Wirral date for top clarinet player

Jun 18 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Tony Davis Jazz Band is taking a break from its usual monthly afternoon shindigs for a special summer event with a special guest.

Andy Cooper, clarinet player with Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen, will be joining the band on Friday night at 8pm at Fort Perch Rock, in New Brighton.

Tony Davis, who cult- ivated his jazz band following on from The Spinners, said: “Andy is an extraordinary clar- inet player and he doesn’t usually appear with other bands but is coming up especially to do this with us. He’ll fit in so well. He’s an old pal of mine and we have done a lot of shows together with Kenny Ball and his band.”

Cooper joined Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen in 1967, and in 1968 they played the London birthday Concerts with Louis Armstrong.

He also makes appearances with the European Jazz Giants, and makes time for his own project, Andy Cooper’s Euro Top 8, with the musicians he has always admired.

The evening show replaces the monthly jazz brunch events held on Sundays.

TIckets are £8, in advance, available from Tony Davis on 0151 639 2265.