British Traditional Jazz 1953-1963

I created this video for the Epsom & Ewell U3A Classic Jazz Group meeting in July 2012 from clips on YouTube of Acker Bilk, Humphrey Lyttleton, Chris Barber and Kenny Ball to illustrate the sound of the popular jazz music of the decade. The essentials were a front line of trumpet or cornet, clarinet and trombone, and a rhythm section consisting of banjo, string double bass, and drums, or traps as they sometimes named them. Acker and Kenny Ball also used a piano, whereas Chris Barber rarely had one. Saxes and guitars were generally disliked, to the extent that many people would show their anger if either were produced. Fortunately, these days we now prepared to tolerate a wider range of instruments, even the flugle horn, violin, flute and penny whistle, as long as the musicians don't push their luck too far!