8 in a Bar appeared in a 2 page spread of the Guernsey Press on 6 April 2005, under the headline...

'Jazzing it up'

The members may only be teenagers, but Eight in a Bar are proof that you're never too young to master Dixieland jazz and swing, as Nigel Baudains reports.

A group of Grammar School sixth-formers have been making a name for themselves by playing Dixieland jazz and swing.  Eight in a Bar got together about a year ago when they needed to perform as an ensemble as part of their GCSE music studies.  They made their public debut in May at the Concert for Liberated Youth at St James and demand for their services has been growing ever since.  'It started when one of our teachers, Mrs Dorey, booked us for a family function she was having and it's gone from there' said trumpeter Matt Sharp, 16.  The band has played at a number of charity functions including one for the Arthritis Research Campaign, attended by the Lt-Governor, Sir John Foley and his wife at St Pierre Park Hotel, and the Tsunami appeal concert at St James.  'It's nice to be able to contribute to things like that by doing something you enjoy', said Matt.

Bookings for the year to date include a gig at the Floral Guernsey Show but combining A-level studies with live performances can be a juggling act.  'We are looking to perform as a smaller group for the times when no one is available to fill in', said pianist Seb Grand, 16.  Easter was a case in point and the band had to turn down work because Matt, Seb and Emma Shires were unavailable.   As the only girl in the band, saxophonist Emma, 17, said she also acts as the band's secretary.

'Generally, the boys are fine, but they can be a little disorganised at times', she said.  Eight in a Bar have yet to decide on their trademark number which to date has continued to change.  From Bill Howard's arrangement of Tin Roof Blues to the Ted Snyder composition, Who's Sorry Now?, they currently favour Paul Severson's arrangement of the Ray Henderson number, Five Foot Two, but that too could soon change.

                               Matt N, Josh & Phil

They all admit to being music-lovers with a wide range of tastes, but they said playing in the genre of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong while in their mid-teens tends to get them noticed.  'Our audience tends to be older people but we played at the GCSE presentation evening too and it went well', said Matt.  The response among their peers has been good.

'When we play, we always seem to get a good reaction from the audience and people are very supportive,' said Seb.  The band has no intention of standing still and money raised from gigs has been used to buy sheet music to further their repertoire.

They are all members of the Guernsey Music Service and most have been at the Grammar School since they were first years.

School head of music Marilyn Pugh said the thing that most impressed her about Eight in a Bar was the way the group balanced and how members listened to each other on stage.  'We've had some very good jazz bands but the way in which they work together is probably the best,' she said.  'They don't just turn up to a gig and play.  It's carefully rehearsed and they know what they are playing'.

Eight in a Bar has extended its repetoire more than other bands, said Mrs Pugh, and they play a wider range of music.  'When they started, they tended to play everything the same way but now Dixie is Dixie and swing is swing,' she said.

'They are very motivated and I'm a pair of ears on the outside to perhaps add that bit of polish.'

They are close friends off the stage, which they believe works in their favour.

'The music is one thing that brings us together as we can sit and talk about it forever,' said Emma.

At the Guernsey Eisteddfod, the band were awarded the Miriam R. Le Page Prix d'Honneur Trophy for, in the adjudicator's opinion, giving the most memorable performance during the whole of the music section.  Tom Claxton and Matt had stayed for the presentation that evening but Phil Stevens and Seb had already left.  'It was a big surprise and so cool,' said Matt.  'It's something we can always put on the band's CV.'

(the individual photos below did not appear in the article, but were taken at a private function in December 2004)

In Profile

We give you the lowdown on Eight in a Bar's talented members....

Matt Bowditch

Age:    16

    Instrument:    Trombone

    How long have you  been playing music:   6 years

    Biggest influence:    Tutti Camarata

    Favourite type or piece of music:     Jazz, brass band and orchestral

    Favourite artists:    Tutti's trombones, Douglas Yeo, Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Seb Grand    

Age:    17

Instrument:    Piano

How long have you  been playing music:    10 years

Biggest influence:    My dad (Mervyn Grand - head of Schools Music Service)

Favourite type or piece of music:     Romantic piano music

Favourite artists:    Chopin, Louis Armstrong, Muse

Matt Sharp

    Age:    17

    Instrument:    Trumpet

    How long have you  been playing music:    8 years

    Biggest influence:    Louis Armstrong, Santana

    Favourite type or piece of music:     Ska, swing - Tuxedo Junction by Glenn Miller, generally any type

    Favourite artists:    Glenn Miller, Five Iron Frenzy, UDC, Beach Boys, Henry Mancini

Tom Claxton

Age:    17

Instrument:    Clarinet, alto sax

How long have you  been playing your music:    9 years

Biggest influence:    Acker Bilk, Benny Goodman, my mum Claire

Favourite type or piece of music:     Any jazz with clarinets, rock

Favourite artists:    Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington

Phil Stevens

Age:    17

    Instrument:    Bass

    How long have you  been playing music:    2 years   

    Biggest influence:    My parents, Andy Smale, John Bonham, George Crossan (my bass teacher)

    Favourite type or piece of music:     Rock Blues - Engine Number 9.  Lumpy Lemonade and Emo music

    Favourite artists:    UDC, Incubus, Blues Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin

Matt Nichols

Age:        17

Instrument:    Guitar

How long have you  been playing music:    9 years

Biggest influence:    George Harrison, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix

Favourite type or piece of music:     Rock, Jazz with guitar, most guitar music

Favourite artists:    The Beatles, GreenDay, Finch, Funeral for a Friend, System of A Down, Led Zeppelin

Josh Cottam

Age:    17

    Instrument:    Drums

    How long have you  been playing music:    8 years

    Biggest influence:    Papa Jo Jones

    Favourite type or piece of music:     Little Brown Jug

    Favourite artists:    UDC, Illinois Connection, Jamiroquai, Polyphonic Spree

Emma Shires

Age:        17

Instrument:    Tenor saxophone

How long have you  been playing music:    4 years

Biggest influence:    Some of the great jazz players of today during jazz courses in London, including Don Redall, Jean Toussaint and Martin Hathaway

Favourite type or piece of music:     Jazz bebop - Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, but enjoys listening to and playing most types

Favourite artists:    Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Joshua Redman

NB

The question "How long have you been playing music?" relates to that particular instrument.  Most of the band members play additional instruments, and all have been playing music since primary school.  They all also play in the Guernsey Schools Music Service & Grammar School orchestras, wind bands and jazz bands.

Matt S, Phil and Josh refer to 'UDC' as one of their favourite artists.  UDC is a local rock band, with 3 members...........Matt (guitar), Phil (bass) and Josh (drums)

I have updated the band members ages since the Press article (at that time, all were 16 except for Matt N & Emma who were 17)

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