About...
The Jive Aces are the UK’s top Jive & Swing band. Together for over a decade, this extremely popular six piece group have performed at thousands of festivals, theatres and events throughout the UK, Europe and USA, as well as Japan, Israel and the Caribbean, 30 countries in all. The Jive Aces are renowned for their high energy Jump Jive music (the exciting sound where Swing meets Rock ‘n Roll) and spectacular stage show.
They combine a mixture of fresh arrangements of swing/Jive/R&B classics - songs made famous by such greats as Louis Prima, Cab Calloway, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Big Joe Turner and Sammy Davis Jnr - along with a selection of superb swinging originals taken from their studio albums.
The Jive Aces have worked with many of the top names in the business, including John Travolta, Status Quo, Isaac Hayes, Van Morrison, Count Basie Orchestra, Keely Smith, Priscilla Presley, Buddy Greco, Kirstie Allie, Kenny Ball, Chuck Berry, Tony Christie and Lee Evans to name just a few.
The band has performed at countless major events including: “In Full Swing” at The Royal Albert Hall (when they headlined the iconic venue’s first ever swing dance); The Berkeley Square Ball; Glastonbury; The London Season; Montreux Jazz Festival (5 times); Lovebox Festival; The Royal Ballet's 50th Anniversary; North Sea Jazz Festival; World Swing Dance Championships (Oslo and New York); Grand Order of Water Rats Annual Ball (3 times); Society of Distinguished Songwriters Ladies Night (twice); City of London Festival; The Ryder Cup; Cannes Film Festival (official party); Cork Jazz Festival; Conservative Party Conference (twice); Society of Distinguished Songwriters and have performed for HRH Prince Philip at The World Pony Carriage Championships.
The Jive Aces were the recipients of the prestigious “City of Derry International Music Award” for 2006, previous recipients being Van Morrison and Jools Holland. They also received in 2008 a special award from the Variety Club of Great Britain for their contributions to entertainment and charity.
The band has been featured on literally hundreds of TV and radio shows, most recently they are featured playing live every Wednesday night on BBC Radio London’s “Late Nights” show with Jo Good. Other appearances include CNN; ABC's “Good Morning Los Angeles”; Channel 4's “Holy Smoke”; BBC Radio 2; DNA Stories; Wakey, Wakey Campers; JazzFM; “A Swingin’ Christmas” (one-hour PBS Special); an eight week residency the hit Italian show “Niente Popo Dimenoche”; BBC1 TV for “Children in Need”, and many more.
The band has released six studio albums and one compilation on Right Recordings. Their latest “Recipe for Rhythm” features guest appearances from Chick Corea, Mark Isham, Mr Acker Bilk, Toni Elizabeth Prima and others and is produced by three-time Grammy award winner, Emmanuele Ruffinengo.
With their high energy music, bright stage suits, wild stage show, irresistible humor and sheer professionalism, the Jive Aces will quickly get any audience on their feet - or dancing in their seat! Each and every show is guaranteed to go with a swing! See www.jiveaces.com for more information.
Quotes:
"These professional young musicians came on cold to an early evening audience and were simply sensational. The Jive Aces manage great freshness yet maintain an authentic accurate sound. Full Marks." The Stage
“Now back by popular demand for an incredible fourth consecutive year at Montreux Jazz Festival, their explosive live shows have become legendary” Montreux Jazz Festival
“I wanted to take a few minutes to write a note of personal thanks for the amazing contribution you made to the Children In Need event on Friday. I was extraordinarily impressed not just by the professionalism which you exuded on the night, but also by the willingness to work within the often very strange demands of television. I'm not sure if you have had the chance to see the result on television, but you looked and sounded great.” Executive Editor, BBC East
"Life Is a Game by The Jive Aces has the most important ingredients: It is musically brilliant, it is great to listen to, songwriting is exceptional, the arrangements of the covers are superb. The Jive Aces really are a band of very talented musicians. The album gives loads of joy and pleasure." Albums of the year, BBC Radio 2 website
"Opening up with The Jive Aces, the energy level quickly soars through the roof as the band starts stomping with some infectious, high-speed swing music that parallels the energy of 50's rock 'n' roll with all the silk and glamour of 40's swing. Truly modern, and making no claims otherwise, the band seems to be on a caffeine high as they shoot and dance around the notes with such clarity. I’ll give it an A." In Music we Trust - CD review
The Jive Aces are: Ian Clarkson - Lead Vocals & Trumpet "Big" John Fordham - Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Clarinet Alex Douglas - Trombone Vince "Professor" Hurley - Piano Ken Smith - Double Bass Peter "Bilky" Howell - Drums