Mike Lovell's SIX-IN-A-BAR Classic Jazz Band
Biography
THE BAND
I started to get asked to play Dixieland tunes and the only way to give justice to the early jazz genre, was to start a 20s/30s classic jazz band. So 6-IN-A-BAR was born and I decided, as with my previous band, to get the very best musicians around me. Now some 8 years on and with the very best musicians of early jazz in the North West, we are entertaining audiences all over the North and beyond ... Willy Entwistle of the Temperence
Seven, reeds & arrangements - Pete Eddowes, percussion - Chris Howse, banjo, tenor guitar and vocals - Colin Turner, bass saxophone & double Bb tuba, along with Andy Henderson, trumpet cornet & flugelhorn … all top players in their field. On occasions we have some internationally famous musicians guesting with us ... Keith Nichols, Alan Bames, Enrico Tomasso and Tom 'Spats' Langham, to name but a few.
6-IN-A-BAR has a very full diary, playing at most of the jazz clubs in the North, Midlands and Wales they also play at Country Fairs, Corporate Events, Hotel, Pubs, Anniversaries, etc. etc.
Mike has had the invaluable assistance from many jazz lovers, one of them being Fred Burnett who has in Mike's opinion, the UK's best jazz web site. www.jazznorthwest.co.uk
MIKE LOVELL ... leader, trombone and vocals
Born in Brighton and moving to London at an early age, Mike started playing at the age of 12 in his school's brass band. He then went on to play with the Essex Youth Orchestra and subsequently the National Youth Orchestra. At 16 he formed his first jazz band, playing in many venues in and around London. After playing in dubious `joints' in Soho and famous jazz clubs such as the 100 Club in Oxford Street and Ronnie Scott’s, Mike joined a famous American jazz/rock band and toured Scandinavia, Europe and West Africa living and based in Brussels, Belgium. He then came out of the business for several years and went into the management of casinos, night clubs, and hotels.
WILLY ENTW/STLE ... reeds, violin and flageolet
Willy started his musical career in 1966, playing cornet with the Vintage Syncopators, a comedy jazz band. e was there at the birth of Mick Burns' Rhythm Kings. Taking up saxophone, Willy returned to the Vintage Syncopators in 1973, subsequently joining a comedy act, Laughing Stock. In the `80s he went into country music, which ultimately caused him some hearing problems. Returning to jazz in 1998, Willy joined the Temperance Seven and took up clarinet, having depped with them on alto saxophone for several years. Willy is a brilliant and versatile musician and great arranger.
ANDY HENDERSON ... cornet, flugal horn and vocals
Andy started playing the trumpet from the age of eight with the newly formed St Helens concert band, progressing through the usual grade exams up to grade eight at 15 years, and subsequently joined the Scots Guards in 1978. After training at Pirbright and Kneller Hall, Andy joined the Regimental Band. In 1981 he was part of the fanfare team in St Paul's Cathedral for Prince Charles and Diana's wedding. During his time in the Scots Guards Andy toured all over the world. In 1990 he moved back to the North West and since then has played with many jazz ensembles and is comfortable playing Dixieland, mainstream and big band jazz. As well as being an integral part of SIX-IN-A-BAR+1 Andy also plays with Cafe Society and Manhattan.
COLIN TURNER ... bass saxophone and double Bb tuba
Colin first played jazz on tuba with Wigan's legendary Vintage Syncopators in 1967 and was a founder member of Mick Burns' Rhythm Kings, now better known as the Harlem Hot Stompers. He left jazz in 1975 but retuned to it in 1985 to join Bozo Butterworth's Hot Potatoes, from which sprang the 1920s style quartet, the Harmony Hounds. Apart from the Hounds, Colin also plays with the Quayside Hot Stompers and Ged Hone, and has also appeared in bands featuring Keith Nichols, Bent Persson, Norman Field and Spats Langham. Colin started doubling on bass saxophone in 1988.
CHRIS HOWES ... banjo, guitar and vocals
Chris, for many years, has been a key member of the Harmony Hounds playing banjo and guitar. He has great feel for the 20s and 30s and his singing voice lends itself beautifully to the period. For many years Chris was also a song writer at Warner Basart and certainly knows how to put lyrics across.
PETE EDDOWES... percussion, washboard and `things'
Peter has been playing jazz drums for many years working with the New Riverside Jazz Band for some 10 years and also playing alongside some great musicians such as, Cy Laurie, Neville Dickie, Roy Williams and John Barnes. Peter has also worked with comedian Jim Bowen as well as playing on cruise ships and in pantomime.