New Orleans Jazz Bandits

Back in 1956 Colin Kingwell, formed his first ‘Jazz Bandits’ playing in the classic style of King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbeck, Paul Whiteman etc.  Over the years the style of the band changed, developing a refreshingly distinctive sound, based on the New Orleans jazz style, which is recognised and appreciated by jazz enthusiasts and connoisseurs everywhere. Playing New Orleans style music, the band has toured the U.K., Denmark, Holland, Sweden, France, Switzerland and even the U.S.A.  At the end of 2016, after sixty successful years of band leading, Colin decided to retire from the Jazz Bandits.  The remaining members of the band, with Colin’s blessing, agreed to continue as a unit carrying the ‘Jazz Bandits’ name with them and continuing to play with the same spirit and enthusiasm.  So ‘The New Orleans Jazz Bandits’ was born in January 2017 with Ron Rumbol as the new band leader.

This type of jazz is not heard in too many places – its only in the band's weekly residency, jazz clubs and jazz festivals that will keep it alive, and everyone needs to experience it in their lives! This music really does have a sense that it’s passing through history, go listen and you will hear a great variety of slow, fast, instrumentals, pre-jive, swing, deep Gospel, African American folk songs, but most of all New Orleans jazz at its core, from those who know exactly what they’re doing!

Band Members

Allen Beechey - Cornet/vocals

Heather Birt – Double bass

Malc Murphy - Drums / vocals

Rob Pearce - Trombone

Ron Rumbol - Clarinet / Alto Sax (Leader)

Tim Wake - Tenor banjo

 Allen Beechey – Cornet

Allen grew up with Dixieland jazz ringing in his ears, in particular the sound of Wild Bill Davison, the hard blowing, whisky drinking cornet player from Defiance, Ohio! Learning to play cornet whilst at University, Allen was soon playing with bands in the Nottingham area such as Chris Blount’s New Orleans Jazz Band and Dave Brennan’s Jubilee Jazz Band.

After completing his studies, Allen moved back south and began playing with a variety of bands around the south of England including Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits (now the New Orleans Jazz Bandits).

In 1998 Allen formed The Bright Stars of Jazz and from its conception the band developed into a swinging seven-piece band inspired by the good–time, hard driving jazz style of Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison, and their colleagues of the 1930’s & 50’s.

Since 1999, Allen has been in high demand, playing at venues throughout the UK with the bands of John Petters, Barry Martyn, Neville Dickie, Campbell Burnap, as well as a member of the Ken Colyer Trust New Orleans Jazz Band (1999-2004).  He has also performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious festivals including; Brecon, Keswick, Whitley Bay, Isle of Bute, Soho, Swanage, & Holywood (Northern Ireland) to name just a few.

He has toured extensively in the UK as well as completing several successful tours in Europe appearing with jazz legends such as Kenny Davern, Joe Muranyi & Roy Williams.

Allen joined Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits in 2016.

Heather Birt – Double Bass

Heather is a versatile musician with a varied career spanning jazz and classical music. She has been the bassist for Allen Beechey’s Bright Stars of Jazz since its inception in 1998, performing extensively at clubs and festivals in the UK and internationally. Notable performances with the Bright Stars included regular appearances at the iconic 100 Club, a seven-year residency at the River Bar by Tower Bridge, and concerts at prestigious venues such as the Purcell Room in the South Bank Centre.

Beyond the Bright Stars, Heather has played with numerous other jazz groups, including the Colyer Trust Band, Phil Mason’s All Stars, Sammy Rimington during his UK tours, Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band and the John Petters Swing Band. Her festival appearances are extensive, including gigs at Holywood, Brecon, Eindhoven, Keswick, Swanage, Bude, Birmingham and Soho. In 2021 Heather joined the New Orleans Jazz Bandits, and she has recently been developing her interest in Gypsy Swing, joining Hot Swing Boheme in 2023.

In addition to her jazz career, Heather is a freelance viola player who performs and records regularly with many period ensembles including the Academy of Ancient Music and The Mozartists.  She studied viola with Roger Bigley at the Royal Northern College of Music, then music as an undergraduate at Oxford, and subsequently won scholarships to study viola and baroque violin as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music.

Heather has played in several BBC Proms, on memorable QE2 cruises, as well as in concert halls and theatres throughout Europe and beyond. She performs regularly at London venues including at the Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and the South Bank Centre. Heather’s string quartet, OXUS specialises in finding inventive, approachable ways to present unusual, mostly 20th century and contemporary repertoire to a range of audiences. Heather appears on many acclaimed chamber, orchestral, opera and jazz recordings.

