Band Profile

Band Info

Hugh Rainey’s Jazz Band In the 1950’ and 1960’s Hugh played banjo professionally with Bob Wallis, Terry Lightfoot, Monty Sunshine and Cy Laurie, winning a Melody Makers poll. The Hugh Rainey Jazz Band was formed in 1970, when Hugh took up the trumpet. Hugh Rainey Jazz Band has played continually since then, mainly in Essex and Greater London at clubs, concerts, festivals, functions etc, and in recent years to enthusiastic acclaim at several major jazz festivals. From the start they have had a healthy diversity of musical preferences ranging from Bourbon Street to Swing Street, Dixieland to Duke Ellington, with so much inspiring music throughout the golden years of jazz why confine yourself to listening to, or playing, only one narrowly defined style? So their repertoire salutes Bechet and Bix, Louis and Duke, Oliver and Basie, Fats and Jelly Roll, George Lewis and Condon, Bessie and Billie and all of the other great artists whose genius created the wonderful kaleidoscope of jazz. They try to interpret this wide range of material in their own way, aiming at an entertaining and enjoyably varied programme