John Day (Bass)
John is currently the Bass player with Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band and The Karen Sharp Quintet, amongst the many other bands with whom he plays on a regular basis
Adrian Cox for the past ten years has been on the road as a profesional musician, playing saxaphone/clarinet at festivals, clubs and music venues all over Europe.
His style is infuenced by many jazz greats but he is also at home working in all genres of music. His career started in 1999 at the age of 15 when he joined Richard Bennett's New Orleans Jazz Band, which saw him tour the jazz clubs and festivals of England. Then in 2004 , Adrian joined the formidibale singer, TJ Johnson with whom for the last 5 years has played at major jazz/blues festivals all over the place ie. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germay, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, it goes on.
Adrian is taking time to promote himself as a freelance player, and will be putting his own band together (now and then ) as well as working on certain projects. 10 Years of playing has seen him work with many bands and musicians some of these include, TJ Johnson and his Band, Tony Pitt All Stars, Richard Bennett, Fallen Heroes, Tony Rico Richardson, Digby Fairweather, Shaney Forbes and, as of recent, Buster Bloodvessel and Bad Manners. He has also recorded on the album of Jackson Scott's band, Mano De Dios and played on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge on radio 1 with Paloma Faith !
Martin Litton
Born in 1957, Martin Litton studied at Colchester Institute, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.
His early career included periods with Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight and Kenny Ball, with whom he toured Russia and the Middle East. Later work included recordings with leading British musicians such as Humphrey Lyttleton, Wally Fawkes and Digby Fairweather.
In 2002 Martin joined The Pizza Express All-Stars led by veteran saxophonist Tommy Whittle. His contribution to singer Clare Teal’s first three albums as arranger and pianist was highly acclaimed.
Martin has toured Britain and Europe with the late Keith Smith’s Hefty Jazz. His own eight-piece band Martin Litton’s Red Hot Peppers expertly recreates the music of Jelly Roll Morton and has been featured on BBC radio and at festivals throughout the UK. Other jazz repertory projects include his Gramercy Five, featuring Mark Crooks (clarinet) and Enrico Tomasso (trumpet), and his Ellingtonians, showcasing the singer Val Wiseman with a quintet that includes saxophone and violin.
A successful tour of Australia with Tom “Spats” Langham in 2006 has led to a further tour, scheduled for November 2009. With the bass player Richard Vernon, Spats and Martin form The Sporting House Strings. He also plays for The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra and Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra.
Martin has contributed his knowledge of classic jazz piano playing on several occasions to BBC Radio Three’s Jazz Library and he appeared on that same network’s programme “In The Name Of The Fatha,” where he demonstrated at the keyboard the style of Earl Hines.
Martin regularly appears with the Swedish Jazz Kings and has also worked with many American musicians including Bob Wilbur, Scott Hamilton, George Masso, Peanuts Hucko and Al Casey. He has recorded with Kenny Davern, Wild Bill Davison, Yank Lawson and Marty Grosz.
Martin’s many recordings are listed in Eurojazz Discos No.50, compiled by Gerard Bielderman. His first solo CD on the American Solo Art label was shortlisted in Jazz Journal’s 1994 critics’ poll, and his latest solo album Falling Castle was declared “a gem” by The Jazz Rag.
“Martin Litton is a strong, sophisticated soloist with an eclectic style and an eye to predentation.”-Jazz-The Essential Companion.
“…a soloist of genuine quality, quick to see and seize a creative opportunity.”-The Stage
“Litton excels as blues man, strider and swinger.”-Jazz Journal
“His style comprises driving swing and gentle melodic invention, in addition he is a good accompanist.”-Jazz Journal
See also-Who’s Who Of British Jazz by John Chilton (published by Cassell).
Malcolm Sked (Sousaphone and string bass) started Euphonium at school, and joined the local brass band when he was 13. At 16 he joined the Charleston Chasers playing Tuba, and later Sousaphone, and stayed with the band for 15 years! In 2000 he joined Bob Kerrs Whoopee Band and has toured extensively around Europe.
As well as working with Hot Fingers and the Hot Combination, Malcolm works freelance for a wide variety of bands and musicians of all styles and sizes, including Keith Nichols, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and Martin Litton, as well as continuing with Bob Kerrs Whoopee Band.
We are pleased to welcome back Gentleman Jim to the Rhythm Aces. Jim is well known world wide as one of the best band banjo men and is on most of the recorded works of The Rhythm Aces, having been in the band for over 20 years previously. He also does a mind-boggling act with a mini harmonica in his mouth.
Roger Myerscough (Clarinet) - Born in Liverpool and an ex-merchant seaman, Roger is another ex-band leader, having fronted the widely known 'Yorkshire Post' band for many years before joining Phil in 1998. A fluent and melodic clarinet player, he also features, rather unusually for traditional jazz, on baritone sax.
Alan Bateman (Trumpet & Vocals)
Alan has been a regular on the Jazz Club and Festival circuit for many years, first as a Clarinet/Sax player before making the drastic switch to Trumpet in the mid-Nineties. After a long stint with the Antique Six Jazz Band, Alan was soon doing deps for Terry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen, when his brother Ian was in that band on Trombone. Alan is now a regular player with Terry Lightfoot, although Ian is no longer with them.
In the past few years Alan has sought to capture the technique and style of his favourite trumpet player Louis Armstrong. He has messed around with trumpets and mouthpieces, but what is more important he has slavishly practised and listened to the great man and we think enough has sunk in to enable him to get very close to his idol!
Steve Rushton (Drums)
We regard Steve as the jewel in our crown. We wanted somebody with the technique and flair to emulate the great Barrett Deems in our Louis Armstrong show and Steve has these attributes in abundance. Not only is he the ideal drummer for our band, but his solos are really something you shouldn't miss and we promise to unleash him on you in our concerts!
Steve is currently enjoying working live and in the studio with Imelda May. Other recent projects include recordings and concerts with Imelda, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, BBC Big Band, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Clare Teal and Tim Arnold, The Immodesty Tease Show, Joss Stone, Ray Gelato, Jane Horrocks, Robbie Williams, Neil Sedaka, Burt Weedon, Sam Moore, The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, BBC Big Band, The Ronnie Scotts All Stars, Matt Ford, Tony Jacobs, Sasha Distell, Rosemary Cloony, Petula Clark, Blue Harlem, Sheena Davis, Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, Danny La Rue, Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Back to Basie, Andy Cooper's Euro Top Eight, John Wilson Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra UK - this list goes on and on and serves to demonstrate how fortunate we are to have this great drummer in our band!
Trefor Williams, sometimes known as “Fingers”, is recognised as an accomplished double bassist, and is always in demand on the British and European jazz circuit.
He is equally “at home” providing powerful, driving traditional New Orleans slap-style accompaniments or swinging, sensitive, plucked and bowed backings, and his solo work always adds “icing” to the musical “cake” of many diverse ensembles.
Originally an Essex lad, Trefor studied double bass with one of London’s top session musicians and, subsequently, has worked with many top-line artists, from “Kid”ThomasValentine, “Wild”Bill Davison and Sammy Rimington to the “Midnite Follies Orchestra”, the “Inkspots” and Eartha Kitt.
Trefor, as well as being a founder member of “Phil Mason’s New Orleans Allstars” from 1992, worked for more than twenty-one years with the “Max Collie Rhythm Aces”. Since 1972, He has toured all over Europe, Scandinavia, the U.S.A., Canada, Japan, the cities and outback of Australia and even the jungles of Borneo.
He has a deep love and understanding of his instrument and his music, and he continues to supply a firm foundation and a joyous sound to recordings, radio and T.V. broadcasts, concerts, festivals, church services, cabarets and clubs.
Ian Bateman (Trombone)
After leaving the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1981, Ian did his jazz clubs and festivals all through the 1980's with the Pete Allen Jazz Band before leaving the UK to join Rod Mason and his Hot Five out in Germany. Ian returned to the UK in 1994 and was soon unleashed onto the European Theatre circuit when he was snapped up by Terry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen. He stayed with Terry until 2003 when he reached the absolute pinnacle of his career by joining Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band. Ian is still a member of that band, but also plays regularly for The Back To Basie Orchestra, Andy Cooper's Top 8 Band and The Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Ian has also appeared with top names such as Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttelton, The Dutch Swing College Band, Jamie Cullum and the occasional glimpse with the Ronnie Scott's All-Stars.
Ian also runs three bands of his own. The Bone Supremacy comprises five trombones + trio which he co-leads with Adrian Fry. In the first year of its existence it was voted runner-up in the British Jazz Awards, as was Ian in the Trombonist category. His Quintet plays the music of JJ Johnson and Frank Rosolino and he also runs a soul band with 5 instrumentalists called Kick Ass Brass! Ian sees the Bateman Brothers Jazz Band as the next logical step in his career, to run a band with his brother and cater for the jazz audiences that know him best.
Trevor Whiting (Clarinet)
Born in London in 1959. After initially learning tenor horn in the school brass band at the age of eleven, he heard recordings of New Orleans clarinetist Sidney Bechet and immediately decided to switch instrument. This was the beginning of a lifelong passion for Jazz in its various forms. Trevor taught himself the rudiments of clarinet and saxophone and by his late teens was beginning to do gigs with various traditional and mainstream bands around the London Jazz circuit.
By the mid eighties he had formed his own group the 'Swingtet' which featured notable musicians such as trumpeter Ray Crane, pianist Martin Litton, guitarist Paul Sealey and drummer John Armatage. The Swingtet was regularly featured in BBC Jazz Club broadcasts. During the early eighties he worked on several occasion's with the late Ken Colyer.
Since the eighties, Trevor has often enjoyed working and recording with visiting Americans including Al Casey, Art Hodes, Scott Hamilton, Marty Gross and many others, in between a busy freelance schedule. In recent years he has appeared live and on recordings with new vocal star Clare Teal. In January 2003 he toured Germany and Holland with the Big Chris Barber Band subsequently joined the band on a permanent basis. In July 2004 he came off the road to resume his career as a freelance soloist and side man.
