The OLD FASHIONED LOVE BAND

When Stockport based trombonist Mike Pembroke joined 5 Potteries musicians for a “one-off” gig in the Spring of 2002, the evening was such a success that we all agreed that it should be replicated. Too lazy to think up a name, we resurrected the Old Fashioned Love Band, a successful Stoke on Trent group of the 1960s that had featured several of us at that time. Circumstances and the venue dictated that the style was based on the music of Ken Colyer, Bunk Johnson and George Lewis. However, as the band widened its geographical appearances, so did its repertoire.

The band is now fortunate to have four excellent vocalists, all with as vast reservoir of varied songs. Audiences at an OFLB concert will now be treated to a programme that can include everything from little known tunes from the 1920s to original compositions from the pen of cornet player Mel Hill. We naturally do not neglect jazz classics, but we do give them the now tried and tested OFLB treatment.

As a result of development within the band we have extended our appeal to jazz audiences as far apart as Scotland and the South Coast. We regularly appear around the country at events as diverse as major Jazz Festivals and concerts in Village Halls and Small Theatres. Most importantly we receive repeat bookings at all the jazz clubs within striking distance of our base in Stoke on Trent.
We have recently released our fourth CD “Rhythm and Romance” which we think offers a taste of the wide range of music that we embrace, and which has made the band so popular.

Audiences really appreciate our professional presentation and our obvious enjoyment of playing together. This is demonstrated by the fact that we have often requested permission to start playing before the appointed time.

MEL HILL (cornet & vocals) Mel’s career began in the 1950s when he was a founding member of the CERAMIC CITY STOMPERS. He left this band when several of the original members turned pro during the Trad Boom and pursued a variety of musical paths until the 1960s when the original OLD FASHIONED LOVE BAND was formed Since the 60s Mel has played with various bands and has provided backing for American legends such as Bud Freeman and Wild Bill Davison. He also branched out into broadcasting with many contributions on Radios 2, 3, and 4 and is currently presenting the weekly BBC Jazz Beat on Radio Stoke which is also networked throughout the West Midlands. The programme has now become available on the internet as well. He has a wide range of musical interests and is also an accomplished singer! songwriter, with the band using a number of his compositions. Dependent on the type of tune being played, Mel’s style can show influences ranging from Bunk Johnson to Bobby Hackett.

MIKE TURNER (Sadly Mike Turner turner died on 20th April 2009) (Clarinet, Soprano and Alto saxophones) Mike started to take an active interest in Jazz as the “Trad boom” was petering out. Live bands that impressed him at the time included the Second City Jazzband then resident at the Crown Inn Codsall near Wolverhampton, and Johnny Parker’s Band which played Sunday lunchtimes in Islington North London. Already possessing a clarinet he decided he’d try and emulate these local heroes and joined in various sessions across the Midlands. Most of his playing has been at the Trumpet, the legendary,’ pub in Bilston which has somehow managed to present live jazz daily for nigh on 40 years. There principally with the group Swing Parade which coincidently includes a Second City Jazzman, trombonist Brian Casson. Mike has had the good fortune to share the bandstand with, amongst others, the likes of Tommy Saunders and Bruce Adams. Their attitude to the music continues to be an inspiration and he hopes that this may rub off and contribute to the continuing success of the Old Fashioned Love Band

MIKE PEMBROKE (trombone and vocals) Mike is the 'foreigner' of the band in that he hails from Stockport not Stoke but that's near enough. His playing really got under way in the 60s when he became leader of the Savannah Jass Band playing in the classic New Orleans style. He later formed the Mike Pembroke Hot Seven which was often used by Humphrey Lyttelton as a backing band both in the North West and at London's famous 100 Club. This band undertook live broadcasts on BBC Jazz Club and also made commercial recordings for a US label. In 1970 Mike retired from music for 19 years and upon his return was asked to join SMOKY CITY JAZZ with whom he also plays. He feels he now has the best of both worlds playing Dixieland with the Smoky and New Orleans with the OLD FASHIONED LOVE BAND as he loves both styles.

