On 13th January 1959, the Chris Barber Jazz Band played at the gala opening night of the Aylesbury Jazz Club at the Grosvenor Ballroom.
The formation of the new jazz club was the idea of Eddie Friday, manager of the Grosvenor, and Ron Lesley, who had run the Harringay Jazz Club, Ron and his wife Nanda went on to run the Aylesbury Jazz Club, and also the Ipswich Jazz Club.
The next artists to appear were Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band and the Ken Colyer Jazzmen – all of which returned later in the year. Acker Bilk played six times during that first year, while Ken Colyer played five times and Chris Barber twice. Other artists appearing included Micky Ashman (6), Cy Laurie (5), Terry Lightfoot (3), Mike Daniels (3), Alex Welsh (2), Kenny Ball and Humphrey Lyttleton.
Micky Ashman had played with Chris Barber and Lonnie Donegan before forming his own band.
Terry Lightfoot obituary – Daily Telegraph
Mike Daniels obituary – Daily Telegraph
The Aylesbury Jazz Club ran on Tuesday evenings at the Grosvenor. Below are details of 45 shows during 1959. For later years, please see separate posts.
Note: there are no details shown between 23rd June and 11th August. The local newspapers – the Bucks Herald and Bucks Advertiser – were not printed between these dates, and it has not been possible to find details from other sources. Can you help plug this gap please?
| Date | Artist 1 |
|---|---|
| 13/1/1959 | Chris Barber Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson |
| 20/1/1959 | Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band |
| 27/1/1959 | Ken Colyer Jazzmen |
| 3/2/1959 | Micky Ashman Jazzmen |
| 10/2/1959 | Terry Lightfoot Jazzmen |
| 17/2/1959 | Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band |
| 24/2/1959 | Ken Colyer Jazzmen |
| 3/3/1959 | Cy Laurie Jazzmen |
| 10/3/1959 | The Graham Stewart Hot 7 |
| 17/3/1959 | Mick Mulligan Band with George Melly |
| 24/3/1959 | Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen |
| 31/3/1959 | Micky Ashman Jazzmen |
| 7/4/1959 | Ken Colyer Jazzmen |
| 14/4/1959 | Cy Laurie Jazzmen |
| 21/4/1959 | Bob Wallis |
| 28/4/1959 | Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band |
| 5/5/1959 | Humphrey Lyttleton and his band |
| 12/5/1959 | Cy Laurie Jazzmen |
| 19/5/1959 | The Graham Stewart Hot 7 |
| 26/5/1959 | Alex Welsh Dixielanders |
| 2/6/1959 | Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen |
| 9/6/1959 | Micky Ashman Jazzmen |
| 16/6/1959 | Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band |
| 23/6/1959 | Bob Wallis's Storyville Jazzmen |
| 11/8/1959 | Eric Silk and his Southern Jazzmen |
| 18/8/1959 | Micky Ashman Jazzmen |
| 25/8/1959 | Dick Charlesworth and His City Gents |
| 1/9/1959 | Ian Menzies and the Clyde Valley Stompers |
| 8/9/1959 | Chris Barber Jazzband |
| 15/9/1959 | Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen |
| 22/9/1959 | Eric Silk Southern Jazz Band with Patti Clark |
| 29/9/1959 | Cy Laurie Jazz Band |
| 6/10/1959 | Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen |
| 13/10/1959 | Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band |
| 20/10/1959 | Ken Colyer Jazzmen |
| 27/10/1959 | Alex Welsh Dixielanders |
| 3/11/1959 | Micky Ashman Jazzmen |
| 10/11/1959 | Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band |
| 17/11/1959 | Cy Laurie Jazz Band |
| 24/11/1959 | Kenny Ball Jazzmen |
| 1/12/1959 | Jack Dupree, Mike Daniels with Doreen Beatty |
| 8/12/1959 | Sonny Morris Jazz Band |
| 15/12/1959 | Terry Lightfoot Jazzmen |
| 22/12/1959 | Ken Colyer Jazzmen |
| 29/12/1959 | Micky Ashman's Jazz Band |