Three of our Current CDs

Mainly Traditional

This CD is a follow-up to Strictly Traditional, (LACD117) which my band recorded for Paul Adams in early 1999 at The Stables Theatre at Wavendon, which was once again the location for this recording. There are some notable differences between the earlier recordings and Mainly Traditional, one being the type of material chosen and another the featuring of a female vocalist for the first time ever on one of my recording sessions. The lady in question being my youngest daughter, Melinda. Melinda started singing only two years ago, and has made remarkable progress. This session was the first time she had sung with arranged backing, and excellent arrangements they are, from pianist John Betts who, sadly, died of a heart attack just a week after the recordings. John came into the band a couple of years ago on a regular basis immediately making an impact with his accomplished, classy playing, both as a soloist and pianist. He was a fine musician and a nice man who we will miss greatly.

The choice of material is somewhat broader on this CD than on Strictly Traditional, with origins as diverse as Jelly Roll Morton (Wolverine Blues) and Billie Holliday (God Bless The Child).

More emphasis is placed on showcasing the individual talents of the guys in the band, and vocals are more to the fore than our previous CD. Throughout this album there is plenty of nice tight ensemble work, some sparkling solos from Paul and Ian, and the rhythm section swings like nobody's business. Add to this, performance which differ greatly in mood and tempo, played within a framework which I like to consider Mainly Traditional and the mix is complete!
The Band:

Terry Lightfoot (Clarinet, Saxes, Vocals)
Paul Lacey (Trumpet)
Ian Bateman (Trombone)
John Betts (Piano)
Tony Pitt (Banjo)
Andy Lawrence (Bass)
John Richardson (Drum)

also featuring Melinda Lightfoot (Vocals)

Track List :

  1. Royal Garden Blues
  2. C'est Si Bon
  3. Careless Love
  4. Sweet Sue
  5. Just A Gigolo
  6. Riverboat Shuffle (mp3 download 5Mb)
  7. Someday You'll Be Sorry
  8. God Bless The Child
  9. Sunday
  10. Sunny Side of the Street
  11. Rocking Chair
  12. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
  13. Moonglow
  14. Wolverine Blues
  15. What A Wonderful World
  16. Willie The Weeper
Special Magic of Louis Armstrong

I first met Louis Armstrong at a party thrown by Humphrey Lyttleton to honour "Satch" when he came to London in 1956 for a one-off charity concert.  The idea was to invite all the Band Leaders of the day, and I qualified as the youngest, least experienced of them all at that time.  Just to be in the presence of the great man was enough but to "jam" with him was overwhelming.

I subsequently met Louis on several occasions, and in 1965 had the thrill of appearing with my band as guests on some of the concerts he gave that year in Britain with his wonderful "All Stars".   It is this band which Louis first brought to Great Britain in the 1950s, rather than his earlier ones, which has most influenced the style and content of this album. For this is the line-up which people of my generation were able to see "live" on stage, and which gave such wonderful performances in that great movie "High Society".  It was also during this period that "Satch" made great jazz  albums such as "Satch Plays Fats" and "Louis Armstrong plays WC. Handy ", followed in the sixties by his chart bits "Mack The Knife", "Hello Dolly" and
" Wonderful World - which I have included here.  Having heard and performed alongside the "All Stars", and with their instrumentation being the same as that of my own band, I feel I can really identify with them

It was always Louis' policy to feature the members of the band, hence my rendition of the pretty "Dardanella", a salute to one of his finest clarinetists, Edmond Hall.  I would also like to draw attention to the fact that, although I have included the hit "All The Time In The World', this is a very different treatment, an arrangement made by our trombone player, Phil Rhodes.  Special mention also must be made of the fine performance of " Weatherbird Rag, by Paul Lacey and Mick Pyne. A word, too, in praise of John Armatage and Andy Lawrence who, along with Mick, provide a great rhythm team, and Phil, a tower of strength throughout.

