Please note: Chris Barber will be unable to perform at this concert as previously advertised. He experienced an unfortunate fall recently and, whilst we are pleased to report he is recovering, he will not be well enough to take part in this concert. Mr Bob Hunt, Chris’ musical arranger since 1989, will be taking his place.

Chris Barber OBE (88) is one of the last British Jazz legends around and an icon of traditional jazz in the United Kingdom. His band returns to Cadogan Hall to celebrate the 70th anniversary of him starting his musical career.

Since 1949 he has been active in the music scene with promoting, recording and releasing music and touring his band. So far he has released hundreds of recordings, performed and organised more than 15,000 concerts in 50 different countries in five different continents. An incredible milestone!

Chris Barber is seen as one of the initiators of pop music today, as he gave stage to many American blues musicians during the ’50s for the first time in Europe. Musicians like Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Sister Rossetta Tharpe or Big Bill Broonzy to name a few. These musicians later inspired the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many more. Chris and his band are respected by many other jazz, blues and pop musicians, like Van Morrison, John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman, Mark Knopfler, Paul Jones and many more. They praise Chris’ work and contributions to jazz and music in general.

Chris Barber’s spectacular band of the best British jazz musicians on stage, inspired by the great Ken Colyer Jazz Men, features everything from New Orleans to blues to late ’20s Ellington, played with extraordinary panache and skill.

You will hear songs from that age and Chris’ favourites songs like Bourbon Street Parade, Jubilee Stomp, Petite Fleur, Ice Cream, When the Saints Go Marching In, and many more, and can count on an exciting evening of high-quality jazz and blues, which will appeal to the aficionado and the newcomer in equal measure.

The BIG Chris Barber Band – ‘Europe’s Finest Traditional Jazz Band’