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Ken Pye's Creole Serenaders
The Creole Serenaders has been established as a six piece New Orleans Revival band, over a number of years. The present line up have played regularly together for the last fifteen years, and have acquired a reputation for playing good, authentic New Orleans jazz. This is ideal dance music, suitable for more modern jump jive, etc, or older styles such as quick step, waltz and foxtrot. As with all our bands, there is great adaptability within the band to suit your occasion, from quiet background music to eat by, to a stomping, swinging evening's entertainment. The band is acoustic, so can be sited in different places during an evening. A quartet version of this band is available for all occasions, as is a New Orleans style Marching Brass Band, suitable for carnivals and street parades, demonstrations, funeral processions, etc. This takes the form of two trombones, clarinet, sax, brass bass, snare drum, bass drum and two trumpets.
The band is led by Ken Pye, whose rhythmic Kid Thomas trumpet style is well regarded by New Orleans enthusiasts. Ken has played with all the “greats” over the years, and has recorded with Bill Bissonette, amongst others. He regularly visits Denmark, where he guests at festivals with top Danish New Orleans bands.
Stan Stephens, on trombone, provides the perfect foil to Ken’s trumpet playing, with his mixture of sweet, dulcet melodies, where the influence of Louis Nelson can be clearly seen, and his more aggressive manner, more in the Robinson mode. Stan has played the New Orleans jazz scene for many years, and is a highly regarded trombonist.
On clarinet and saxophone is Phil Wall. He has played in many bands over the last forty years, starting off with Ken Pye in Birmingham in the early 1960’s. He runs a very successful band based in South Wales, the East Street Owls.
The rhythm section comprises Paul Spedding on drums, a Sammy Penn enthusiast, Tony Sharp features on bass, also in great demand, and recently on tour with Milton Batiste, and Rachel Hayward playing a forceful Marrero style of banjo.
This line up provides a truly great New Orleans Revival sound, and the band is one of the most authentic and highly acclaimed to come out of Britain.
Over the last couple of years, the band has joined up with Sammy Rimington on many of his UK gigs, producing an authentic Thomas/Handy sound, much admired by the ‘purists’. This culminated in the release of a CD featuring Sammy with the Creole Serenaders, now into its second pressing. Another tour is planned for the autumn, as well as special feature appearances at many UK jazz festivals.
The Creole Serenaders have just released their third CD, “I’ll See you in my Dreams”, which has sold widely in Europe and in the UK. This band is an excellent “live” band, generating great drive and enthusiasm at all performances.
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