Press Release: Trumpet Legend who Turned Down Elton John & Joe Crocker at Audition Leads Allstar Band at The ARC,
St John’s Arts & Recreation Centre, St John’s Walk, Market St, Old Harlow CM17 0AJ
Admission £12 – details from John Petters: 01406 365 731, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mike Cotton, leader of the hit making Mike Cotton Sound, who auditioned and turned down rock stars Elton John and Joe Crocker in the ‘60s and went on to work with the Kinks and then Acker Bilk, stomps into St John’s Arts & Recreation Centre, (St John’s Walk, Market St, Old Harlow CM17 0AJ) on Saturday 28th March at 3pm.
In a sensational programme of Dixieland classics, Mike’s powerful horn will lead a handpicked band comprising trombonist, Alistair Allan, clarinet virtuoso, Julian Stringle, star Essex pianist, Tim Huskisson, Harlow’s bass ace, Keith Donald and ex Harlow drummin’ Man John Petters.
Between 1960 and 1971, the Mike Cotton Sound transformed themselves several times, starting out playing traditional jazz, switching to rock & roll and blues, ending up as a progressive soul band backing R&B/jazz veteran Zoot Money.
The band achieved hit parade success with, "Swing That Hammer," in 1963. Mike’s band was one of the busiest ensembles in England, backing such visiting American performers as Solomon Burke, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, and Gene Pitney. More than a decade after the group's one hit, they were playing sessions with the Kinks. Additionally, members of the Mike Cotton Sound went on to play key roles in such outfits as the Animals and Argent.
Playing as many as 300 gigs a year, primarily in clubs in the north of England, where they were best known, Mike’s band also became popular on radio and television. Mike also landed a performance onscreen in the 1962 movie, “The Wild and the Willing”.
The band was featured by Apple Records on Mary Hopkin's “Postcard” album.
In 1971, the band finally split up, although Mike Cotton and his fellow brassmen were recruited by the Kinks for some notable mid-'70s recording sessions.
Mike returned to his jazz roots and was a member of the Acker Bilk Paramount Jazz Band for many years.
Now freelancing, Mike is an important figure on the jazz scene and has lost none of the power in his trumpet playing, which delighted the record buying public over 50 years ago.
Alistair Allen makes his first appearance at St John’s. He has played all types of music from symphony to jazz. He specialises in the music of the 1920's and 30's, and has worked with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra, the Charleston Chasers, Keith Nichols' Midnite Follies Orchestra and the Royal Academy of Music Big Band. Alistair has a superb technique as a trombonist, as well as being a good singer.
Julian Stringle is always a popular attraction at the ARC and has a long association with Harlow, having joined the John Petters Swing Band in 1983.
He has played on concert, club, festival and broadcast dates with his own bands and with:- Peanuts Hucko, Wild Bill Davison, George Chisholm, Kenny Ball, , Cleo Laine & Sir John Dankworth. He has recorded with George Melly, Joe Brown, Chas & Dave, The Grid and the Spice Girls! He has appeared at Wembley Arena with Meatloaf and in Monaco with Tina Turner.
Sir John Dankworth said of him: "The best clarinettest to emerge in British jazz for decades".
Saturday’s session promises to one of those musical events that will live on in the memory of those lucky enough to attend.
Don’t miss this one.
The session starts at 3pm and admission is £12.
Further information from John Petters on 01406 365 731.
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
See a video of Mike with John Petters at the Straford festival a few years ago.
