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Tours
Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen KENNY BALL and his JAZZMEN
Kenny Ball is a legend. Probably the greatest test of an artist's success is his durability. Kenny is now a genuine institution, and the most successful jazz trumpet player this side of the Atlantic. His landmark recordings of the 1960s such as 'Midnight in Moscow' catapulted him to worldwide fame, and since then he has become a living legend.
Meet the Jazzmen
KENNY BALL - Trumpet & Vocals Among the leading traditional jazz trumpet players on the eastern side of the Atlantic arguably the most successful is Kenny Ball. Kenny achieved worldwide fame for his recordings in the 1960’s. Including “Midnight in Moscow” which reached No. 2 in the UK and the US charts and hit worldwide sales of more than one million copies, the debut hit “Samantha” and the smash “When I’m 64”, made Kenny a household name. With no fewer than 20 albums on sale, a Billboard Gold Microphone Award, more top 30’s in the US than Louis Armstrong, and honorary citizenship to the city of New Orleans, Kenny Ball is no less than a - true legend. Kenny was born in 1930 in Ilford, Essex. He began his career as a sideman in bands before forming his own in 1958. Moving away from the overworked traditional repertoire, the band sought out tuneful songs from all sources, gave them the ‘Kenny Ball’ treatment, gained hit after hit, and took the band to worldwide renown during the heyday of the traditional jazz boom of the 1960’s. Along with his Jazzmen, Kenny is now in his 50th year and, as a band, they continue to put on a musical, swinging show, performed with energy and enthusiasm. A tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2000, and a string of continuous gigs throughout Britain and Germany were typical among the average 150 dates per year the band fulfilled, up until 2002. At the start of the year recording began on the new album; in April Kenny was taken ill and battled with his illness to recover, complete the album, and return to performing in July. Today, the love of music inspires Kenny to continue to record. With part of that original band, John Bennett (Trombone), and other members of his current band, “Jazzical Class” is on the verge of release. In the Essex countryside setting of his 17th century home, where he lives with his wife Michelle, Kenny is a very content man, who still continues to produce some timeless, yet refreshing pieces of great jazz!
BILL COLEMAN - Double Bass Born in Leicestershire and, after leaving college, began to play jazz and has continued to play professionally ever since, nationally and internationally, starting with engagements with the legendary American drummer Kenny Clarke. For some time he has been frequently engaged backing many major jazz stars, such as a tour with American guitarist Mundell Lowe. He has featured as resident bassist on several jazz festivals, promotes jazz events and assists, whenever possible, in funding jazz projects. Bill also writes compositions for groups from trios to orchestras. In other spheres, he was Helen Shapiro's musical director and pianist for many years, toured with Kike Dee plus spells with such as Sir Harry Secombe, The Barron Knights etc.
NICK MILLWARD - Drums & Vocals Born in Birmingham Nick was given his first drum kit at the age of 5 and was soon to be inspired by the likes of Gene Krupa, Ed Thigpen, Dennis Chambers and in particular the drummer he has styled himself on, Buddy Rich. Before joining Kenny in 1999, he toured the world with many other bands, starting with an American rock cover band. Nick turned professional when he became a member of the Pete Allen Jazzband, with whom he played for 5 years. He was later with Terry Lightfoot, then the First Class Sounds band featuring Digby Fairweather. In addition to all this, he also runs his own trio or quartet which allows him to display his vocal talents.
JOHN BENNETT - Trombone John, a founder member of the band, was born in East London 'within the sound of Bow Bells'. He started out in jazz at an early age as a self-taught boogie woogie pianist, and regularly picked the lock of the school piano with his nail file in order to give lunch-hour recitals to his fellow pupils. This was severely frowned upon by the educational authorities of the day, though it did earn John a lasting place in his schools underground hall of fame. Later on he took up trombone, and while stationed in London on National Service with the army, John spent his off-duty evenings sitting in with bands at various jazz clubs in the Soho area. He went professional with the Terry Lightfoot band in 1956, and there met Kenny Ball who was also to join that band eighteen months later.
ANDY COOPER - Clarinet & Vocals Born, Elgin Scotland 1942. Started playing clarinet at school in Oxford. After leaving Art College at Cambridge, he turned professional in 1963, playing with the London City Stompers, Charlie Galbraith All Stars and the Alan Elsdon Band with whom he toured with his idol Edmund Hall. He joined Kenny Ball in 1967 and in 1968 recorded I Wanna Be Like You! from Walt Disney's Jungle Book which has now become his trade mark! He recorded a successful Jazz-House CD with his son Paul in 1995 which he really enjoyed doing. When touring commitments with Kennys permit, Andy tours with his Europe Top 8 Band. His hobby is living for fun and fun for living! P.S. Andy says: "I enjoy being an idiot!"
HUGH LEDIGO - Piano Born at the beginning of the Swing era, Hughs original love was classical music, but his brothers success as a jazz-band-leader lured him across the tracks at a tender age. His musical tastes still embrace Bach and Debussy, Bix and Duke. After years of jazz and nightclubs, Hugh became MD for London's prestigious Showboat Theatre-Restaurant before joining the famous Pasadena Roof Orchestra. After belatedly completing his formal training with the concert pianist Eileen John, Hugh joined the ranks of Kenny Ball's Jazzmen in November 1987. He is equally at home playing Dixieland through to Be-Bop and beyond, and classical music - but only behind locked doors!
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