The 1920s Jazz Band

Since their formation, they have appeared at festivals and toured across Britain and Europe, performed live on BBC Radio Three and recorded an eponymous debut album (2016) which is now available on ASTRO Records.

A spinoff project from The 1920s Jazz Band, the trio is dedicated to performing and recording authentic 1920s jazz in the original “piano trio” format.

This often-neglected repertoire ranges from Scott Joplin rags and transcriptions of Jelly Roll Morton’s famous trio sides to new explorations of the work of luminaries such as Jimmy Lytell, Barney Bigard and Omer Simeon.

Another unusual specialism is the captivating down-home ‘washboard band’ repertoire of Johnny Dodds and Jimmie O’Bryant.

The trio are committed to the preservation and unstoppable energy of the clarinet/piano/drums trio at its most stomping.

MICHAEL – Clarinet/Alto Saxophone/Trumpet

Michael McQuaid is an Australian multi-instrumentalist, regularly performing on clarinet, saxophones, trumpet and even occasionally piano. He has been nominated for Young Australian Jazz Artist Of The Year and lead his own band, McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythmakers, touring Europe to widespread acclaim, and releasing two albums.

In 2015 Michael also toured the world as part of the all-star US/Australian collaboration The Hot Jazz Alliance and performed with many current greats of the 1920s and 1930s jazz scene including Vince Giordano, Bob Wilber, Andy Schumm and many more.

DAVID – Clarinet/Bass Saxophone

Born into a musical family, David studied classical clarinet at the Guildhall School of Music and later switched to jazz saxophone. Over the years he has become one of London’s most in-demand reeds players in a multitude of musical contexts including traditional Jazz, mainstream and bebop, modern, free jazz, west-end musicals and others.

He is a veteran of film and TV and has appeared on multiple records. Recently he has found himself increasingly in demand playing clarinet in earlier Jazz styles with all-star British groups including the Chris Barber Band, Pasadena Roof Orchestra and Keith Nichols’ Blue Devils.

MARTIN – Banjo/Guitar

Martin was born in London. He is a very versatile musician having played Folk, Rhythm-and-Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll as well as most Jazz guitar styles and specializes in banjo music from the Ragtime era to the 1920’s. He plays most stringed instruments, from the ukelele to the bass-guitar.

He has toured Europe and America, giving concerts of music from the 20’s and 30’s with both the cabaret band “Rio Trio” and the various famous British vintage jazz ensembles. Martin is a most authentic and tasteful performer of jazz.

ANDREW – Pianoforte

Pianist/composer Andrew Oliver performs and composes music across many genre boundaries. He studied in New Orleans before returning to his hometown of Portland, Oregon in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and since moving to London in 2013, he continues to be involved in a wide range of interesting musical projects.

Andrew is a devotee and a master of many genres and styles including modern jazz, West African music, tango and silent film, as well as performing superb vintage jazz and ragtime piano with young London bands such as The Old Hat Jazz Band and The Dime Notes.

NICHOLAS – Drums/Percussion

One of the world’s leading exponents of early jazz drumming, the Bristolian’s sense of authenticity and knowledge of period performance practices have already made him the busiest percussionist of the younger generation.

He began by leading his own band, Albert Ball’s Flying Aces, and has since gone on to make a career performing exceptional vintage jazz with Alex Mendham and His Orchestra, Richard White’s Fivers, Pasadena Roof Orchestra and others. Nicholas is also a tall-ship sailor and enthusiastic performer of traditional maritime music.