JAKE REEVES (banjo, guitar and vocals) Jake is another original OLD FASHIONED LOVE BAND member and over the years has been appreciated both as a skilled Blues player and as a master of the art of rhythm guitar. His playing on the six string banjo reflects this latter skill and gives the rhythm section that special something. Jake has always been in demand and before the rebirth of OFLB, featured with Mel in the quartets JAZZ JUNCTION and FINE & DANDY. He is also a fine singer who has created a repertoire of unusual material that, strangely enough is rarely performed these days. His interpretations are, as you might expect, musical, unpretentious and always well received. Jake is a keen mountain walker and has completed many challenging ranges and summits. These include the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours, ‘The Welsh 3’s’ (peaks over 3,000 feet) in 12 hours and many of Scotland’s Munros, again peaks over 3,000 feet.

HARRI FORELIUS (Double Bass) is a newcomer to the band, which he joined in December 2004. Harri was musically encouraged from an early age by his Aunt in Finland, who regularly received free tickets to the Helsinki Conservatorium and in the absence of other volunteers to accompany her, she took Harri with her. Here he would listen to such masters as Segovia and Putilin and at the age of seven his Aunt bought him a guitar and arranged for lessons. Harri played guitar in school bands during his early teens but then decided to change to Double Bass. At sixteen, still at school, he became a founder member of the D. D. T. Jazzband and left the band in 1965 to further his studies in Germany D.D.T. Jazzband was discovered on a Juke Box Jury TV Show and during Harris time they appeared frequently on Finnish TV. Their first single was in the top 10 chart and the band was featured in the film “Stoneman”. When Louis Armstrong visited Finland in 1962 the band was playing next to the runway as the plane landed and D. D. T. was the warm-up band at his concert. Louis invited D. D. T. to join them in the last number - ‘Sleepy Time Down South’ A dinner and jam-session followed until late night. Harri came to England in 1966 to study and has worked in the field of export for most of his business career. Due to his work commitments it was not until 1990 when Harri decided to start playing again and from then on he has been active on the local Jazz scene.

Apart from music, Harry’s main interests are carpentry, restoration of antiques and double basses, genealogy~ and, as for keeping fit, walking his daughter’s Alsatian and Rottweiler. Harris favourite bassists are Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Oscar Pettiford and Milt Hinton.

Moe Green (Drums) from Manchester is the latest recruit to the band and brings many years of experience with him. His first jazz inspiration came from hearing the Alex Welsh Band in 1955 and he joined Stockport’s Dallas Jazz Band in 1957. He was then poached tojoin the Dizzy Burton Jazz Aces and featured on an LP they recorded for Esquire. Stints followed with other Manchester bands before he and his wife decided to move to London in 1962. He played with Geoff Wilkins Diplomats on the trad scene, in night clubs etc. until he went on the road with the Back ‘0’ Town Syncopators. This resulted in much touring both n the UK and Europe. In 1966 they returned to Manchester and he plajed with The Zenith Six. He backed Ben Webster at Club 43. Next he then joined the Red River Jazzmen for several years. After a period of playing in clubland trios he retired from playing and became a long distance orry driver for 15 years. Moe eventually returned
to jazz in 2000 and again joined the Red River until they disbanded at the end of 2007. Moe’s approach to jazz fits in with ours and his favourites Jo Jones, Ray Bauduc, George Wettling and Gene Krupa have the band’s approval. His other interests are photography, poetry, and he seems to collect hats!

The Band first produced a CD entitled "New Orleans Jazz - live at the Burton Jazz Club. It was recorded by Aubrey Aldridge, who brought his recording gear to eavesdrop on their first gig at Burton Jazz Club. Although the single mike set-up meant that vocals were inevitably somewhat under-recorded, he made such a splendid job of balancing the instrumental sound that the band was keen to release this memento of a hugely enjoyable gig. (Having heard the CD myself I can tell you that they sound like they had been playing together for years - FB)

Click the play button to see the Old Fashioned Love Band Live at Eagley Jazz Club 16th Oct 2006

Email: "mike.oflb (at) talktalk.net" (please use normal email format, the @ sign is not shown in order to stop spam computers picking up the email address and sending unwanted emails)

24/01/06 The band has now released its third CD entitled "Rhythm & Romance" and it's on PEK Sound PKCD-283