Heather has recently taken over the management of Grittleton Chamber Music Course, an annual two week event that has been running in its current form since 1967. She teaches a select few violin and viola students, and is also a violin / viola examiner with the Music Teachers Board (MTB).

She joined the Bandits in 2022, following the sudden death of Peter Brooks, who was the second longest serving member of the Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits, having joined in 1998.

 Malc Murphy – Drums

Malc played drums in several New Orleans-style bands in the North and Midlands while still in his teens.  He moved to London in 1966 to join the Ken Colyer Jazzmen and was a key member of that group until 1971, when ill-health forced Ken to cease running the band and reduce his playing commitments.  Malc stayed on in Johnny Bastable’s Chosen Six and later formed his own Storyville Stompers who toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe.  Malc’s studies with Zutty Singleton, and his contacts with many of the legends of New Orleans, both as a friend and as a fellow musician, has given him a wealth of experience and knowledge of the music.  As well as recording with many British bands Malc has also made recordings in New Orleans.

Malc joined the New Orleans Jazz Bandits at the beginning of the 90s and has been with the band for over 25 years.

 Rob Pearce - Trombone

Rob in London born and bred and started playing the trombone at the age of eight, having wanted a trombone when he was four.  After the inevitable original classical training, he started playing traditional jazz when he was 16, which was a fortunate spin-off from the youth orchestra, and now plays in a number of traditional New Orleans bands, both as a regular member and  as a guest, and leads his own band called the Mardi Gras JazzBand.  He joined the Bandits in January 2018 as the full time replacement for retiree Colin Kingwell.

Rob makes very regular trips to New Orleans, and has played alongside a very large number of New Orleans musicians in a large number of venues, including in Preservation Hall, the Natchez streamboat, all the Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street jazz clubs and has a huge repertoire of New Orleans Jazz.  Understandably, his style is reminiscent of Kid Ory, Big Jim Robinson, Freddie Assunto, Louis Nelson and Trummy Young, although he will adapt and appears regularly with the Fallen Heroes playing their brand of R&B and is not averse to some classic swing.

In addition to New Orleans, Rob has played at Jazz Clubs through Europe, hotels and clubs in Monte Carlo, even a beach party in San Tropez and pool parties in Antibes and Juin les Pins for the rich and famous, and of course, a myriad of UK venues, such as the 100 Club, Pizza Express, the Tower of London, the Royal Courts of Justice, riverboats galore, and for all the London Marathons for the last quarter of a century – including all the Olympic and Paralympic marathons.

 Ron Rumbol – Clarinet / Alto Sax

Ron was born in Isleworth, Middlesex.  He learnt to read music at school and played in the school orchestra.  He became interested in big bands and swing music in his 'teens while still at school.  He was introduced to traditional jazz and subsequently New Orleans style jazz at the age of 18, and inspired by such clarinet players as George Lewis, Johnny Dodds and Albert Nicholas, he learnt to play the clarinet.  He joined his first band in 1958 with Keith Smith which was called The Powder Mill Stompers and subsequently the Fron-Zi-Me Jazzmen.  After leaving the Keith Smith band in the early 60's, he played with Bill Brunskill's band for about 2 years.

 Ron gave up playing for a number of years, but on his return formed a new band called the San Jacinto Jazz Band following his close association with Norrie Cox in the 60's. This band was based in Berkshire.  He ran this band for a number of years until he disbanded it in 1995.

 In 1975 the Excelsior New Orleans Brass Band was formed using some of the best British exponents of this style of music available, which Ron joined in 1977, and for a period in the late 80’s and early 90’s a complete New Orleans Package Show (“Echo’s of New Orleans”) was staged at a number of venues throughout the UK and Europe and it was here that the Excelsior Vintage Jazz Band concept was born; giving two and sometimes three different jazz bands within the brass band. The Excelsior Brass Band continued to play at outdoor and promotional events but the Excelsior Vintage Jazz Band virtually disappeared until the early part of 1998, when Ron re-formed an all star band working as a regular performing 6 piece jazz band, which he still also runs today.

Ron joined Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits in 2002 and took over the leadership of the New Orleans Jazz Bandits in January 2017.

 Apart from his love of New Orleans music, he also still likes to listen to big bands, his favourite being the Duke Ellington Orchestra with a particular attraction to Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster.

