ONE of the most popular trad bands in the land, The Chicago Teddy Bears, make their eighth annual return to the Club of Jazz, in Wickham Bishops, Essex, on Saturday.
Formed more than 30 years ago, the Teddy Bears have built up a tremendous reputation for top quality jazz and they regularly top the bills at jazz festivals all over Europe.
The gig at Wickham Bishops is in the village hall and starts at 8pm.
E
lsewhere on the trad scene, another popular band, Brian White's French Quarter All Stars, are at Colchester Jazz Club on Sunday.
On the same day, there's another lunchtime gig at The Bell, in Castle Hedingham, with Pete Watkins' Louisiana Four.
The weekly gig staged by the Dereham Jazz Society, at Lakeside, Lyng, in Norfolk, switches from mainstream to trad on Wednesday, and it features Barry Tyler And His Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
The following evening, Rance's Rockin' Chair Band are at the Blue Boar, Maldon, in Essex.
n ON a much more modern note, the Chris Laurence Quartet is at Kersey Mill tomorrow.
Bassist Chris has a very versatile approach to his music and has played in such diverse company as Elton John, Sting, Paul McCartney, John Williams and Joni Mitchell.
At The Mill, he will be joined by top vibesman Frank Ricotti with John Pariceeli on guitar and Martin Frence on drums.
n TOP bassist Mick Hutton was at the height of his career when he fell and injured his hand to such an extent it virtually ended his career.
But Mick has re-invented himself as an ace musician playing jazz on the Caribbean steel pans and he is the special guest at The Bell, in Clare, on Sunday.
Mick is also running various jazz events in and around Colchester and tomorrow, he's bringing the Tammy Weis Quartet to Lexden Wood Golf Club.
He'll also be appearing himself, with the Shifting Sands Quartet. Details from 07747 636333.
n SUFFOLK-born saxophonist Karen Sharp is keeping extremely busy after leaving the Humphrey Lyttelton band and she leads her latest quartet at Spike's Place, at Hadleigh Hall, Hadleigh, in Essex, on Tuesday, July 29, and on the same evening, the Mike Capocci Quintet are at the Green Man, Rackheath, near Norwich.
They will be joined by American trumpeter John Castleman for an evening of Chick Corea, Tubby Hayes, Horace Silver and Bill Evans.
The Nick Hill Quartet are at The Cricketers, in Cambridge, on Thursday, July 31.
n THE Jeffery Wilson Band present a Reduced History Of Jazz at the Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford, on Saturday, and the band includes trombonist Mark Bassey, who starred at the recent Jazz By The Stour, in Bures.
n ON the pub and club scene, singer Helen Abbey is the special guest at The Fox, in Bury St Edmunds, on Sunday.
A special event to raise funds for the National Jazz Archive is being staged at Loughton Methodist Church, in Essex, on Saturday.
It will take the form of a talk about his life and music by top trumpeter Digby Fairweather, followed by a live session with the Dave Shepherd Quintet.
Details from 0208 5020801.
