John Shillito’s Select Six
John Shillito (t) John Wurr (reeds) Bobby Fox (tr) John Whitlock (g, bjo) Bob Martin (b) Barry Nicholls (d)
John started his playing career in his hometown of Sheffield in the 1950’s. He later moved to be based in London for 15 years, where he successfully led his own band, (which included a very young Sammy Rimington), and also toured the UK and Europe with some of the popular jazz bands of the period. In the 1970’s he played in John Bastable’s Chosen Six – a band that was in fact Ken Colyer’s Jazzmen without Ken, who had been forced by ill health to give up playing for a while. With the Chosen Six he toured the UK and European jazz scene before heading south-west to settle in Devon, where he’s worked continuously in a variety of guises. John will be well known to many as the trumpet-lead in Roger Marks’ Armada Jazz Band, a position he’s held for over ten years, but he also celebrates over 50 years of band-leading under his own name and is in constant demand with his “Select” line-ups.
Teaming up with John in the front line is the fantastic reedman, John Wurr on clarinet, alto and baritone saxes, and, on trombone, Bobby Fox, whose ability to combine punchy, attacking phrases and restrained introspection make him a most compelling stylist for the listener. Although this is just an “occasional” band, the three front-line players link together in an accomplished, melodic and exciting partnership, reflecting their considerable experience.
The rhythm section is just as thrilling. Derek Maughan is the energetic occupant of the drum stool, John Whitlock is known as one of the finest banjo-players in the country and Bob Jarvis completes the band, on bass guitar. He is also a former “Armada” side man and member of the Select Four, and gives the whole ensemble a dynamic rhythmic pulse that makes each tune irresistibly foot-tapping.
Abbreviations: as alto sax; b acoustic bass ; bjo banjo; bsax bass sax; cl clarinet, ct cornet; d drums; eb electric bass; eg electric guitar; fl flute; flg flugel horn; g guitar; org organ; p piano : sousa sousaphone; t = trumpet; tr trombone; ts tenor sax; viol violin; voc voice.