The Savannah Jazz Band

Having made regular forrays into the North West of England for many years, Yorkshire based Savannah Jazz Band, have long since earned their free passport to travel over to this side of the Pennines. With regular gigs in Greater Manchester and Lancashire the band have been missing from this site for too long. I am therefore particularly grateful to Gordon Hughes for compiling this article for me, I did the easy bit - I took most of the photographs. - FB

TWO proud boasts used to surface in the one-time mill town of Huddersfield One was that this gritty town on the edge of the Pennines in West Yorkshire used to produce the finest worsted cloth in the world. In the face of stiff competition from the rest of the world that may now be open to some dispute.

The other boast was that it hosted one of the country’s finest traditional jazz bands. And this probably isn’t in any dispute at all.

For well over two decades the Savannah Jazz Band has been flying the flag on the British and European jazz scene, and beyond. Wherever else they have appeared, in Holland. Denmark, Germany, Finland, Majorca and beyond, in Canada and America, the lads have easily added to their legion of dedicated fans.

Humphrey Lyttelton once described the band as “totally professional, one of the very best in the business.” Praise indeed, from a man who knows what he’s talking about.

Naturally, the band has been forced into adapting to change over the years, but it is a tribute to their dedication, shrewd replacements and a general willingness to rebuild that today, most; say, they are playing as well as ever.

The admiration between the band and the constant stream of musicians queuing up to guest with drummer leader John Meehan and the boys is mutual. The band’s music is inspired by the legendary Ken Colyer. Yet, there’s a passion and a drive which makes the Savannah quite inimitable.

Their fans reckon it’s due to a perfect blend of musicianship, remarkable cohesion, jazz craft and musical values. Added to this is the knack of catering for Dixieland as well as the basic New Orleans jazz tastes to appease both the casual and serious listener. It works well.

“We keep on playing and the people keep coming” says leader Meehan, “so we must be doing something right.”. The band has been doing it right for well over 25 years and there’s no sign yet of any let up..

Demand for the band’s music has prompted sixteen recordings, eleven live concerts and five in the upstairs room of a pub at Golcar, in the hills high above Huddersfield.

Lake Records’ chief Paul Adams first met up with the band some fifteen years ago. “I’d heard rumours of them before that, but nothing I could really pin down” says Paul. ‘It had been an average, run-of-the-mill jazz weekend in a large ballroom and I was definitely restless. Then the Savannah took the stage. I remember thinking that’s more like it.... I think I’ve felt the same ever since‘.

The Savannah Jazz Band at Eagley Jazz Club - 7/7/03

Paul Adams has spent a quarter of a century recording and he says “honestly, working with the Savannah is always one of the easiest and enjoyable jobs I do. They deliver the music honestly with conviction and never lose sight of the fact that the audience is there to be entertained. The proof of their popularity is in their large following and healthy album sales“.

“I once described them as one of the best bands with their chosen style. I stand by that statement”.

The love affair between them has continued unabated ever since. Humphrey Lyttelton and Paul Adams can’t both be wrong.

The Savannah Jazz Band has a lot to thank Gene Krupa for.

Schoolboy John sat enthralled in the front row of his local picture house as the legendary drummer starred in the film The Benny Goodman Story.

Immediately young Meehan vowed he was going to be a drummer just like Gene..

Like many of his generation, war-baby star-struck John started playing in local skiffle groups, dance bands around his hometown of Halifax and even as pantomime pit orchestra.

Then he met the late Terry Mellor original member of the Savannah back in 1979 and he’s been in the band’s engine house ever since.

But, more than occupying the heart of the band’s driving rhythm section, John is the band's chosen leader. The bulging bookings list is his responsibility. So is all the administration and public relations.

Somebody has to do it and somehow he manages to continually smile through it.

The band has had its ups and downs with more than its share of serious illness, death and departures in almost a quarter of a century yet former engineer John’s solid, dependable attitude has ensured the band is still intact and playing as well as ever..

And he’s still smiling through it...

When he’s not running the busy band, he likes walking, hill-climbing and the odd tot of malt whisky.

Born 22nd July 1942 in St. Helens, Lancashire.
Musician (Banjo, Electric Guitar, Bass Drum), Bandleader, Parade Marshall, Reviewer of CDs and Publisher of ‘New Orleans Music’. First paid Engagement in Stockport (1957) with Red Devils Skiffle Group. Upon moving to North London in 1958, played with the Colne Walley Six and the Memphis City Jazz Band.

Left music in 1963 for business reasons and returned to semi-pro scene in 1974 as member of Mac’s (the late Gordon Mackay) New Orleans Band with Colin Bowdon and Dave Bailey.
Became full time musician in 1988, having formed Louis Lince’s New Orleans Band in 1986, which continues to perform in various formats.
In 2002 Louis relocated back to the North-West and settled in Romiley, Stockport.

