The Jazz Cafe Band
Just My Size

Hot off the press, the long awaited debut CD from the island's own Jazz Cafe Band.

Track Listing :

1. I Got Rhythm

2. Tonight's The Night

3. Limehouse Blues

4. I'll Be Seeing You

5. I Can't Give You Anything But Love

6. Chimes Blues

7. Please Don't Talk About Me

8. All Of Me

9. Chinaboy

10. Steamroller Blues

11. Ja Da

12. Darktown Strutters' Ball

13. Pennies From Heaven

14. Runnin' Wild

15. After You've Gone

John Gibson - trombone/vocal

Malcolm Kerr - drums

Alison Prince - clarinet

Tom Buchan - guitar

Biff Simpson - cornet/vocals

John Tilbury - electric bass

The band started in 2000, without so much as a name, when John Gibson wrote to The Arran Banner asking why there seemed to be every kind of musical group on the island except jazz. A month later, an unlikely handful met in a Kilmory kitchen. Stef Holmer (banjo) and Sheena Holmer (vocals) had been in the recently defunct Wee Swing Band, along with Jim Donaldson on his amazing one-string bass. Alison Prince had never played jazz but wanted to, Steve McNeaney played drums, followed by Andrew Keaney and finally Malcolm Kerr. Biff Simpson came in on cornet. The Whiting Bay Jazz Cafe was born.

Things moved on. The ex-Swing Band members left the island. Jon Hollingworth took over on bass for a year, then replaced by John Tilbury. With Tom Buchan on guitar and Malcolm Kerr on drums, the band suddenly had a truly funky rhythm section. The front line had settled in, and Biff Simpson, as every member of her fan club will confirm, turned out to be a totally stunning vocalist. When Biff puts a song over, you know you've been sung to.

In the current year, 2011, the band has branched out, playing in venues all around Arran, as well as the paddle steamer Waverley, and is now in considerable demand.

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