Pat Halcox
Encyclopedia
Patrick John 'Pat' Halcox (born 18 March 1930, in Chelsea
, South West London
), is a Jazz trumpet player in England.
. He has been the trumpet player in the Chris Barber
Jazz Band since the band took that name on 31 May 1954. Pat was originally offered the spot earlier, but elected to continue his studies as a research chemist, so Ken Colyer
was invited to fill the vacancy in 1953, and the band was known as the Ken Colyer Jazz Band, as Ken had recently returned from New Orleans, and the other members, including Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan
and Monty Sunshine
, decided that this New Orleans experience would add credibility.
The band effectively parted company with Ken after a dispute about the direction it should be going, Chris wanting to broaden the music and Ken wanting to limit it to the genuine New Orleans' arrangements and tunes.
Pat took Ken's place, in what then became the Chris Barber Jazz Band as we know it, and even though the original six piece band grew to 7, then 8, and eventually to the current 11, Pat has been an ever present.
Although primarily the trumpet player, Pat also has a fine singing voice and led the band's various renditions of 'Ice Cream', one of their most popular standards. He also played piano on the Lonnie Donegan recording of 'Digging My Potatoes'.
The Pat Halcox Allstars did make a recording of their own during a Chris Barber Band summer break, now re-released on Lake records as a CD.
Halcox announced his retirement from the Chris Barber Band at the age of 78, effective from July 2008.
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, South West London
South West (London sub region)
The South West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of London Borough of , Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth. The sub region was established in 2008. The south west has a population of 1,600,000 and is the location...
), is a Jazz trumpet player in England.
Biography
Halcox was born in Chelsea, LondonChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. He has been the trumpet player in the Chris Barber
Chris Barber
Donald Christopher 'Chris' Barber is best known as a jazz trombonist. As well as scoring a UK top twenty trad jazz hit he helped the careers of many musicians, notably the blues singer Ottilie Patterson, who was at one time his wife, and vocalist/banjoist Lonnie Donegan, whose appearances with...
Jazz Band since the band took that name on 31 May 1954. Pat was originally offered the spot earlier, but elected to continue his studies as a research chemist, so Ken Colyer
Ken Colyer
Kenneth Colyer was a British jazz trumpeter and cornetist, devoted totally to New Orleans jazz. His band was also known for skiffle interludes.-Biography:...
was invited to fill the vacancy in 1953, and the band was known as the Ken Colyer Jazz Band, as Ken had recently returned from New Orleans, and the other members, including Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
and Monty Sunshine
Monty Sunshine
Monty Sunshine was an English jazz clarinetist, whose main claim to fame was his clarinet solo on the track "Petite Fleur", a million seller for the Chris Barber Jazz Band in 1959...
, decided that this New Orleans experience would add credibility.
The band effectively parted company with Ken after a dispute about the direction it should be going, Chris wanting to broaden the music and Ken wanting to limit it to the genuine New Orleans' arrangements and tunes.
Pat took Ken's place, in what then became the Chris Barber Jazz Band as we know it, and even though the original six piece band grew to 7, then 8, and eventually to the current 11, Pat has been an ever present.
Although primarily the trumpet player, Pat also has a fine singing voice and led the band's various renditions of 'Ice Cream', one of their most popular standards. He also played piano on the Lonnie Donegan recording of 'Digging My Potatoes'.
The Pat Halcox Allstars did make a recording of their own during a Chris Barber Band summer break, now re-released on Lake records as a CD.
Halcox announced his retirement from the Chris Barber Band at the age of 78, effective from July 2008.