Chris Barber’s legacy to the British and European music scene started with a love of 1920s American jazz and blues. Together with Trumpeter, Ken Colyer (who was one of the first British players to make it to New Orleans and play with the “Old Guard” of American Jazz Musicians.) Chris’s band aimed to reproduce the New Orleans sound as authentically as they could. This became the beginnings of the British “Trad Jazz” scene. After Ken and Chris parted company, Chris and members of his band were also responsible for the introduction of many American blues artists to Britain in the 50s and 60s including Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.  

The 80s saw a collaboration with Dr John with the Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band, leading to Chris’  appearance at Glastonbury in 2010 as a guest with the Dr John Band.

He was involved in the foundation of the Reading Jazz & Blues festival and was also co-owner of The Marquee Club which saw the start of many of Britains most famous bands.

Over the  years the band has featured some of of Britains best jazz and blues musicians including Lonnie Donegan, the original Banjo/Guitar player who started the Skiffle craze playing during the intervals of the Jazz concerts. Pat Halcox (who replaced Ken Colyer on Trumpet) and Chris hold the record for the longest jazz partnership  at 54 years.

Chris retired in 2019 after 70 years of touring continuously in Britain, Europe and America  and passed away in 2021 aged 90 

Bob and Chris first teamed up around 1989 when Chris asked Bob to write arrangements for the then Jazz and Blues Band.

In 1998 Chris decided to enlarge his band in order to play some Ellington material with a line-up more appropriate for the material. Bob was running his own band "The Ellingtonians" at the time and Bob, Mike Henry, and Nick Payton from that band were added to the Jazz and Blues Band. Bob became totally responsible for the arrangements. After some dates and a couple of years or so, it became obvious to Chris that the Chris Barber Band should expand on a permanent basis, and thus the band became The Big Chris Barber Band in Autumn 2001. Bob and Mike stayed, but due to other commitments Nick Payton had to decline the invitation and was replaced by Tony Carter.

Bob played in Brass Bands during the 60s and 70s, including a stint with National Champions GUS (Kettering) under the baton of Stanley Boddington.

On turning professional Bob has worked in various bands and styles. Some of his credits include the Duke Ellington Orchestra (directed by Mercer Ellington), The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra and Echoes of Ellington. He has also worked with more traditional jazz bands such as Keith Smith's Hefty Jazz, The Original Guinness Band (along with Mike Henry) and the Pizza Express Allstars

Bob holds a PhD having written his doctorate thesis on the arranging techniques of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

Readers who regularly go to Chris Barber concerts will already have heard and seen Mike playing alongside Pat. Till I joined a tour with the band in Switzerland earlier this year, I did not know very much about him, and wondered where he gained the experience he so obviously brings to his wonderful playing (Julian Purser, 2004).

Mike was born in Bury, Lancs, and at 11 years of age attended the Junior Royal College of Music in Manchester; after this he gained a scholarship to Chetham's School of Music in the same city. At 18 he gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music in London (following in Chris' footsteps!). His teachers included Trevor Green (Scottish Opera), Henry Hall (Halle Orchestra) and others equally talented and well known.

While at the Guildhall he led the Brass Ensemble conducted by Denis Wick, and also played 1st trumpet in The Symphony Orchestra. During his second year he was chosen as one of 6 musicians to play in the Juenesses Musicals World Orchestra at the 1976 Olympic Games in Canada, touring with them for a month afterwards. The same year he also toured Italy with a 20-piece Brass Ensemble with whom he also travelled to Korea and Japan the following year.

After College his first work was freelancing with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. Further freelance work led eventually to Mike joining the Pasadena Roof Orchestra in 1978. The Pasadenas toured extensively throughout Europe and the UK, with recording, radio and TV work added, it was a busy life. He also did the occasional date with the LSO and session work. Mike was a full-time member of the PRO for 12 years, and since 1990 has been freelancing, basing himself in London, working, in the main, in the jazz field, specialising in the styles of the music from the 1920's-1940's.

