Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams with Jonny Boston’s Hot Jazz on tour play at Farnborough Jazz Club 4th March 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams, a wonderful member of one of Mike’s Band.  I hope to be bringing you a Tribute to this magical bass player and lovely man in a  short while.  Trefor, who died 5th September 2017, was bass player (with ‘Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces’ and ‘Phil Mason’s All Stars’),  I know everyone will be saddened by this news, but tonight we will celebrate his life.

Meeting of the Maestros
Colin Dobson, well known on trumpet with the Billy “Wakey, Wakey!” Cotton band , and a jazz legend in his own right, is a regular visitor to Farnborough Jazz Club where his opinions are often sought by other trumpet virtuosos with regard to their performances. Here Mike Barry, trumpet man with his own XXL band, discusses technical points with Colin over a friendly pint of Spitfire bitter. Two veteran jazzmen find harmony at the popular Farnborough venue. Photo by Mike Witt.

Coming tonight, FRIDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2017, Mike has this band the ‘MIKE BARRY’S FRISCO FANATICS’, here at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB, Kent.  By the way, today is actually the 77th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.  Last year, Keith held his art exhibition, showing all his wonderful Spitfire and Hurricane water colour paintings (he will be bringing a print of one to show you)……Back to the jazz – MIKE, trumpeter and vocalist, has three bands.  It has been a year since we had these Frisco boys though, but not because we don’t love them.  They are a really happy band and we know you will enjoy them and their music.  The musicians accompanying Mike will be TIM HUSKISSON on clarinet and LES HANSCOMBE on trombone & vocals.  Also GRAHAM BARTON on piano, JOHN SMITH on banjo, MARC EASENER on sousaphone and BRIAN STAPLEY on drums – yes a great line-up.  If you all try to get here early, we will start at 8:00pm.  All are welcome, we love plenty of dancing and we have a good bar.  So come and enjoy yourselves, we do expect a great evening.

Your hosts,

Diane and Keith