The Savoy Jazzmen

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Jazz as an art form first began in New Orleans, USA, at the start of the twentieth century, and the first jazz band (the Original Dixieland Jazz Band) arrived in Britain at the port of Liverpool in 1919. New Orleans jazz dominated popular music throughout the ‘jazz era’ of the 1920s, until the larger ‘swing era’ bands took over in the 1930s. However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, traditional New Orleans style jazz (‘trad’) became very popular, with several bands (led by Chris Barber, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball) topping the UK charts, and many local bands were to be found in all British towns and cities. The continuing popularity of traditional jazz relates to the fact that its easy-going, foot-tapping style is much more accessible than the more esoteric, musically complex forms of modern jazz. Liverpool has been particularly well endowed with traditional jazz bands, many of which have continued to play for decades for those who love this form of music, and a few of these bands still remain today.

One such band is Liverpool’s Savoy Jazzmen, which formed in 1960, and first performed at the Mardi Gras Jazz Club Liverpool on Tuesday 3rd May 1960. They also played regularly in the Downbeat Jazz Club in the 1960’s and a poster can  be seen in the World Museum advertising the group’s session in the club with the Swinging Blue Jeans. The band played at the original Cavern (which began as a traditional jazz club before the Beatles appeared there) and a brick in the wall opposite the new Cavern commemorates these sessions. 

The Savoy Jazzmen are led by their bass player, Peter Swensson, who has played with the band since his demobilization after completing his National Service in the British Army. Peter joined the Savoy Jazzmen on October 18th 1960, 64 years ago, and has performed continuously with the band without a break until present day, possibly a UK record for service with the same music group. The other band members, also octogenarians who have also played this form of jazz for many decades, joined the band as replacements have become necessary over the years. The next longest-standing member is the trombone player, Ken Horton, who joined the band in the 1970s. The remaining players (Mal Horne, guitar and banjo; Brian Woods, drums; Geoff Parker, clarinet and tenor sax) all joined the band in the last decade.