Oxcentrics

The Oxcentrics
The Oxcentrics in 2005
Background information
Origin Oxford, England
Genres Dixieland jazz
Years active 1975 onwards
Website myspace.com/oxcentrics
Members Graham Downing, Glyn Lewis, Paul St John-Smith, Adrian Sheen, Mike Southon, Geoff Varrall, Simon Wallace, Oliver Weindling, Chris West
Past members Adam Brett, Billy Jenkins, Charles Kuta, Mark Lockheart, Colin Moynihan, Ashley Slater, Hugh Wallis

The Oxcentrics were a Dixieland jazz band founded in 1975 at Oxford University.[1] The band's name was derived from The Oxontrics,[2] an original 1920s jazz band.[3] Several (although by no means all) members were from University College, where many of the rehearsals took place. They played at a number of Oxford Balls, for the Oxford University Jazz Club, on May Morning, and for other events. The line-up, mostly Oxford University undergraduates, who recorded The Halcyon Days of the '20s & '30s on 29 February 1976 at the Acorn Studios in Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, were:[4]

Adrian Sheen was the original bandleader and Mike Southon subsequently took over as frontman in late 1976 (as "Gorgeous Mike Vaseline").[6][7] Colin Moynihan was the original but short-lived pianist. Sally Jones tap danced for the band on occasions. Jonathan Bowen took many photographs and recorded the band in the 1970s. Further musicians who played with the Oxcentrics included Yva Thakurdas (trumpet) and Hugh Wallis (tuba). The band's manager was Laura Lassman.

The band continued in a changed form in London in the 1980s, managed by Olly Weindling, using many of the top young London jazz musicians such as Ashley Slater, Mark Lockheart and Billy Jenkins. Guests included Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and many others from Loose Tubes. In 1988, the Oxcentrics produced a CD, Oxcentromania! through Eccentric Records.[8]

In 2005, the Oxcentrics reformed to celebrate their 30th anniversary. They also got together again in 2006 for a one-off gig at a ball held at St Hugh's College, Oxford and again in 2016 for a late 40th anniversary gig.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Knott, Herbie (1990). Black and White. Boxtree. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-1852832834.
  2. ↑ "The Oxcontrics". The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality. 137. Ingram Brothers. February 1927. p. 332.
  3. ↑ Parsonage, Catherine (2017). The Evolution of Jazz in Britain, 1880–1935. Routledge: Ashgate. ISBN 978-1351544740.
  4. ↑ The Halcyon Days of the '20s & '30s, Stonesfield, UK: Acorn Studios, 29 February 1976
  5. ↑ West, Chris. "About Me". www.chriswest.info. Chris West: Professional Writer. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Southon, Mike. "Mike Southon — Life Story". www.mikesouthon.com. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "An Interview with Mike Southon". Freshbusinessthinking.com. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Oxcentromania!", CD #350230653068, UK: Eccentric Records, 1988
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