Jazzmen back in action

A JAZZ-loving grandmother will be adding her sweet vocals when eight veteran Sussex jazz musicians stomp their way through another sell-out session in aid of charity on March 28.

For the third year running, the Riverside Jump Band is re-assembling the full line-up from its 1960s heydays to perform at Lewes Jazz Club at 139 High Street.

This year Macmillan Cancer Relief will benefit from the session, which starts at 8.15pm.

The Riverside veterans (average age 65) hope to match the huge success of their two previous reunion stomps, which between them raised more than 1,500 for charity.

This year's added attraction is the Riverside band's former singer Barbara Placzek who used to sing under the name of Karen Donovan.

The Riverside Jump Band played every week in the late 1950s at the old Lewes Jazz Club, then based at The Brewers Arms. It became the county town's top venue for jazz fans.

Then the band was a major force on the Brighton and mid-Sussex jazz scene until disbanding in 1968.

With Keith Samuel leading on trombone, the personnel again features Trevor Philcox (trumpet), Keith Slade (clarinet and vocals), Terry Whitney (piano), Vernon Leigh (rhythm guitar), Barry Morgan/John Frucht (bass) and Brian Clarke on drums.

Band members are pictured left.