Dixie Mix JAZZ BAND

The Best of Barber, Bilk & Ball 

Saturday 13th April 2024, 7.30pm,
St. Botolph’s Church, TRUNCH

Three of the greatest and most popular British trad jazz bands were led by trombonist Chris Barber, clarinetist Asker Bilk and trumpeter Kenny Ball.

Each came to fame in the late 1950s, just in time to be part of the British trad jazz boom that was at its peak during 1960-64. Each had hits on the pop charts (Barber’s version of Sidney Bechet’s “Petite Fleur,” Ball’s “Midnight In Moscow,” and Bilk’s “Stranger On The Shore”) and all three musicians continued leading bands for decades after the trad boom busted with the arrival of the Beatles.

The DixieMix Jazz Band, one of the UK’s most engaging and successful jazz ensembles, returned to TRUNCH CONCERTS to open the 2024 season.
After their very successful concerts at St.Botolph’s in 2022 and 2023, the feedback was amazing.

 “A wonderful night’s music and entertainment that we are reliving again and again…”. “Congratulations on a very successful evening’s entertainment, for me personally it brought back many happy memories…”. 

The band is a professional six piece, excelling with fresh arrangements of many jazz favourites. With the best jazz musicians in East Anglia, enthusiasm for traditional jazz and great humour, the DixieMix has gained national recognition, leading to a tour with Rod Stewart, TV appearances and multiple festival and theatre gigs.

Dixie Mix: 
Simon Nelson – cornet, trumpet, flugel horn and vocals
Chris Wigley – trombone and vocals
Karl Wirrmann – clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax
Kevin West – banjo, guitar, ukulele
Maurizio Borgna – double bass
Tony Wilkins – drums and vocals

 Guest pianist – Simon Brown