Chris Barber Jazz Band
1952 - 2019
The Chris Barber Jazz Band started in September 1952 when Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan and Monty Sunshine were tired of playing in amateur bands and decided to form their own professional band. In 1953 the band joined Ken Colyer and were known as the Ken Colyer Jazz Men. After the break-up with Colyer, in May 1954, the band returned to their old name, The Chris Barber Jazz Band. From then on, till Chris Barber stopped touring in 2019, he used the name The Chris Barber Jazz Band.
From September 1952 till March 1953 The Chris Barber Jazz Band played trad jazz with a skiffle set in between two sets, like The Crane River Jazz Band. After Pat Halcox left the band in February 1953 the band searched for a replacement when they heard that their hero, and former frontman of The Crane River Jazz Band was coming back from New Orleans. From March 1953 till May 1954 the band members joined Ken Colyer until they had enough of Colyer and reformed The Chris Barber Jazz Band.
After the break-up with Colyer the band continued were they had finished and Pat Halcox re-joined the band. They first concentrated on their live shows, again playing two trad jazz sets and a skiffle set in between. In April 1955 their debut album 'New Orleans Joys' is released, on the album their are two skiffle songs ('Rock Island Line' and 'John Henry'). These two songs are released in December 1955 as a single and that single started the skiffle craze in the UK.
Band members:
Chris Barber (trombone)
Jim Bray (bass)
Lonnie Donegan (banjo)
Monty Sunshine (clarinet)
Pat Halcox (trumpet)
Ron Bowden (drums)
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Alexis Korner (guitar) joined briefly in 1952 or 1953
Dickie Bishop (acoustic guitar) joined in July 1954
Ottilie Patterson (vocals) joined in June 1954