Dave Martin formed the band in 2010. While listening to a compilation jazz CD one day he had heard an amazing trumpeter in a number called Jazz Battle. The trumpet playing sounded as exciting as that of the early Louis Armstrong and initially he thought it must have been a tune he had somehow missed. On closer listening he realised that the playing was slightly different in that it was much wilder than that of Louis, and seemed on the verge of being out of control. It was someone called Jabbo Smith. Here is the Jazz Battle track that inspired Dave.
Jabbo Smith
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Then, soon afterwards, he was given a CD of Jabbo Smith and His Rhythm Aces - 22 numbers of wildly exciting music. How could someone with so much amazing talent be almost unknown? It was a real enigma. You can read about his life in an interesting article in The Syncopated Times. Click here to read it
Dave played the CD to Millie, the banjo player in the City Steam Jazz Band, and he persuaded Dave that they ought to try learn some of the tunes. That started an exciting journey of discovery in which Dave worked out the structure of each tune and tried to notate what was very rapid and elaborate trumpet playing. He then persuaded several friends to join him - namely Des Bacon, (who plays reeds and who had once told Dave that if he wasn't playing the music he wanted to play then he should form his own band), John Beecham, a fine tuba and trombone player, and his brother, Mike Martin, who is an accomplished pianist. To start with they played just for fun but soon realised that there were the makings of an interesting band that would go down well with the punters. So the rehearsal group soon morphed into a band - Dave Martin's Jabbo Five. Mike unfortunately soon had to withdraw from the band, but not before playing on the demo CD. Luckily Mike Denham was available to join as pianist in time to record the first full CD - Yes, yes, yes
To begin with they concentrated on original Jabbo Smith numbers but also tried some of the wonderful tunes recorded by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. This was possible because John Beecham played both tuba and trombone, and could pick up the bone to play the part of the great Kid Ory. They went on to broaden the repertoire to include a sprinkling of other enjoyable standards, with vocals from Dave and Millie. Over the years the personnel changed. Mike Lancaster joined on sousaphone, Phil Blandford became the regular pianist, and the post of reed player was filled by Nick White. This is the line-up, and which recorded the second full CD called Absolutely.
The band plays mainly in the South West of England. As well as pubs in Devon, Somerset and Avon we have performed at various clubs - 51 Club of Cornwall, Bude, Preston Cross, Brunswick (Bristol), Plymouth, Sherborne, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Yellow Dog Jazz Club, Amersham and Watford. We have also enjoyed going to several festivals - Bude, Teignmouth, Lyme Regis, Swanage, Upton and Pershore - as well as to a jazz weekend at Mill Rythe.
The lineup of the Jabbo Five includes a piano which means that the band must be static. Sometimes the band goes out as a four piece known as the Jabbo Four.
The lineup of the Jabbo Five includes a piano which means that the band must be static. Sometimes the band goes out as a four piece known as the Jabbo Four.