Bands and Orchestras he has been involved with, besides the Pasadenas, have been Keith Nichols (Cotton Club Orchestra and Band), The Grahamaphones, Red Hot and Blue Orchestra, Echoes of Ellington, Harry Strutter's Hot Rhythm, Charleston Chasers, Bob Hunt Ellington Orchestra, Midnite Follies, and many other groups. Recently he accompanied Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music on his tours of Europe. He has also played with smaller jazz groups such as Acker Bilk: Guiness Jazz Band (23 years) with whom he has played 20 Cork Festivals, and toured extensively in the UK and Europe. His work with all these bands and groups has included radio, TV, film soundtracks and albums, and he is active as a session musician for CBS, EMI at Abbey Road, CTS and others.

Mike's recorded output includes Brass Band albums in the 1960's, Orchestral in the 70's; and from 1978 albums (both LP's and CD's) with the Pasadenas, Keith Nichols Groups; Guiness Jazz Band CD's, The Bob Hunt Orchestra, and recently Chris Barber and Bob Hunt. On 27 November, 2001 at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, Mike was one of three musicians joining the renamed Big Chris Barber Band as a full-time member.

As can be gathered, Mike has had a varied, interesting and exacting career to date, and his joining Pat in the front line brings the Barber Band back full circle to the 1950 Chris Barber New Orleans Jazz Band which had in the front line cornet and trumpet. Anyone who has heard the Chris Barber Band with the Ellingtonians will know what to expect, but if you have not yet heard them (try the Chris Barber/Bob Hunt Timeless album) try to do so as soon as possible. A front line with two trumpets, two trombones and three reeds is able to offer a variety of sounds and styles of Jazz.

Julian Purser, 2004

Born into a musical family, Gabriel Garrick took up trumpet aged seven and started gigging at an early age with his father and brother. He has had exposure to pretty much every major player on the British jazz scene since his early childhood, and with Michael Garrick as his father it was pretty unavoidable!

As a teenager Gabriel played with the multi award-winning Aylesbury Music Centre Big Band, the Dacorum Brass Band, the Hemel Hempstead Brass Band, Dacorum Youth Orchestra, the Dacorum Wind Band and started his own jazz trio at school.

Gabriel graduated from the Royal Academy of Music jazz course in 1995 (BMus and LRAM). Whilst at the Academy he worked with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Gabriel has worked with many well-respected bands, including Sir John Dankworth’s Generation Band, the Mike Garrick Jazz Orchestra, Derek Nash’s Sax Appeal Big Band, the Nick Ross Orchestra, the Len Phillips Big Band, the Pete Cater Big Band, Gerard Presencer’s Big Band, Big Band Metheny, the Willie Garnett Big Band, Kai’s Cats, King Candy and the Sugar Push, Feast of Fiddles, the Blues Brothers Experience, the FBI, Utter Madness, Payback, Gloria Scott, the Rat Pack Show, Maroon Town and countless other bands in all styles, touring the British Isles, Europe and across the world.

Since 2011 and following Michael Garrick’s passing, Gabriel has led his Big Band and also directed 22 residential Jazz Academy courses.

Gabriel leads various groups of his own – his current projects include: his Expansions, the Original Quintet, the Swinging Standards Septet and most importantly, his New Orleans Street Band ‘Beached Brass’ based in Brighton.

Gabriel joined the Chris Barber Band in August 2020

In January 2003 Trevor toured Germany and Holland with the Big Chris Barber Band and subsequently joined the band on a permanent basis. 

In July 2004 he came off the road to resume his career as a freelance soloist and side man.

However, he rejoined the Barber Band from January 2010 till January 2011 and the later from November 2014 till August 2017. He rejoined again in 2021

Trevor was born in London in 1959. After initially learning tenor horn in the school brass band at the age of eleven, he heard recordings of New Orleans clarinettist Sidney Bechet and immediately decided to switch instrument. This was the beginning of a lifelong passion for jazz in its various forms.