 Tim Wake – Banjo

Tim was born in Feltham in 1946, brought up in Staines and has lived in Uxbridge for the past 40 years.  He worked in the television and film industry until he retired in 2011. At the age of 14, he played in St Peters School band, ‘The Gatesmen Jazzmen’, this being his first band.  Tim joined ‘James Alley Jazzmen’ in about 1974 and played with them until 1987, following which he formed his own band in 1990, ‘The Steam Packet Six’.  He joined ‘West London Rhythm Kings’ in 1993, then ‘The Vintage Band’ in 2002 and stayed with them until early 2012 when he moved on to  ‘The Excel Jazz Band. Tim joined ‘The New Orleans Jazz Bandits’ in October 2017.

Allen Beechey – Cornet

Allen grew up with Dixieland jazz ringing in his ears, in particular the sound of Wild Bill Davison, the hard blowing, whisky drinking cornet player from Defiance, Ohio! Learning to play cornet whilst at University, Allen was soon playing with bands in the Nottingham area such as Chris Blount’s New Orleans Jazz Band and Dave Brennan’s Jubilee Jazz Band.

After completing his studies, Allen moved back south and began playing with a variety of bands around the south of England including Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits (now the New Orleans Jazz Bandits).

In 1998 Allen formed The Bright Stars of Jazz and from its conception the band developed into a swinging seven-piece band inspired by the good–time, hard driving jazz style of Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison, and their colleagues of the 1930’s & 50’s.

Since 1999, Allen has been in high demand, playing at venues throughout the UK with the bands of John Petters, Barry Martyn, Neville Dickie, Campbell Burnap, as well as a member of the Ken Colyer Trust New Orleans Jazz Band (1999-2004).  He has also performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious festivals including; Brecon, Keswick, Whitley Bay, Isle of Bute, Soho, Swanage, & Holywood (Northern Ireland) to name just a few.

He has toured extensively in the UK as well as completing several successful tours in Europe appearing with jazz legends such as Kenny Davern, Joe Muranyi & Roy Williams.

 Allen joined Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits in 2016.

Heather Birt – Double Bass

Heather is a versatile musician with a varied career spanning jazz and classical music. She has been the bassist for Allen Beechey’s Bright Stars of Jazz since its inception in 1998, performing extensively at clubs and festivals in the UK and internationally. Notable performances with the Bright Stars included regular appearances at the iconic 100 Club, a seven-year residency at the River Bar by Tower Bridge, and concerts at prestigious venues such as the Purcell Room in the South Bank Centre.

Beyond the Bright Stars, Heather has played with numerous other jazz groups, including the Colyer Trust Band, Phil Mason’s All Stars, Sammy Rimington during his UK tours, Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band and the John Petters Swing Band. Her festival appearances are extensive, including gigs at Holywood, Brecon, Eindhoven, Keswick, Swanage, Bude, Birmingham and Soho. In 2021 Heather joined the New Orleans Jazz Bandits, and she has recently been developing her interest in Gypsy Swing, joining Hot Swing Boheme in 2023.

In addition to her jazz career, Heather is a freelance viola player who performs and records regularly with many period ensembles including the Academy of Ancient Music and The Mozartists.  She studied viola with Roger Bigley at the Royal Northern College of Music, then music as an undergraduate at Oxford, and subsequently won scholarships to study viola and baroque violin as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music.

Heather has played in several BBC Proms, on memorable QE2 cruises, as well as in concert halls and theatres throughout Europe and beyond. She performs regularly at London venues including at the Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and the South Bank Centre. Heather’s string quartet, OXUS specialises in finding inventive, approachable ways to present unusual, mostly 20th century and contemporary repertoire to a range of audiences. Heather appears on many acclaimed chamber, orchestral, opera and jazz recordings.

Heather has recently taken over the management of Grittleton Chamber Music Course, an annual two week event that has been running in its current form since 1967. She teaches a select few violin and viola students, and is also a violin / viola examiner with the Music Teachers Board (MTB).

Heather joined the Bandits in 2022, following the sudden death of Peter Brooks, who was the second longest serving member of the Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits, having joined in 1998.

