MEL HILL (cornet & vocals)  

Mel's introduction to playing was back in the 1950s when he was a founding member of the Ceramic City Stompers. He left this band when several of the original members turned pro during the Trad Boom and pursued a variety of musical paths until the 1960s when the original Old Fashioned Love Band was formed. Since the 60s Mel has played with various bands and has provided backing for American legends such as Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison and Bob Wilber. He also branched out into broadcasting with many contributions on Radios 2, 3 and 4 and until recently presented the weekly BBC Jazz Beat on Radio Stoke. This programme was networked through the West Midlands, and was also available on the internet. Mel is an accomplished singer / songwriter and the band uses a number of his compositions. Whilst Mel has very catholic jazz tastes, his playing with the OFLB illustrates his mastery of the Dixieland / Swing styles and shows the influences of players such as Bobby Hackett and Max Kaminsky. Apart from being an avid reader Mel also writes and at present has a Bix Beiderbecke project under way

Willy started his musical career in 1966 playing cornet with a comedy jazz band, the Vintage Syncopators. He was later to join the the newly formed Mick Burns Rhythm Kings on second cornet but medical problems forced a change of instrument. After taking up the alto sax he eventually returned to the Vintage Syncopators in 1973 . He later played in a comedy act, Laughing Stock. During the '80s Willy again changed direction by going into country music but this time playing fiddle. He returned to jazz in 1998 when he joined the Temperance Seven, having depped on alto for several years previously. Upon joining them he then took up clarinet and is still regularly called upon to tour with the Temps. During recent years Willy also appears with Cafe Society and Mike Lovell's Six in a Bar. Willy has an enthusiasm for the Chicago Dixieland / Swing style that the OFLB now favours and amongst his jazz favourites are Bob Wilber and Peanuts Hucko on clarinet with Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter on alto. We welcome his musical abilities and experience as they are a great asset to any band of our style. Outside of jazz one of his interests is walking, particularly on the nearby moors and fells.

Mike started playing in 1956 as a founder member of Stockport's Dallas Jazz Band. His playing really got under way in the 1960s when he became leader of the Savannah Jass Band playing in the classic New Orleans Style. He later formed the Mike Pembroke Hot Seven which was often used by Humphrey Lyttelton as a backing band both in the North West and at London's famous 100 Club. This band undertook live broadcasts on BBC Jazz Club and also made commercial recordings for a US label. In 1970 Mike retired from music for 19 years and upon his return was asked to join Smoky City Jazz and stayed until it disbanded. The OFLB were playing in a New Orleans style when he joined up with them and he still plays this way when he appears with the Wabash Jazzmen. However the current OFLB musical policy particularly suits him as Mike's real musical love is Chicago Dixieland / Swing. He rates trombonists Cutty Cutshall and Jimmy Archey through to Vic Dickenson and Lawrence Brown as his main favourites. Away from jazz Mike loves gardening and walking the coastal paths of Anglesey to work up a thirst.

Jake is another original member of the 1960s OFLB and has featured in many bands since then. His skill on both guitar and six string banjo are very much appreciated and was resident with Dave Mott at the Wilbraham Arms Alsager for many years. More recently, prior to the rebirth of the OFLB, he had been featured with Mel in the quartets, Jazz Junction and Fine and Dandy. He is a fine singer who has created a repertoire of unusual material that, strangely enough, is rarely performed these days unless by the likes of Marty Grosz and Rebecca Kilgore. Jake is an impressive rhythm guitarist who, embracing our current musical policy, has also started to display his ability to produce wonderful chorded solos. Naturally certain numbers, such as our latin rhythm specialities, are more suited to banjo. The fact that the 6 string banjo was originally used by Argentinian Tango bands is a bonus. On either instrument Jake just swings. He still continues to be a keen mountain walker and in the past has completed many challenging ranges and summits. These include peaks over 3000 feet in England, Scotland and Wales.