THE LOUISIANA JOYMAKERS Rod Chambers - alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet, vocals, leader Rod has been playing jazz since 1961. His interest in New Orleans music started in1962 when he joined The Jeff Milner Band in Huddersfield. 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 moved to Manchester and then joined The Ged Hone Ragtime Band in 1967. Some years later in 1973 he then helped form the Dave Donohoe Band, moved to London in 77 and joined Mike Casimirs New Iberia Stompers and remained with Mike until the band broke up in 1985 when the first ‘Joymakers’ were formed. More recently Rod had a stint with Colin Kingwells Jazz Bandits for 7 years before re-forming the current ‘Joymakers’. Rod apart from his own band has now also been a member of The Savannah Jazz Band since late 2005. 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. John Howlett – trombone and vocals John has a fine pedigree in the jazz world and his career is marked with several notable achievements. His interest in jazz started via the big bands and he remembers listening to Ted Heath on many sessions sitting alongside Dicky Valentine and Lita Rosa over half a century ago. He formed his own traditional band in the 50’s including Dick Morrisey on clarinet. By the early 60’s he had joined the Clyde Valley Stompers then later into Germany playing with The Leathertown Jazz Band. He has toured with Albert Nicholas, Peanuts Holland and Monty Sunshine amongst others and has a wide range of mentors from Jim Robinson to Vic Dickenson but names Abe Lincoln as his favourite. Brian Bates - trumpet and vocals Brian is a founder member of his own band based in the Coventry area –Tierra Buena which has been running since 1958. Brian is still a member of the 20s/30s big band Paul Munnerys Harlem and was also with Dud Clews Jazz Orchestra. He has appeared with the ‘A Night at the Cotton Club’ show at The Barbican Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and has played at Festivals in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Brian lists Doc Cheatham, Benny Waters, Lillian Boutte, Adelaide Hall, Topsy Chapman and Butch Thompson as the some of the ‘greats’ he has accompanied Jim Swinnerton – double bass Jim is probably the youngest double bass man on the UK traditional jazz scene. A very talented and energetic acoustic bass player in the old style, his parents have always been keen jazzers and he grew up with jazz records constantly on the turntable. His father Jack Swinnerton was an influential and famous jazz promoter in the 50’s and 60’s, running the famous MSG in Manchester and responsible for bringing many well known US musicians to the UK from Red Allen to George Lewis. Jim’s first instrument was a clarinet when he was only 8 but he bought his first bass at the ripe old age of 18 – about 7 years ago. After only 1 year he joined the Sun St Stompers in Lancaster. He is now in great demand and amongst others is with Martin Bennetts Old Green River Band, Bill Bailey. He has also played with Phil Mason and Richard Bennett. Jim’s mentors are Pops Foster, Al Morgan and Slow Drag Pavageau. Ian Parry – banjo, guitar and vocals Ian is a talented multi instrumentalist. His interest in jazz started at university in the 50’s and he learned double bass. He had previously played violin, guitar and banjo in folk and skiffle groups. Since then he has played a wide range of music from rock n roll to small band swing to New Orleans Jazz. He was on banjo with Colin Kingwell for 5 years and is also the drummer with The Excel Jazzmen. Graham Smith– drums Graham started playing in his father’s dance band at the age of 14, mainly around the Birmingham area. His father was a renowned pianist. Graham then some years later gave up his drumming for almost 25 years to concentrate on his ‘day job ‘ career. Luckily, he took early retirement in the 90’s and started his own jazz groups with his father. He also has very ‘catholic’ musical tastes and is equally at home playing mainstream and traditional jazz drums and names guys as diverse as Joe Morello and Baby Dodds as mentors.