[Dixielandjazz] Introductions...

[Mike Durham]

Hi, everybody.

I just joined the list, and guess I ought to introduce myself. I lead the 
West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, a six (sometimes seven) piece classic jazz band 
here in Newcastle upon Tyne, north east England. I play trumpet, and we do 
the usual Morton/Oliver/Armstrong/Bix/early Ellington stuff, but specialise 
in Clarence Williams. I also have a fondness for hot dance music. We have 
been together for 19 years, and have played in many European countries as 
well making as one trip to the U.S.A. (Phil Pospychala's Bix event at Racine 
in 2002. As a part of that trip, we visited Davenport where through the good 
offices of Rich Johnson we played in the former Bluebird Inn, Milan OH, 
where Bix is known to have played in the 20's.
I played Davenport Blues on my 1924 Conn Victor - felt the hairs on the back 
of the neck rise! Foolish romanticism, maybe, but.......

I also collect vintage trumpets/cornets (200+ and a long-suffering wife) 
with special interest in the instruments of Harry B Jay of Chicago. I'm 61 
years ols, and retired after a lifetime of marketing soap and other stuff 
for he Procter & Gamble Co., a career that took me from England to 
Cincinnati (where I had the great pleasure of meeting and playing with that 
true gentleman, Frank Powers), then Sweden, Japan, Cincinnati again, Canada 
and back to England. I have also organised the Whitley Bay International 
Jazz Festival in July for the past 11 years. I also run a monthly concert 
series, mostly with visiting bands. Just enjoyed a visit from the Natural 
Gas Jazz Band, Jeff Barnhart was here in September, and we look forward to 
the New Black Eagles in May.

Mike Durham.

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