In 1975 at a concert in the Fairfield Hall, Croydon, to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary, the Original 1954 Band played the first half, and the second half was the current band. In 1994/1995 Chris again toured in England and Europe with the members of the original 1954 band: Monty Sunshine, Lonnie Donegan, Jim Bray, Ron Bowden and, of course, Pat Halcox. These concerts were excellent and have been recorded on CD and video: the 1954 band in full-blooded stereo and in colour!

Chris Barber has a deep respect for the work of Duke Ellington, and he clearly states that the Duke was The Jazz Composer of the 20th century. That's the reason why the band played and still plays wonderful tunes composed by the Duke, however in the unique style of the Chris Barber Band.

A series of concerts in 1999-2001 with the Bob Hunt Ellingtonians ended up with the enlargement of the band. In November 2001 the Ellingtonians became regular members of the band: there were now eleven musicians in the Band, with two trumpets, two trombones, three reed players, one guitarist, one guitar/banjo player, a bassman, and a drummer. The Big Chris Barber Band was born! Listen to Bob Hunt on trombone: a miracle – Tricky Sam Nanton on stage with Chris Barber! Bob also does most of the arranging for the Band.

 
Andreas Wandfluh / July 2003/July 2004

(photo by Andreas Wandfluh, 2007)

Thanks to Julian Purser, England, and Ed Jackson, Canada for correcting my translatio

Christopher Donald Barber, born 17.4.1930 in Welwyn Garden City, England, has been one of the great musicians of the European Jazz scene from the beginning of the 1950s. Chris Barber has often been designated as a "traditionalist" and "commercialist". However, not many people know that Chris was the promoter for American Blues stars. Thanks to Chris, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and many others toured with Chris Barber's Jazz Band in England and on the continent. (Chris arranged these tours himself!)

As early as October 1954, only six months after the start of the Chris Barber Jazz Band, they gave a concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London with the alto sax player Bertie King. It is this wide musical understanding, based on traditional jazz but open to new sounds and influences, which created the unique sound of the Chris Barber Band.

Chris started his career 1949 as an amateur. He turned professional in 1953 with Ken Colyer, who was the nominal leader, although the Band was a co-operative. After a parting of the ways with Ken, the Chris Barber Jazz Band gave its first performance on May 31st, 1954. (During the last 50 years the band has changed its title, first to Chris Barber's Jazz & Blues Band, and then in November 2001 it became The Big Chris Barber Band.) Since the beginning the Band has toured continually, appearing in Europe, the United States, and Australia, and other countries.

During the course of time there have been personnel changes, but not as many as might be expected. Did you know that the partnership with trumpeter Pat Halcox is the longest ever in jazz? (Until recently that honour went to Duke Ellington and Harry Carney!) John Slaughter joined in 1964, Vic Pitt in 1977.