Danny Riley

An article on trumpet player, Danny Riley, written by Sue Parish,
and reproduced by kind permission of the Lancaster Guardian

This series has featured a variety of musicians whose careers span decades of local and national jazz history.  So it's fitting to conclude with a player who has drawn support from the local jazz legends to create a new band which is making waves on the traditional jazz circuit. 

Lancaster trumpeter Danny Riley fronts the Morecambe Bay Jazz Men.  His improvisation skills are underpinned by a formidable command of classical music, but it was his dad who got him into the jazz swing.  

Explains Danny:  "I started to play cornet at the age of 11, inspired by my father, who played banjo in northwest jazz bands at the time, but who had also had spells playing trombone and trumpet. 

"I had originally started to play ukulele, but a friend of my father's had an old cornet he wanted to swop for a ukulele.  So the deal was done and I started playing cornet. 

"However I didn't really start playing jazz until 23 years later.  In the meantime, I followed the classical route."   

Danny's classical training means he can follow written music at lightning speed, and during the early nineties he was a professional trumpet player working for Television New Zealand, and playing lead trumpet in the TVNZ Big Band. 

But things really took off when he let go of the music and learned to play from the heart: "Jazz to me allows a freedom I hadn't experienced before - having to play the "dots" exactly as written had been the norm for me previously.  Once I began to play jazz I was able to stamp my own mark on tunes." 

Danny is definitely a graduate of the informal "jazz academy" which operates in the local hostelries where live music takes place.  "I've found a real abundance of jazz musicians in Lancaster, all ready to help you out with advice when it's needed", he says.  "I remember going to the John O Gaunt some three years ago, and Alan Duckles (an excellent local cornet player) was playing with Bob Moff's trio.  I explained my new-found interest in jazz, and Alan invited me to sit in with the Sun Street Stompers who play there on a Sunday.  I've never looked back, thanks to Alan's advice in those early days." 

He also rates a few non-local luminaries as inspirations: Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Rex Stewart and Wynton Marsalis. Like all good musicians he's still focussed on improving his craft, and he has some useful pointers for those just starting out: "To me playing jazz is about having the confidence to have a go, transforming what you can hear in your head into musical phrases. My advice is to know the melody and especially the chord sequence of the piece you are playing - and keep it as simple as possible to begin with.  I started to improvise purely by ear, thinking of what could be played next, seconds before the chord changes.  Recently I've started to learn the chords, which I've found gives me a lot more scope for improvisation." 

Danny draws on a wealth of local talent in the line-up of his Morecambe Bay Jazz Men, whose exuberant renditions of the trad repertoire are earning them a big following on the circuit.  Bass player James Swinnerton, drummer Geoff Wilkinson guitarist Peter Winder and keyboard player Phil Gibson make up a storming rhythm section.  The front line features Danny blowing amazing solos on a remarkable Taylor Chicago custom trumpet, flanked by local trombone star Matthew Woodhouse and Lakes-based Michael Unthank on clarinet and baritone sax.  Many other stars of the northwest trad scene join the line-up now and then.  And Danny, in true jazz style, sits in with a host of other bands.  Keep an eye out for him at the John O Gaunt, the Bowerham, the Wagon and Horses, the Station Hotel in Caton, and Lancaster's newest jazz venue the Bowling Green.   

Danny is spot on with his analysis of what keeps him hooked on jazz:  " I think it's the sense of achievement, and the appreciation of an audience when that certain number swings and feels just right.  It's something that's hard to put into words, but ask any jazz musician and they will know exactly what I mean. - it really don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" 

Whether listening or playing, swinging jazz, as played by Danny and all the district's other amazing musicians is definitely a fine way to pass an evening.  If you need your spirits raising, get down one of Lancaster's excellent jazz pubs and find out for yourself.

Sue Parish   

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