Mrs Sue Baxter
Tysoe Village Hall
baxtersue@btconnect.com
Tysoe Village Hall
Press Release
“The Midlands Best Kept Secret and world class
musician” comes to Tysoe!
“George Huxley, the Midlands best kept secret and world class musician” (so said the late Humphrey Lyttleton)
will christen the new stage at Tysoe Village Hall on Sunday 9th August along with his Jazz Men. George is
much in demand in the UK, Europe and U.S.A. His soaring soprano evokes memories of the legendary Sidney
Bechet with whom he has often been compared. He is a busy and popular musician well known for many years
as a fine clarinettist, soprano and alto saxophonist.
The Tysoe Trad Jazz concert is in aid of much needed village hall refurbishment. It starts at 7pm in the village
hall. Tickets are £10 and are available from Tysoe Butchers and Sue Baxter 01295 691011. Refreshments and a
licensed bar will be available.
George Huxley leads his own all star jazz band along with his Southern Jazz Band, both of which are very
popular. He is a member of the Fryer-Barnhart International All Star Jazz Band and also fronts Reeds United
together with John Maddocks.
George will be joined by Gordon Whitworth on trumpet, Ron Hills on trombone, John Fellowes on bass and Ken
Freeman on piano.
Gordon Whitworth started playing trumpet in the early 1960s in the Birmingham area. His driving Louis
Armstrong influenced trumpet style was soon a star feature of such leading Midlands bands as The Second City
Jazzmen and the George Huxley Jazz Band. His professional career has included long stints with Monty
Sunshine’s Jazz Band and Tommy Burton’s Sporting House Quartet. Gordon also leads his own band on cornet
with a Tribute to Bix Beiderbecke.
For Release [Time, AM/PM Time Zone, Date]
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The Midlands Best Kept Secret and World Class Musician
Ron Hills is a former Art teacher. He played with the Eddie Mathews Jump Band, John Burnett’s Jazz Bandits
and currently has a quintet and six piece swing band called Swing Kings. Ron is also part of the Kinda Dush big
band concentrating on Duke Ellington’s music. Ron became a permanent member of the George Huxley Jazz
Band following the sad death of Derek Halford.
John Fellowes originally played clarinet but changed to bass in his early twenties. Duncan Swift introduced John
to Jimmie Blanton’s recordings and the influence of this “melodic driving style” of bass playing is still there today.
John had an extended tour with Duncan Swift, Roy Williams and Digby Fairweather and backed touring British
and American soloists like Joe Harriet, George Chisham, Humphrey Lyttleton and Alex Welsh. John had three
years with Pete Allen and now plays with Kevin Grenfell, Richard Leach and the George Huxley bands.
Ken Freeman joined his first jazz band (the Darlaston City Blue Blowers) when he was just 13 and he is still
“jazzin” some 63 years later. He considers that he has been fortunate to have played with several leading
Midlands’ bands including the Second City Jazzmen, Ken Rattenbury Quintet, the Zenith Hot Stompers and the
Crown Swing Band as well as the George Huxley Jazz Band to name but a few. He has had the opportunity to
play with top American stars such as Wild Bill Davison, Billy Butterfield, Bob Wilber, Kenny Daverne, Peanuts
Hucko, Benny Waters, Ed Hall and Jimmy McPortland. He has also appeared with British household names
“Humph”, Chris Barber, Monty Sunshine, George Chisholm and Roy Williams and has been featured on radio
and TV.
Tickets for this event are limited by the hall’s capacity, so early booking is advised.
For further information contact: Sue Baxter, Tysoe Village Hall, 01295 691011
Editors Notes: Tysoe Village Hall is undertaking a major refurbishment. We have already installed disabled
facilities and a new stage and are about to commence a £20,000 project to completely re-wire the hall and install
new energy efficient heating and lighting. The trad jazz concert will support this element of the project.