The Jelly Roll Jazz Band is a traditional (‘Dixieland’) jazz trio, originally based in the North East of England but now working regularly across the U.K. They play a mixture of 1920s standards (e.g. ‘When You’re Smiling’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’), classic swing tunes (‘Autumn Leaves’, ‘Fly Me To the Moon’), and more modern songs in a trad. jazz style – ‘…Baby One More Time’ never sounded so good!

Their influences include jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller, as well as more eccentric interpreters such as The Temperance Seven and The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

The musicians are drawn from a pool of around 5 core players, with occasional special guests. Typically they perform as a trio of clarinet, banjo or guitar, and double bass or sousaphone (with maybe an occasional duck whistle or pair of spoons thrown in for good measure). The band is also completely acoustic, making it ideal for outdoor and walkaround events.

They perform at all sorts of occasions, including weddings, parties, festivals and agricultural shows. Recent engagements have included the Tour de Yorkshire, Yorkshire Day, and (controversially) The Royal Lancashire Show.

• Michael A. Grant