The Cotton City Jazz Band
The Cotton City Jazz Band was formed in 1954 and was resident at the Brunswick Hotel in Bury. In those days, the band was lead by Doug Whaley and played around the Manchester jazz scene for four years or so before disbanding when Doug went to Oxford University. The name Cotton City has been used by at least two Bury based bands since those early
days, with Barry Aldous re-forming the band and taking on the bandleader role in 1986. Barry played clarinet with the original band from 1956-57 before signing-up for National Service and was keen to keep the Louis Armstrong All Stars sound that Doug Whaley gave the original band. Doug agreed to join the band along with pianist Maurice Gavan who also occasionally played with the original band. The band played at the De la Salle Rugby Club for 10 years and was strictly a re-union band. After a short pause, the band has been re-established and is currently enjoying some success locally.
The present 7 piece line-up is:
Barry Aldous - Leader, Clarinet and Tenor Sax.
Barry has played clarinet since aged 17 years when he first met pianist and clarinettist Maurice Gavan at a Blackburn jazz club. He has played tradition jazz on both clarinet and bass since the 1950's with the George Jackson JB and the Jackson-Bradshaw JB, the Rainy City JB, Cromwell JB, Panama JB and alongside Don Long. He as been fortunate enough to backed many well known musicians including Wild Bill Davidson, Bud Freeman, Roy Williams, Humphrey Lytleton, Chuck Conners.
Doug Whaley - Trumpet.
Doug needs no introduction with regard to his background and experience having played with the best on many occasions. His recent health problems has restricted his playing activities and his place is now being shared with Ged Hone who also need no introduction.
Mike Pearson - Trombone.
Relatively new to the jazz scene, Mike has made his mark in a very short space of time as a featured guest with several bands. He is now limiting his playing time due to workload elsewhere but has offered his services to Cotton City whenever required. Mike is an articulate player with a style that fits the band well.
John Muskett - Bass
A gentleman of stature that requires the spike on his bass to be extended to the limit. He often plays without amplification and is a walking encyclopaedia of early popular music. John plays with other bands and runs his own jazz trio.
Maurice Gavan - Piano
Maurice is well known for his clarinet and piano playing as well as leading his own outfits. His jazz history lies in the main with the George Jackson band and the Smoky City JB. He has also shared the stage with Barry during the Cromwell JB years and with bands lead by trombonist Don Long. He has supported many great names over the years.
Grant Hogan-Taylor - Drums
Once upon a time, a drummer and bandleader named Nev Taylor had a jump band. Nev played a wood grained Premier kit and retired to Scotland after many successful years on the Manchester jazz scene. Grant inherited his fathers kit and still plays it with Cotton City and other bands, including the Don Long band with Barry and Maurice. Grant is a very good musician, teaching music theory and piano professionally as well as having played trumpet.
John Gordon - Guitar
John is well known for his Gypsy style of playing but his breadth of experience and knowledge allows him style of band. With the Cotton City, he plays a solid rhythm and is appreciated for his featured solos - any tune, any key that's John.
The Cotton City Jazz Band incorporates musicians of a high standard playing a varied program of Dixieland and mainstream jazz around the Manchester area. Bandleader, Barry Aldous runs a jazz club in Ramsbottom and provides jazz services to others involved playing and organising jazz events. More about this on
www.aldous.net/jazz/cotton_city