Developed an interest in jazz in the early '60s Trad Boom years, listening to Kenny Ball's Jazzmen on Brian Matthews' "Easy Beat" on the radio. He bought a trumpet and joined the school orchestra that fortunately had a nucleus of renegade jazz enthusiasts, including his then physics teacher Ian Robertson (now trombonist with The Peninsular Jazzmen) and fellow pupil and bass player Howard Worthington. His first band was the West Coast Jazzband; then in 1968 he joined the Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra, playing cornet with Ken Sims. In 1973 Jon joined the Panama Jazz Band. Whilst with the OPJB he has also played with Roger Brown's "Banjo-Free Zone", The Harlem Hot Stompers for 5 years and 3 years with Terry Perry's "Big Easy" Band. More recently he plays regularly in the Mike Carnie All-Stars and The Wabash Jazzmen. Mart Rodger has also invited Jon to play with Manchester Jazz from time to time, including jazz festivals at Vancouver, Dresden and Norway.

Dave became interested in jazz in the 1950s when he became aware of George Lewis, and played with many bands before joining the RAF. Here he formed a band, which, for a number of years, toured Cyprus (at the request of England). He returned to England in 1962 and joined the OPJB, sharing the clarinet chair with Keith Jones. He has an instinctive ear for harmony and his superb tone and attacking style equals that of many professional musicians. The singing is pretty good, too. Dave has played with many bands, including the Merseysippi on their Sacramento Jazz Festival visits.

Born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, he began his musical career at 7 years old, learning to play violin at junior school. At secondary school he took up tuba, before transferring to trombone shortly before leaving school to attend technical college, specializing in music. At this time a couple of old friends from school formed a jazz band (The Dixieland Ramblers) and asked Laurie to join. In 1966 he became a student at The Royal Manchester College of Music studying trombone. Most of the music there was classical of course, but some of the more jazz oriented students amongst us decided to form a big band. After leaving music college he pursued a career as a freelance trombonist and music teacher based in Manchester, and for 30 years played all kinds of music including classical gigs, theatre work, cabaret, recording sessions, and jazz gigs, with all kinds of "celebrities". For most of this 30-year period Laurie played every Sunday evening with The Goyt Valley Stompers, a jazz band originally based in North Derbyshire (an article in the Sheffield University Rag Magazine at the time described them as "a raucous load of boozers" which filled them with great pride!). Renamed The City Syncopators, they relocated to Didsbury Cricket Club, Manchester in the 1980's and played there for over 15 years. Laurie still teaches music, also plays violin and tuba and does a few classical gigs and recording sessions.

Hugh started bass playing began during his 6th form years at school. As a student he played in the Liverpool University Jazz Band, and, in the annual Inter-Varsity Jazz Contests of 1957 and 1958 gained the award of "Most Outstanding Musician". After graduation, he played for 2 years with the Ken Morrell Trio in Sunderland. The years which followed found him in bands ranging from traditional to modern: Dave Ellis Trio, Liverpool (1961-63); Deian Hopkin Quartet, Aberystwyth (1964-66); John Rubin Trio, Liverpool (1966-70); Terry Hawkes Band, Cardiff (1973-78), and then various other Merseyside groups including The Dave Saul Duo and John Dunbavand Trio alongside Trevor Carlisle, backing those artists mentioned above, as well as Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, Roy Williams and Campbell Burnap. Hugh joined the OPJB in 1991. Major Influences include Ray Brown, Percy Heath, Leroy Vinnegar and Red Mitchell.

TERRY BURSTALL: PIANO 

Born in Southport, Terry formed The Darktown Strutters Jazzband in the 1950s and played alongside many visiting bands including Alex Welsh, Sandy Brown and also the Original Panama J. B, which he joined in the mid 1960s. His style of playing is greatly influenced by the early blues players. Since the acquisition of an electric piano, his mournful cry of "Is there a piano in the house? Never mind, this'll do" is happily rarely heard.

Tony brought his easy swing style of drumming to the band in May 2002. He's self-taught, and began by playing skiffle when he was fourteen; later graduating to jazz during the late '50's trad revival. He turned professional in 1965 and did a seven month tour of American military bases in Spain and Morocco. On his return he established himself as house musician on the Liverpool nightclub circuit: later playing theatres, summer seasons and cruises.