Self-taught multi-instrumentalist Alan Arnold describes the good times of a lifelong career playing trumpet and bass parts of traditional mainstream jazz, locally around Essex, nationally, and internationally. Playing a variety of clubs, festivals, radio…

Avril and George illustrate how they enjoyed swing and waltz music through film and radio and observed a sudden change with the rebellion of the modern rockers movement as they entered the 1960s. Youth members Dan, Frank, and Aidan…

Kent-born freelance jazz photographer Brian O'Connor emphasises that his rich portfolio of jazz legends and events has largely been thanks to the right timing and connections from the start. Limitations and customs of the '40s and '50s sparked…

Nigerian born saxophonist Camilla George ‘got to love jazz’ initially through the vivid exposure her parents provided. A good breadth of jazz via their vinyl collection and regular trips to Ealing Jazz Festival which intrigued and bewildered the youngster…

Colleen is attracted to music's energy, and its power to help people communicate and express themselves. Being where the live music is, is her lifeline: “Whatever it is, you can’t live without music… I like a beat and I like to get up and dance.”…

Crissy grew up in a family of musicians, and was inspired from early on by jazz big bands. We hear her great enthusiasm for the many genres and fusions she loves to perform and coordinate through a busy and vibrant career. We learn how she's…

As the Colchester Jazz Club recently celebrated 60 years in operation, its chairman Dave Bailey speaks about realities of financial challenges for a venue hosting traditional jazz today. Committed to keeping the genre relevant, strategies are…

Lambeth resident since the '70s, musician and journalist David Gelly confesses you'd have little trouble to identify, in what was then the London suburbs, a stream of venues where you could access live jazz. We learn setting up gigs and venues…

Derek Coller's investments in jazz began with getting ‘hooked’ on big bands as a young teenager. Collecting discographical information and biographies of musicians led to him becoming an author and jazz magazine editor. He describes his special…

LYP youth member Dan, and Age UK members Brenda and Doreen talk about the opportunities music has given them. Dan progresses in guitar and piano with the music lessons offered at school today. Brenda and Doreen appreciated anything…