About

2017 BAND MEMBERS

TIM NEWMAN;(Tpt) comes from North Wiltshire and became interested in New Orleans music during the later stages of his school days.He played in the Bristol / Swindon area in various bands until he formed the Celebration Jazz Band in 1983.He visited New Orleans in 1979 and considers himself fortunate to have heard many of the great jazzmen who were nearing the end of their careers. His most recent visit to the crescent city was November 2001.He has taken the Celebration Jazz Band on various tours of Spain and toured Sweden with " The Chris Blount Band " in 1997. In 2006 he played in Switzerland for The Isaria Brass Band and Roys Good Time New Orleans Band at "Rapperswil blues/n/jazz festival" also played at "New Orleans meets Zofingeg".

ROGER WHITE;( Double Bass & tuba) is a Bristolian and, one suspects, the founder member of the "Chalky White Skiffle Group" formed at the Bristol Technical School Building Department. In the 1960's he was a member of various Folk Groups as well as as being a soloist appearing on local and national radio and T.V. He transferred to jazz and on occasions was one of Ken Colyer's Jazzmen. Roger is a fine Bass player and stylist and he found an immediate rapport within The Celebration Jazz Band where he was a founder member.

PHIL WALL:( Clarinet & Alto Saxaphone) Lives in Pontypool and is the most recent recruit to the CJB. Steeped in the traditions of classic jazz and the style of Johnny Dodds the Band feel fortunate to have his services.

PETE MIDDLETON;(TROMBONE) was born in Walthamstow and starting learning the piano at the age of 6 when his teacher rapped his knuckles with metal needleswhenever he went wrong.In order to repay this Dickensian treatment Peter was playing the WinifredAttwell piece"The Black & White Rag"by the age of 8. He heard the Billy Cotton Band Show ( with Breezy )and the other dance bands in the days of the BBC light programme until he visited his cousin, the trombonist Don Perrin,where he first heard the George Lewis Band.He took up the trombone and his influences became Jim Robinson,Louis Nelson and Kid Ory amongst others.Pete played a lot of music while at Southampton University. He also played the piano in the Solway 8 when they were resident Band at the Whitehaven Civic Hall.Retirement from music teaching has allowed him to pursue his many musical desires.


JOHN MASSEY.(Banjo) was born into a family of music where he received encouragement to play piano,violin and d/bass. He left college early to join " The Black Cats" R & B Band on guitar. Then joined " The Free Elastic Band" a Folk/Rock Band on D/Bass. He did some pit orchestra work,numeros jazz bands before Joining " Alice's Wonderland Band".Also does some amateur orchestra work on viola & D/Bass.

RAY SMITH (PIANO) Ray returned in 2014 to live in the UK and we are very pleased to have this distinguished and respected musician in the Band when his solo piano commitments allow. Ray played long spells in the bands of Steve Lane, Brian Green, Ken Colyer; was joint founder of the London Ragtime Orchestra,Studied in Florida with Don Ewell: He has played with the European Classic band and the Swedish Jazz kings and accompanied Vernal Bagneris in his one man show in New York. Ray has recorded extensively including solo albums "Southside Strutt" a tribute to Don Ewell; "Jungle Blues and other Compositions" by Jelly Roll Morton;6 Albums with the Steve Lanes Band : 7Albums with Ken Colyer: 2 albums with the London Ragtime Orchestra and many more.