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Meet The Band

Barry Grummett - Piano and Band Leader

Barry, from Loughborough, started playing solo piano in pubs and clubs at the age of 15 and, inspired by Fats Domino, went on to join rock'n'roll and blues bands. In 1976 he formed his own New Orleans-style band which ran until he joined the Chris Blount Band in 1992. On Chris' death, he took over the leadership of the group which was eventually renamed New Orleans Heat. His Alton Purnell-style driving piano is a key component in the band's sound.

Tony Peatman - Banjo

Tony, who acquired his first banjo in 1960, developed an interest in jazz through Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber and Ken Colyer, but became a Lawrence Marrero devotee after hearing the George Lewis Band's Jazz At Vespers LP. From Lincolnshire, Tony provides the rock-solid core to the band, edits our fan club newsletter, Bugleboy, and logs all the band's programmes. Also leads the band's off-duty singalong skiffle group on tour - honestly.

Harry Slater - String Bass

Harry has played all over Europe and the USA, including a memorable appearance at Preservation Hall, New Orleans, in 1967, and has backed many of the jazz stars visiting the UK, including Alton Purnell, Kid Sheik, Louis Nelson and Thomas Jefferson. Not bad for someone who started out as a tea-chest bass skiffler at the age of 16. Harry bought his first double bass in 1958 and went on to feature in a number of leading British New Orleans-style jazz bands, including the Les Devotees Jazz Men and the bands of Dave Brennan and Chris Blount, before becoming a permanent member of the Blount band in 1973.

Gwyn Lewis - Cornet, Flugelhorn, Vocals

Aberdare-born Gwyn became a jazz fan as a child (his father was a musician) and decided to play trumpet after hearing a concert which included Kid Sheik and Cuff Billett. He honed his skills while at sea as an engineer (with New Orleans among the ports of call) and, back in Wales, he was soon involved in the Cardiff scene, becoming cornet lead with the Icon Jazzmen. Later, with the Roy Kirby band from Stroud, he toured Belgium, Germany and Holland as well as playing major British venues, before joining New Orleans Heat. Providing fiery leads and sensitive ballads, Gwyn has played a pivotal role in establishing the band's distinctive sound.

John Scantlebury - Clarinet, Alto Sax

John, from Cardiff, played most of his jazz with bands in his home city, but, following his retirement as a journalist, was recruited by New Orleans Heat. A fan of swing as a youngster, he formed a jazz club at his school after going to a Sidney Bechet concert and discovered more New Orleans music via the city's much-admired Mike Harries band. Eighteen months of clarinet-swotting later he was in the Harries line-up, meeting many New Orleans legends, going on to guest with Cuff Billett and Dan Pawson's bands and, memorably, playing alongside George Lewis himself ("Just one number and I scarcely had the nerve to blow a note," he says).

Mike Taylor - Trombone

Mike bought a trombone in 1957 when a student at Liverpool University and taught himself to play, featuring in bands in South Yorkshire, where he was born, and later in Lincolnshire. Returning to Sheffield, he found himself much in demand by local bands and, following his retirement as a chemistry teacher, he joined Dave Brennan's Jubilee Jazz Band. Mike spent five years with them before his reputation brought an invitation from New Orleans Heat to fill the vacant trombone chair, where he has earned an ever-growing number of fans at home and internationally.

Colin Bushell - Drums

Colin, from near Gloucester, started playing drums at the age of 15 and first became interested in New Orleans jazz when he saw the George Lewis Band in Bristol in the late Fifties. He stopped playing when he was 18 because of work commitments, but resumed in 1978/9 with the Gloucestershire-based Roy Kirby Paragon Jazz Band. Colin has played with many of the West Country bands and at clubs and festivals around the country and abroad. "I have been lucky and privileged to have met and played with musicians who are dedicated New Orleans players," he says. "It is such a pleasure to see people dancing and enjoying the sound of the New Orleans music.".

Clarence Nugent - Drums

Sharing drumming duties with Colin Bushell, Clarence's first experience of live New Orleans jazz was the 1963 tour of the Barry (Kid) Martyn band featuring Kid Thomas Valentine and Emanuel Paul. Thereafter he was hooked, going on to join Cardiff's Mike Harries Band and the Adamant N.O. Parade Band. In 1965, Clarence was recruited for the newly-formed Icon Jazzmen which played (and still plays, occasionally, 35 years on) relentlessly-hot N.O. jazz. The band did several European tours and appeared at numerous jazz festivals in the UK. As the Icon drummer, Clarence has accompanied many well known UK guest musicians, including Ken Colyer, Sammy Rimington, Cuff Billet, Keith Smith, Alan Elsdon, John Barnes, Roy Williams, Dan Pawson and Digby Fairweather and, from USA/France, Clyde Bernhart and Benny Waters.