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Jim Heap
Jim got hooked on jazz in the early sixties during the trad boom and decided, with some friends, to form a band - even though most of them did not play an instrument! Having acquired a £10 trumpet from Reidy’s Music shop in Blackburn, Jim (and his colleagues) took lessons and practised hard. Six months later the band gave its first public performance. For very many years he played with the Riverside Jazzmen and then began playing with the Pendle Jazzmen. Jim remembers those early days with great affection. There was a thriving jazz scene in Accrington and many well-known bands - such as Kenny Ball, Chris Barber, Acker Bilk, Ken Colyer and Alex Welsh - used to appear regularly at the Sunday evening sessions at the Accrington Stanley F.C. Social Club. Jim’s favourite trumpet players are Louis Armsrong, Red Allen and Wild Bill Davison. Jim has taken temporary retirement from the jazz scene but all the members of the Pendle Jazzmen were pleased to welcome back this very fine cornet player with a great reputation for his thoughtful and melodic approach to the music! - Colin Mason Return to News
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