Musician Profile
Band Info
Ollie Benson – Banjo and Guitar. I wanted a guitar when still at primary school but I got a ukulele banjo which I never learnt to play. By the time I reached secondary, the guitar had become hugely popular due to the skiffle boom. I got my first instrument by the time I was thirteen and it was not long before I had formed my own group with some school friends. By the time I was twenty I had developed an interest in jazz and this led me to playing with some outstanding local musicians including Digby Fairweather, John Mole and Jasper Livesey. Eventually my career and family commitments curtail my musical activities but for most of my life I played in functions bands at weekends. About 2001 I gave up functions bands and joined a band playing swing jazz. I was asked to play banjo in addition to guitar and that it is when I started to play plectrum banjo which led me to play in several traditional bands. Soon after, I developed and interest in traditional Irish music and I now play Irish tenor banjo as well as guitar and mandolin for a skiffle group that likes some traditional folk music in its repertoire. It seems that I have come full circle.
Groups Played For (at CJC)
Previous Bookings
Date | Group | Instrument | Further Info |
---|---|---|---|
1st May 2022 | The New King Jazz | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
30th January 2022 | The New King Jazz | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
8th March 2020 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
12th January 2020 | Les Handscombe's Tailgate Jazz Band | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
3rd November 2019 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
12th May 2019 | Les Handscombe's Tailgate Jazz Band | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
7th April 2019 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
4th November 2018 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
27th May 2018 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
11th March 2018 | Les Handscombe's Tailgate Jazz Band | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
10th December 2017 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
17th September 2017 | Les Handscombe's Tailgate Jazz Band | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
23rd July 2017 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
29th January 2017 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
12th June 2016 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
10th January 2016 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
6th September 2015 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
8th March 2015 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
7th December 2014 | Les Handscombe's Tailgate Jazz Band | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
2nd November 2014 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
1st June 2014 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
19th January 2014 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
27th October 2013 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
26th May 2013 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
10th March 2013 | Les Handscombe's Tailgate Jazz Band | Banjo and Guitar | N/A |
30th December 2012 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
21st October 2012 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
15th July 2012 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |
18th December 2011 | Hugh Rainey's Jazz Band | Banjo | N/A |