Ever since that occasion in 1956, I have wanted to pay a musical tribute to
Armstrong and, thanks to Brian Gibbon at Start, I have realised that ambition.
This, then, is my salute to "Satch", with my band and myself performing some of the great songs that are synonymous with him, played and sung in our own particular style.  You may be surprised buy the inclusion of "You'll Never Walk Alone", but this was a firm favourite of his, which he recorded in 1956.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this album, and, if you do, why not come along and catch our "Stage Tribute - The Special Magic of Louis Armstrong".  I'll be delighted to see you.
Track Listing:
  1. Jeepers Creepers
  2. Muskrat Ramble
  3. Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream On
  4. You'll Never Walk Alone
  5. Mack The Knife
  6. Wonderful World
  7. Hello Dolly
  8. Tin Roof Blues
  9. Dardanella
  10. Now You Has Jazz
  11. All The Time In The World
  12. Mame
  13. Dippermouth Blues
  14. Lazy River
  15. Faithful Hussar
  16. Cabaret
  17. Sleepy Time Down South
  18. Weatherbird Rag
  19. Blueberry Hill
  20. Indiana
The Band:

Terry Lightfoot (Clarinet, Saxes, Vocals)
Paul Lacey (Trumpet)
Phil Rhodes (Trombone)
Mick Pyne (Piano)
Andy Lawrence (Bass)
John Armatage (Drums)

Strictly Traditional
TERRY LIGHTFOOT..... MOVING ON BUT STILL STRICTLY TRADITIONAL

The Jazz Revival of the 1940's and 50's in the USA quickly found its way to Britain, where there hitherto had never been a "Jazz Scene" as such - even though in the pre-war years there was a growing popularity for the music in France, fuelled by a number of US luminaries such as Benny Carter, Sydney Bechet and even Satchmo himself. Meanwhile, in the UK, the BBC even banned "hot music" from the radio! There were many jazz . musicians playing in the dance bands which featured jazz interludes, but very few events entirely devoted to jazz music until during the second world war.  The Rhythm Clubs of the 1940's gradually evolved into the first jazz clubs of the late forties and early fifties and very soon came the first UK bands playing mainly in the Traditional "New Orleans" style.

Soon, there was a distinctly "British" sound emerging which the media of the day paraphrased as 'Trad' Jazz and the movement was popularised by bands such as Ken Colyer, Chris Barber, Kenny Ball and Terry Lightfoot.  Initially the most likely venues for these performances were clubs, drill halls and pubs, but gradually the music was elevated to the concert stages of Europe where it remains today.

The Terry Lightfoot Band played its first major concert at The Royal Festival Hall in 1956 and has remained at the forefront of the bands playing in the traditional style, whilst evolving and developing its own identity along the way. Its repertoire has incorporated swing, blues and modem influences throughout this evolution without losing those roots.

This fact cannot be better typified than by the latest CD offering by Terry and his Band on Lake Records. "Strictly Traditional" is the title and it is packed with traditional jazz favourites which were a staple part of the programme for most bands in those 'Trad' days, such as Bugle Boy March, Panama, Hiawatha and many others. - This brand new recording represents the brightest and most dynamic versions of this material for many a year. If you don't agree, then go Jump in The Wabash!
Track Listing:
  1. Dans Les Rue D'Antibes
  2. The Martinique
  3. Bugle Boy March
  4. Old Fashioned Love
  5. Panama
  6. Louisian-i-ay
  7. Down Home Rag
  8. Tishomingo Blues
  9. Hiawatha
  10. King Kong
  11. St. Philips Street Breakdown
  12. Wabash Blues
  13. South
  14. Everybody Loves My Baby
  15. Yama Yama Man
The Band:

Terry Lightfoot (Clarinet, Saxes, Vocals)
Paul Lacey (Trumpet)
Ian Bateman (Trombone)
Richard Simmons (Piano)
Tony Pitt (Banjo)
Andy Lawrence (Bass)
John Richardson (Drums)