THE JIVE ACES

The hugely popular, yellow suited, kings of swing are back! The Jive Aces return to Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival to help make sure the first night goes with a bang. The story goes this group of lads from London were drawn together by their love for both dancing and a style and music that outclassed anything around. The music was hot jive that had the beat, energy and enthusiasm of rock ‘n’ roll and the fun and rhythm of big band swing all rolled into one. So rather than spend their evenings dancing to it, they got together and started playing it! The rest is history as they say and they’re now one of the busiest bands in showbiz, performing over 300 shows a year in so far over 25 different countries.

The Jive Aces’ have a range of foot stomping, spirit-lifting tunes up their stylish sleeves, including classics made famous by such greats as Louis Prima (Just a Gigolo), Louis Jordan (Five Guys Named Mo), Cab Calloway (Minnie the Moocher), Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong.

Infectious rhythm, screaming horns and slapping bass all add up to being the favourite band of dancers across the globe. It’s the fifth year in a row at RAAJ for the Jive Aces, and we love ‘em. We love ‘em because you love ‘em. With their entourage of local Reading based dancers from www.alljazzedup.com they are sure to set the evening off once more… we just can’t get enough!

W: www.jiveaces.com
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THE OLD THUMPER JAZZ BAND

The Old Thumper Jazzband kick start this year’s festival bringing with them their unique relaxed, toe-tapping, Dixieland style, the perfect accompaniment to your first sip of real ale. The band, sponsored by the Ringwood Brewery, comprises six musicians, including our very own compere, Mr Chris Walker, who have devoted their lives to mastering the art of swinging, melodic, Dixieland jazz. They can be regularly seen at top UK jazz Festivals, playing on the Quayside at Ocean Liner sailings, and numerous other private parties and functions.

W: http://www.swingtet.co.uk

THE ANDY COOPER TOP SIX

A new act for our Friday night this year is brought together by top jazz clarinet player Andy Cooper, whose claims to fame include playing on the original recording of ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ for Walt Disney’s Jungle Book in 1968 with Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen. I’m sure he wont take much persuading to rouse his talented band into giving us another sparkling rendition of one of Disney’s all time jazz classics.

After recording a successful Jazz House CD with his son Paul in 1995 and playing with the European Jazz Giants, he now spends his time playing with The Andy Cooper Top 6 throughout the UK and Europe. They are made up of muscians that Andy has admired throughout his career and they bring with them a lively and infectious concotion of upbeat jazz guaranteed to start the evening off as we mean to go own – on the dancefloor!

W: http://www.myspace.com/andycooperstop8

LAURA B AND THE MOONLIGHTERS

After a hugely popular set at last year’s festival, we absolutely HAD to have Laura B and her Moonlighters back this year. They will be playing our second slot of the evening, providing an opportunity to grab a partner and throw some jazzy jivey shapes on the dance floor right up until our last pint of real ale is served on Friday night.

Laura B and the Moonlighters are an exciting seven-piece rockin’ and honkin’ rhythm and blues combo in the upbeat style of Ruth Brown, Big Maybelle and Lavern Baker. The Band is led by the talented and charismatic vocalist Laura B, backed by her all star band comprising of members of Ocean’s Seven, Juke Joint Jump, Sugar Ray’s Flying Fortress, The Big Six, Alabama Slammers and The Mike Sanchez Band, to name but a few. Also featuring the exceptional Henri Herbert at the boogie-woogie 88, Lady Laura and the guys guarantee a big beat sound and performance to match many of the great R’n’B artistes of the fifties.

Their new album Jump and Shout is out now and is available from El Toro Records or you can find it on Spotify and no doubt copies will be available at the festival itself.

W: www.laurabandthemoonlighters.co.uk

THE TIM DAWES QUARTET WITH BRIGITTE BERAHA

For all you true jazz aficionados get yourself down to the festival early on Saturday because we have a treat of a line up from Tim Dawes, a man who’s phonebook is positively brimming with the finest jazz talent.
Tim brings with him this year, along with a fine quartet of jazz musicians, the wonderful vocal talents of Brigitte Beraha, described as in TimeOut as an “Individualistic, imaginative, ethereal jazz vocalist”, her exquisite phrasing, great intonation and pretty, pure sweet tone is a perfect accompaniment to a summer’s evening.

“Brigitte Beraha was a revelation when she appeared at the Blue Lamp for the first time last autumn, easily justifying her reputation as a sensational new singing arrival on the British jazz scene. .”JazzAberdeen

Tim himself is a regular on the Oxford jazz circuit and plays double bass with effortless style and rhythm, and you can expect his fine band to produces their trademark mix of wonderful laid back swing, with a sprinkling of uplifting soul for good measure. His jazz has been described in the Oxford Times as “cleanly articulated, skilfully phrased, wonderfully lyrical & lucid, understated.. energetic & inventive”
So sit back and enjoy!

THE ARTEMIS ALL STARS

To start the later evening session off on Saturday, we have another new act in The Artemis All Stars, a band lead by British Trumpet and Flugel horn player Andy Dickens.
Dickens and his music have delighted audiences in the UK, Europe and The Middle East for over twenty five years with his ever fresh blend of fiery jazz, bluesy vocals, ballads and popular standards.

Whether playing cool relaxed jazz in a mainstream setting or providing sparkling trumpet fireworks with a New Orleans street band his approach to jazz in the 21st century is one that looks forward at contemporary developments whilst embracing the essential traditions and history of the music.
Andy has had some great write ups in the Jazz press, and we are delighted to welcome him, his trumpet and hugely talented band to RAAJ 2010!

“His Roy Eldridge-like trumpet is brilliant, and his Louis or Berigan-like vocals not far behind.”
Jazz UK

W: http://www.andydickens.com/

THE RED STRIPE BAND

Described by Jazz FM as “The closest thing to Jools Holland and his big band”, The Red Stripe Band were a huge success last year, their contagious energy and swing-tastic rhythm was instant hit with our festival crowd. Any band that challenges the capacity of our dance floor is ok by us, so we’ve invited them back to get even more people on their feet for the final slot of the 2010 festival.

Heading up the band is ‘Red Stripe’ (Neil Drinkwater) described by the Daily Mail as their “Eccentric raconteur and boogie woogie front man… engagingly infectious” who formed the Red Stripe Band in 1994. They now regularly play at the top jazz festivals in the UK and beyond, being asked back year after year to deliver their unique and engaging show from Edinburgh to Brighton, Oslo to New York, Tokyo and Monte Carlo, as well as the famous “Le Scimmie” jazz club in Milan.

Their fun, upbeat mix of jazz styles and entertaining stage show will see out this year’s festival and take us merrily into the night, so get on your feet and show us your moves!

W: http://www.red-stripe.info/
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