Jazz Bands

PONJO'S STOMPERS

The traditional jazz band, Ponjo's Stompers, was formed in 1972 by bassist Peter Morris, from the ashes of the defunct Ray Elliott Jazz Band, and quickly gained popularity bybining 'hot' jazz with entertainment. The instrumentation is the classic line up of coronet, clarinet, trombone, banjo, double bass and drums, and at least two vocalists.

In 1974 the band started weekly Sunday night concerts at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea. These continued for over 10 years, to be followed for a further 5 years of Sunday nights at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea.

Many jazz luminaries have played with the band: Digby Fairweather, Humphrey Lyttelton, Wild Bill Davison, Mike Cotton, Monty Sunshine, Kenny Davern, Charlie Galbraith, Bob Kerr, Kenny Ball, Hugh Crozier, Martin Litton, Maxine Daniels and Ken Sims, to name but a few.

More than 30 years on the band is still playing entertaining traditional jazz. These days mostly in corporate entertainment and special events, open air events, wedding receptions, private parties, funerals and concerts, and the occasional TV appearance.

The band can appear inbinations from a trio to a seven or eight piece band with female jazz singer. Allbinations are capable of playing acoustically and the need for an electricity supply can be purely academic.

All the musicians are full-time professionals and, as you would expect, if the date is free the band will play anywhere. There is no geographical limitation. Whatever thebination, and wherever the venue, good, hot, foot-tapping, good-time jazz is guaranteed. We seek to entertain, not to educate.

PETER MORRIS

Peter is also part of Cockney doodle do , a traditional cockney sing-a-long duo. He also appears as a solo keyboard player/vocalist playing laid-back 'lounge'jazz in restaurants and at wedding receptions and parties. His music is drawn from the classic popular tunes of 1930-1950 era. Great for weddings, corporate events, festivals, after dinner parties and private functions.

Among other cities, Peter Morris and Ponjo's Stompers may serve the following areas: London, Essex, Norfolk, West Midlands, Hertfordshire, Staffordshire, East London, Suffolk, Derbyshire, South London, Lincolnshire, West London, North London, Birmingham, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Church End, Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Sutton, Worcestershire, Norton, Central London, Middleton, Newton, Upton, Aston