Trevor taught himself the rudiments of clarinet and saxophone, and by the late teens was beginning to do gigs with various traditional and mainstream bands around the London Jazz Circuit. By the mid-eighties he had formed his own group the "Swingtet" which featured notable musicians such as trumpeter Ray Crane, pianist Martin Litton, guitarist Paul Sealey and drummer John Armatage. The Swingtet was regularly featured in the B.B.C's Jazz Club broadcasts.  

During the early eighties he worked on several occasions with the late Ken Colyer. Since the eighties, Trevor has often enjoyed working and recording with visiting Americans including Al Casey, Art Hodes, Scott Hamilton, Marty Gross and many others, in between a busy freelance schedule.

In recent years he has appeared live and on recordings with new vocal star, Clare Teal. 

Richard Exall joined the Big Chris Barber Band at the end of July 2004, taking over from Trevor Whiting. Richard brings a wealth of musical experience to the Barber front line, and can be heard taking solos on all of his instruments  alto, tenor, and clarinet. 

Richard has left the Big Chris Barber Band on December 31, 2014 but has recently rejoined in 2021

Richard studied clarinet with Jack Brymer, Colin Courtney and Colin Bradbury and at the Royal College of Music with international soloist Michael Collins. Self-taught on saxophone, he formed his own jazz quartet and big band while still at college and quickly became a familiar figure on the London jazz scene, playing with a wide range of bands and artists from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra to the Ink Spots. 

After leaving college Richard juggled a career in the classical and jazz worlds, playing with the London Symphonietta, London Symphony Orchestra and Glynbourne Opera amongst others, and finding regular work in the West End. Joining forces with American trombone player Rob Killips, Richard was a founder member of the jazz quintet 'Root Position', which soon established itself as one of Europe’s best young jazz groups by winning awards at both the Getxo and Leverkusen international Jazz Festivals, and regularly performing at Pizza Express Jazz Club (Dean St), Blackheath Concert Halls and throughout the UK. 

In the early 1990’s Richard became the saxophone player of choice in the booming latin-jazz scene, touring the United States and Europe with Jesus Alemany’s renowned band Cubanismo, in which he had the honour of being the only non-Cuban member. He was also a regular musician with Orchestra La Clave, Robin Jones’ King Salsa, Viramundo, Roberto Pla and Tumbaito. Richard worked alongside many of the great names in the latin music world including Carlos Del Puerto, Mario Rivera, Orlando Watussi, Tito Allen, Alfredo Rodriguez and Tata Guines. 

Establishing himself as a reliable big band player, good reader and improviser, Richard worked with most of the established big bands, such as The Glenn Miller Orchestra (UK), The Ross Mitchell Band and Singers, The Memphis Belle Orchestra, Freddie Staff’s Manhattan Big Band and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra (UK). In the late 1990’s Richard became a more regular name amongst the vintage jazz fraternity playing regularly with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra and the Charleston Chasers. 

As a composer and arranger, Richard has produced work for many groups and ensembles, including the acclaimed saxophone ensemble Saxtet, which he joined in 1996. He has performed regularly with contemporary jazz groups and classical ensembles such as the Mike Westbrook big band, Hugh Warren’s Barrel Organ Band, The London Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Matrix Ensemble and a performance at the Barbican Centre with the world famous Big Carla Bley Band. His recording and touring credits include The United Funk Organisation, William Orbit, PJ Proby, Martha Reeves, The Selector, Beat International and Ronnie Spector. Television and film credits include Holby City, Miss Marple and Bad Behaviour, which featured original musical composition. 

As an educator, Richard has being involved in workshops and tutorials at various Universities and Music Colleges including Goldsmiths College, Trinity College of Music and the City of Birmingham Conservatoire, and was a resident professor of clarinet at Middlesex University for four years and professor of saxophone at The Centre For Young Musicians in London. 

Away from music, Richard has also found time to run a specialist art shop, and spent a year developing and running an ecolodge in the jungles of Belize, Central America.