In 2005 joined the Savannah Jazz Band following the retirement of Jack Cooper through ill-health.
Over the last 30 years Louis has played with all the names in the New Orleans Jazz World and is a much sought after and much respected musician.

Born in Stockport, where until the 1960’s a principal industry was hat making, his first band, which he joined at the age of 18, was appropriately The Jazz Hatters led hy clarinettist Roy Rogers.

National service in the RAF was followed by periods with the Dallas Jazz Band and the Mike Pemhroke Hot Seven. During the mid 1960’s he was involved with big band and dance band work but returned to the traditional jazz scene in 1969 with the Manchester based Smoky City Jazz. He became leader of’ the band in the 80’s and for years the band has enjoyed great popularity within the Northern Jazz scene and Holland and Germany.

Bill, who lives in Romiley, is the perfect lead for any band and he plays well as part of the team or on solos. His humour on the ‘mike’ and his way of involving the audience ensures everyone enjoys a good night’s jazz. Bill mainly plays the cornet but is just as adept on the trumpet, Flugelhorn, trombone, and harmonica and his vocals are always enthusiastically received.

His excellent technique and versatility means that he is in great demand for dep. workwith various styles of band. He lists Humphrey Lyttelton, Harry James, Wild Bill Davison, Muggsy Spanier, Pat Halcox and Alex Welsh as main influences on his style. Bill’s main work load is playing with the Savannah but he still has regular work with several local bands.

Call him Brian, or by his nickname Sam but call him often.

For the band’s Jim Robinson-inspired trombonist is never happier than when he’s playing the instrument he’s loved for more than 45 years.

Actually, Wakefield-born Brian’s love affair with jazz was inspired by a clarinet player. For he heard George Lewis - and he was immediately hooked.

He bought his first trombone for £3.50p and started playing to records. The neighbours weren’t happy but the young Ellis was determined he was going to be a jazz musician.

A Humphrey Lyttelton concert at Leeds Town Hall proved the catalyst and the band he formed, The Maryland Jazzmen, was to span 10 years, including Brian’s National Service.

Back in Blighty, he continued with the Yorkshire Jazz Band, Mal Webb’s Famous New Orleans Jazz Band, the Yorkshire Post Jazz Band and Dave Brennan’s Jubilee Jazz Band. Not to mention Chris Blount’s Jazz Band, with which he made six tours of Sweden, the local Kalahari Bushmen, La Harpe Street Jazzmen and the Wakefield Arms Band.

Brian was persuaded to join the Savannah back in 1988, with which he’s played trombone and, occasionally, piano ever since apart from an illness- enforced break several years ago.

It's generally reckoned that it is his New Orleans style brand of playing which gives The Savannah its inimitable sound.

Rod first visited New Orleans in 1972 and has been there 6 times since then. He has accompanied on tour in the UK such American jazz greats as Alton Purnell, Thomas Jefferson, Louis Nelson, Wallace Davenport and Wingy Manone.

Rod started playing in the early 60’s with Jeff Milner in Yorkshire before moving to Manchester to join The Ged Hone Ragtime Band. Rod then helped form the Dave Donohoe Band in 73, moved to London in 77 and joined Mike Casimirs New Iberia Stompers and remained with Mike until the band broke up in 1985 when his first ‘Louisiana Joymakers’ were formed.

Rod then had a stint with Colin Kingwells Jazz Bandits for 7 years before re-forming the current ‘Joymakers’. Rod has very ‘catholic’ musical tastes and listens to classical music to relax and claims to be a frustrated R&B man at heart. Influences are as varied as Capn John Handy to Ben Webster, George Lewis to Barney Bigard. Rod plays however with a fire and enthusiasm which is strictly his own style.

You wouldn’t think that bassman Tony’s long musical career started on clarinet.

But for three years in his teens, he fancied himself as a reedman and tried a few other instruments before he took up the string bass.

That was shortly after he had progressed to a tea chest in a pub skiffle group.

He joined the Dallas Jazz Band using a borrowed bass held together with chicken wire, glue and six-inch nails. Tony was so determined to own a decent bass he even postponed his engagement, so he could buy one with savings he had earmarked for an engagement ring.

Next came a spell with Mike Pembroke’s Hot Seven and an eight-year stint with Keith Pendlebury. Then followed spells with the Smoky City Jazz Band, Ged Hone’s Big Four and Mart Rodger’s Manchester Jazz until he joined Savannah following the death of the band’s founder Terry Mellor in 1990.

His numerous fans rank Tony high among the country's best bass players.

Please note that the sound quality on the internet has been drastically reduced to allow for streaming playback for those on dial-up.

Why not visit the band's own web site at www.savannahjazz.co.uk and see their whole range of recordings