Malc Murphy – Drums

Malc played drums in several New Orleans-style bands in the North and Midlands while still in his teens.  He moved to London in 1966 to join the Ken Colyer Jazzmen and was a key member of that group until 1971, when ill-health forced Ken to cease running the band and reduce his playing commitments.  Malc stayed on in Johnny Bastable’s Chosen Six and later formed his own Storyville Stompers who toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe.  Malc’s studies with Zutty Singleton, and his contacts with many of the legends of New Orleans, both as a friend and as a fellow musician, has given him a wealth of experience and knowledge of the music.  As well as recording with many British bands Malc has also made recordings in New Orleans.

Malc joined the New Orleans Jazz Bandits at the beginning of the 90s and has been with the band for over 25 years.

Rob Pearce - Trombone

Rob in London born and bred and started playing the trombone at the age of eight, having wanted a trombone when he was four.  After the inevitable original classical training, he started playing traditional jazz when he was 16, which was a fortunate spin-off from the youth orchestra, and now plays in a number of traditional New Orleans bands, both as a regular member and  as a guest, and leads his own band called the Mardi Gras JazzBand.  He joined the Bandits in January 2018 as the full time replacement for retiree Colin Kingwell.

Rob makes very regular trips to New Orleans, and has played alongside a very large number of New Orleans musicians in a large number of venues, including in Preservation Hall, the Natchez streamboat, all the Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street jazz clubs and has a huge repertoire of New Orleans Jazz.  Understandably, his style is reminiscent of Kid Ory, Big Jim Robinson, Freddie Assunto, Louis Nelson and Trummy Young, although he will adapt and appears regularly with the Fallen Heroes playing their brand of R&B and is not averse to some classic swing.

In addition to New Orleans, Rob has played at Jazz Clubs through Europe, hotels and clubs in Monte Carlo, even a beach party in San Tropez and pool parties in Antibes and Juin les Pins for the rich and famous, and of course, a myriad of UK venues, such as the 100 Club, Pizza Express, the Tower of London, the Royal Courts of Justice, riverboats galore, and for all the London Marathons for the last quarter of a century – including all the Olympic and Paralympic marathons.

Ron Rumbol – Clarinet / Alto Sax

Ron was born in Isleworth, Middlesex.  He learnt to read music at school and played in the school orchestra.  He became interested in big bands and swing music in his 'teens while still at school.  He was introduced to traditional jazz and subsequently New Orleans style jazz at the age of 18, and inspired by such clarinet players as George Lewis, Johnny Dodds and Albert Nicholas, he learnt to play the clarinet.  He joined his first band in 1958 with Keith Smith which was called The Powder Mill Stompers and subsequently the Fron-Zi-Me Jazzmen.  After leaving the Keith Smith band in the early 60's, he played with Bill Brunskill's band for about 2 years.

Ron gave up playing for a number of years, but on his return formed a new band called the San Jacinto Jazz Band following his close association with Norrie Cox in the 60's. This band was based in Berkshire.  He ran this band for a number of years until he disbanded it in 1995.

In 1975 the Excelsior New Orleans Brass Band was formed using some of the best British exponents of this style of music available, which Ron joined in 1977, and for a period in the late 80’s and early 90’s a complete New Orleans Package Show (“Echo’s of New Orleans”) was staged at a number of venues throughout the UK and Europe and it was here that the Excelsior Vintage Jazz Band concept was born; giving two and sometimes three different jazz bands within the brass band. The Excelsior Brass Band continued to play at outdoor and promotional events but the Excelsior Vintage Jazz Band virtually disappeared until the early part of 1998, when Ron re-formed an all star band working as a regular performing 6 piece jazz band, which he still also runs today.

Ron joined Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits in 2002 and took over the leadership of the New Orleans Jazz Bandits in January 2017.

Apart from his love of New Orleans music, he also still likes to listen to big bands, his favourite being the Duke Ellington Orchestra with a particular attraction to Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster.

Tim Wake – Banjo

Tim was born in Feltham in 1946, brought up in Staines and has lived in Uxbridge for the past 40 years.  He worked in the television and film industry until he retired in 2011. At the age of 14, he played in St Peters School band, ‘The Gatesmen Jazzmen’, this being his first band.  Tim joined ‘James Alley Jazzmen’ in about 1974 and played with them until 1987, following which he formed his own band in 1990, ‘The Steam Packet Six’.  He joined ‘West London Rhythm Kings’ in 1993, then ‘The Vintage Band’ in 2002 and stayed with them until early 2012 when he moved on to  ‘The Excel Jazz Band. Tim joined ‘The New Orleans Jazz Bandits’ in October 2017.