Nick White studied at Chetham’s Scool of Music, Worcester College Oxford, and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he had clarinet lessons with Thea King, Roy Jowitt and Colin Lawson.

He has had a varied career having played with a diverse range of groups including Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Zippo’s Circus Band and the Fabulous Good Time Party Boys.

His recent work has included playing Lead Alto Sax with the Charleston Chasers and Principal Clarinet with the Ten Tors Orchestra. He has also worked extensively as an arranger and teacher and currently holds the post of clarinet and saxophone teacher at Exeter University.

Nick White joined the Big Chris Barber Band on January 1st, 2015

Joe joined the Big Chris Barber Band at the end of September 2006 for his first appearance in Giessen, Germany.

Born 1964 in a musically interested family, Joe was influenced by his father, who used to be a trumpet player. Joe started at the age of 10 to play first the trumpet and later French horn.

His musical career began in about 1986, while studying at the University of Surrey, in Guildford, finishing with a BMus (Tonmeister) degree. Joe played banjo and guitar in different bands in the Bristol and South Wales area until joining the Big Chris Barber Band in 2006. He was a member of Henry's Bootblacks, a band playing in the classical 1920's hot jazz style, and led by his uncle. Later he played banjo with the Gwyn Lewis Speakeasy Jazz Band, a band more in the "trad jazz" style. His excellent guitar playing was featured in Django Chutney, a string band that follows the roots of the well known Belgian jazz guitar player Django Reinhardt.

John was born in one of the bedrooms of his family home in a city in Northern England.  Outside the door of this room was a storage area where his fathers drums were kept so it was perhaps natural he should adopt this instrument. 

John started playing when he was about eight years old and his ‘drum set’ was an old tea chest, the bottom half of a banjo and a very cheap cymbal.  He must have shown some promise because he eventually persuaded his Father to let him use his drums.  John joined the band at senior school and shortly after did his first paid ‘gig’ at the age of 11 playing for a pantomime. 

After leaving school he played with various groups playing material by the then chart topping bands and singers.  These were artists like Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Elvis Presley and an up and coming group from Liverpool that he thought were very good called The Beatles!  John gravitated to a small band playing the club circuit in the North of England and stayed with them for a couple of years but became disenchanted with the music and left to join a long established Dance Band led by a local music shop owner.  This band had been in existence since the early 1930’s and had changed little when he joined.  It was a great band in which to learn how to be a musician rather than how to play an instrument and played the kind of music John liked.  He played with this band and other similar function bands for some years and also played in clubs backing some of the big and not so big names of the day.   

A change of circumstance took John to Bristol and here he indulged his passion for jazz by joining various Dixieland bands and making his first musical excursions to play in Europe.  He played with the Severn Jazzmen then the Avon Cities Band for a short while and formed his own band to play small band swing music. John joined the formidable but enjoyable Henry’s Bootblacks and the highly respected Blue Note Jazz Band and recorded and broadcast with both these groups and several others.   

Some fourteen years ago John was asked to do a date in Switzerland with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and began doing occasional gigs with them until taking over the drum chair permanently in 2005.  He has travelled all over the world with this famous band and considers it a pleasure and a privilege to have played with the talented members.  After some seven years John left the PRO but is still to be seen with them as first call stand in for the new drummer. 

John started playing british dates with The Big Chris Barber Band in 2013 taking over full time in 2017

Joe Trudgeon is a welcome new addition to the Chris Barber Big Band, and were the great man still with us, he would no doubt be buoyed by the youthful vigour and punchy swing he brings to the rhythm section. A deft musical talent with a rounded knowledge of jazz in its many incarnations, Joe has invigorated the burgeoning trad scene in his native Bristol as an accomplished bassist, guitarist and singer in numerous outfits such as Henry’s Hot Six, The Old Malt House Jazz Band, and The Gin Bowlers. His efforts and enthusiasm have rekindled the appreciation of older jazz forms for a new generation of hot, young talent and its growing number of fans.