. He then played with various bands until joining the Gothic Jazz Band in 1963 and staying with them for 15 years. He played with the Inter-Cities Band from 1978-1986 and has played with Freddie Kohlman, Al Casey, Chester Jones and Alton Parnell. Roy recorded and toured with Chris Barber's Brass Band featuring Dr John and made a recording with the Eagle Brass Band which included Alvin Alcorn, Capt. John Handy, Cie Frazier and Kid Sheik in the lineup. He also plays from time to time with the Jambalaya Jazz Band and The Excelsior Brass Band.
Andy Maynard - Guitar & Banjo
Andy was born in Marsden, Kent in 1946. He comes from a musical family; mother played the piano and father the violin. At the age of 5 he started piano lessons which continued throughout his school years. However, his last piano teacher was a frustrated jazz guitarist and as a result Andy bought a guitar. His older brother played the clarinet and he had a liking for George Lewis so the die was cast. A neighbour gave him an old G banjo from the loft, which served until he decided the tenor banjo was the right sound. There were two main influences: the first was reading "Shining Trumpets" and the second was seeing Emanuel Sayles live with the Kid Thomas band, a shock from which he has never recovered. After the concert, Andy's wife had to persuade him not to give up playing - some say the second bad decision of her life!
John Sirett - Bass
John was born in Ilford, Essex in 1948. He started playing banjo but switched to double bass shortly afterwards. For many years he played with the Original Blackbottom Stompers. John also plays sousaphone with the Excelsior New Orleans Brass Band. He collects memorabilia from the 1920's, particularly gramophone and 78rpm jazz recordings. He recognises the help and encouragement he received from John Arthy of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and admits to being strongly influenced by "Pops" Foster. He has an infectious sense of humour which, coupled with his big sound and driving beat, make him a tremendous asset to any band.
Colin Bowden - Drums
Colin was born in Hampstead Heath, London in 1932 and lives in Suffolk. He remembers at the age of ten seeing through a village hall window a drummer performing live and feeling that he had discovered Eldorado! Some years later, after conscription service with the RAF he renovated an old drum kit which he had bought from a workmate who was cleaning out an attic. It was late 1952. Colin was collecting Spike Jones records until he heard "Oh, Didn't He Ramble?" and that 78rpm disc by Jelly Roll Morton put him firmly on the jazz trail. Over the years main influences have been Baby Dodds, Big Sid Catlett and Art Blakey along with all the others. He is generally regarded as the finest New Orleans drummer in Europe.
Former Members:
Chris Satterly - Piano & Vocals
Chris has been playing New Orleans jazz since he joined a local band in his home town of Southampton at the age of 16. After 10 years with the Solent City Jazzmen he became a founder member of Cuff Billet's New Europa Band. During the '70's he was with Mike Casimir's New Iberia Stompers and played with New Orleans musicians such as Albert Nicholas, Alvin Alcorn and Louis Nelson. Durng the past 15 years, as a freelance musician, Chris has played with many British New Orleans-style bands, backing New Orleans veterans Kid Thomas Valentine and saxophonist Franz Jackson on British visits. He has also been playing with Jambalaya for the past ten years.
Pete Smith - Trumpet
Peter was born in 1939 and received musical tuition on piano at an early age prior to teaching himself to play the guitar. He co-founded the Eureka Jazzband in Manchester, performing on tenor banjo and guitar and then clarinet. He then joined Dave Donohoe's New Iberia Jazzband on clarinet and alto sax. Peter migrated to London in 1966 and joined John Wurr's New Sedalia Jazzband prior to joining the Louisiana Joymakers in 1985 on trumpet and then fronted Barry Palser's Savoy Jazzmen. He has also played with the Savoy All Stars and Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits. His main influences are Louis Armstrong, Henry Red Allen, Thomas Jefferson, Percy Humphrey, Edmund Hall and George Lewis.