Colchester Jazz Club: Yerba Buena Celebration Band at Marks Tey Parish Hall

Yerba Buena Celebration Band – In January 1966, Terry Hooper of the Town House Jazz Club at Enfield asked musician Mike Barry to organise a special band for a function at the Club. After discussing various ideas, Mike suggested an eight-piece band based on the Lu Watters bands of the 1940’s – 50’s era. The essential part of the “Watters” sound is the two-cornet lead. Mike asked experienced David Rance to lead the band and Mike wrote the arrangements to capture the sound. The musicians selected to recreate the Watters sound are all part of established bands, which can create problems when arranging performances. The final selected personnel for the celebration band is as follows:- Dave Rance – Cornet, vocals, lead – courtesy Rance’s Rocking Chair Band. Mike Barry – Cornet, vocals, arranger – courtesy London Jazz & New Uptown Gang. Johhny Rodgers – Clarinet – courtesy Gambit Jazz Band. Graham Wiseman – Trombone, arranger – courtesy Sussex Jazz Kings. John Collinson – Piano (Mr Jelly Roll) freelance, bandleader. Peter Gregory – Banjo, vocals – courtesy Uptown Gang and London Jazz. Pete Ley – Drums – courtesy Gambit Jazzmen. John Arthy – Tuba – Freelance. The Yerba Buena Celebration Band duly performed the special concert at the Town House, Enfield and surprised everyone involved by breaking previous box office records. Mike and Dave decided the Band should reflect, not copy the original band note for note, but rather to let the band members bring fresh ideas within the Lu Watters format.