“Six bandleaders in one band – and I have to control this lot!”     Thus speaks Peter Frank who has led his Dixieland All Stars for fourteen years. The formula seems to work though and the band has starred at numerous jazz festivals across England and Wales. They have also been voted ‘favourite band’ at a number of venues as they foray into Lancashire, Nottingham, Leicester and Yorkshire. With several CD recordings to its credit, the band can be booked for a wide range of public or private functions. Further details from Peter on 01274 583019.

Rod McNamara (drums). 

"I began playing some sort of drums - knitting needles as sticks and tin cans as drums at age 7. I swapped this interesting collection for a drum kit when I was thirteen and got to deputise at a local Working Mens Club. There was no recycling then so the needles and cans went on the local tip. Then I heard Buddy Rich - my lifelong inspiration. Like myself, Buddy had no formal drum tuition. He started on spoons (at age 1 ) rather than knitting needles and tin cans but hey....... I hate rehearsals and love to play with new bands and invent there and then."

Martin Boyd (clarinet/alto sax} 

Martin began his career with Dave Brennan’s New Orleans Jazzmen based in Rotherham and enjoyed playing alongside New Orleans veterans Lois Nelson, Alton Purnell, Thomas Jefferson, Kid Thomas and Wingy Manone. He currently presents the Kid Boyd Jazz Band with regular visits to the Keswick and Bude Jazz Festivals plus the Mardi Gras Jazz Band performing for functions. Martin joined the Peter Frank Allstars in 1997.


Dave Morell (trombone/vocals/banjo). 

A great Chris Barber fan, Dave ran the Sansovino Jazz Band until he left art school in 1961. Dave is now a highly qualified artist and still plays a mean trombone,. Though he'd been asked to join the Nat Gonella Band in 1962 he decided to return to Huddersfield to pursue an art teaching career. He joined Martin Bowland's White Eagles Jazz Band, formed his own band and joined Peter Frank in 1996. To emulate Chris Barber, Dave introduced a `skiffle group' in addition to his trombone playing within the band.

Chris Howse (banjo/guitar/vocals)

Chris formed his first band in 1963. The band featured an extremely large home made double bass. He played on the folk/blues scene for the next twenty years around the Lancaster area where he eventually met cornettist/poet/artist Jeff Nuttall’ Between them they formed the oddly named ‘Bozo Buttershaw’s Hot Potatoes’ which featured mainly 1920’s style jazz tunes in addition to some of Chris’s original material. When Jeff left for warmer climes, Chris took over as leader and the band was renamed ‘The Harmony Hounds’. Tiring of bandleading himself he became a freelance and began playing with the Peter Frank All Stars in 2002

Ian Royle (trumpet/flugel horn/vocals)

Began playing traditional jazz at school alongside Terry Brunt (tbn) and Larry Hurst (bass), joined the Pete Hartigan Jazz Band then moved into Big Bands both semi-pro and pro. Ian played for a while with the Pendle Jazz Band whilst free-lancing with various big and small groups. He joined Peter Frank in 2003 whilst continuing with his free lance connections. 

Peter Frank (leader/bass) 

A classically trained musician since 1950, Bradford (Yorkshire) born Peter turned his attention to the double bass in 1956. After a lengthy stint with John Emsley’s Dixieland Band during the Trad boom, Peter joined Mal Webb’s New Orleans Band. The ‘Yorkshire Post Jazz Band’, Dennis Armstrong’s ‘Great Northern Jazz Band’ and the original ‘Yorkshire Stompers’ followed. Down the years he has guested with Alex Welsh, Roy Williams, Digby Fairweather and Monty Sunshine. Peter is a former director of the Bingley Jazz Festival and he formed ‘The All Stars’ in 1996. 

The band's latest CD

Listen to the band play

'Hiawatha'

'Just One More Chance'