'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 show by Terry and his Band. "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 show represents the brightest and most dynamic versions of this material for many a year.