Musician Profile

Band Info

Dave Leithead – (Trumpet)
Dave hails from Nottingham (where he still lives) and took up trumpet at school at the age of 11, playing in the band and orchestra and eventually in the Nottinghamshire County Youth Orchestra. His taste for jazz soon prevailed however and in 1961 he appeared ‘live’ to a viewing audience of 8 million on BBC TV’s “All Your Own” in the Chequers Jazz Band with five of his school friends. He formed his own Imperial Jazz Band which in 1962 backed George Melly on a CND Concert at St. Pancras Town Hall, London. In the later 1960’s and the 70’s Dave played in various Midlands jazz outfits notably the Johnny Johnstone All-Stars (still going) and Jazz Spectrum, formed by pianist Ralph Laing who later formed Groove Juice Special which Dave joined in 1983. With GJS he recorded, broadcast on radio and TV and appeared at jazz festivals including Edinburgh, Brecon, Eindhoven and Breda. In later years GJS featured a two-trumpet line-up with Dave and the legendary Al Fairweather. Dave was also a long serving member of Tony’s Cronies, a Derby-based band led by trombonist Tony Bracegirdle who for many years organised a series of charity jazz concerts featuring American jazz stars backed by the Cronies. During this period Dave was privileged to play alongside the likes of Billy Butterfield, Warren Vache, Ken Peplowski, Art Hodes, and Howard Alden. In addition with other bands Dave has played alongside dozens of British and American jazz legends including Barney Kessel, Slim Gaillard, Bruce Adams, Bruce Turner, and of course Humph. For the last 20 years, Dave has been a member of the Bob Wilson Jazz and Swing Band and in 2007 worked with Bob’s band on a two week Mediterranean cruise aboard Saga Rose.
Dave’s varied musical career has seen him playing fanfare trumpet with a jousting team, venturing into Jazz-Rock notably with legendary 1970’s Nottingham band Cisco, and he has also worked with Harlem, the Ken Colyer Legacy New Orleans Jazz Band and Colin Bryant’s Hot Rhythm Orchestra. In February 2009 Dave was invited to join the Pete Allen Jazz Band and played with them over the next two years in the UK, Denmark and Germany and recorded two CD’s. Pete disbanded at the end of 2010. Late in 2010 Dave took over the trumpet chair of the Sonny Monk Society Jazz Band when Sonny had to step down for health reasons. In June 2011 they were chosen to be the Support Band on Rod Stewart’s UK “Heart & Soul” Tour, playing five dates to audiences of 20,000 people ....... a memorable experience.
Dave’s 2012 schedule also sees him playing many dates alongside local reedman and bandleader Matt Palmer. In addition Dave regularly works with the George Huxley Jazzmen and Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz.