House Band

 

GOOGLIES HOUSE BAND – The Googlies Quartet

‘It is always a pleasure to play at Googlies. The audience is extremely appreciative and listens to every note; as a musician you are assured of a warm welcome.  The House Band is very accomplished and has the largest repertoire in the Home Counties’ ART THEMEN

Googlies Jazz Club has an excellent House Band. All members are highly experienced jazz musicians and play regularly with the cream of British jazz including poll winners.  Our guests always express their pleasure in working with the Band which usually comprises:

A filmstrip style image of Hilary Cameron playing an upright piano at Googlies Jazz Club London.

Hilary joined the band in October 2016 and rapidly became a firm favourite with the Googlies audience. Inventive, consistent and versatile, her brilliance on piano has significantly improved the overall performance of the band. Spectacular improvisations, tasteful accompanist and also a wonderful singer/pianist with a unique alluring individual style.

A filmstrip style image of Ted Rockley playing his saxophone at Googlies Jazz Club London.

Ted Rockley, who is an excellent tenor and alto saxophonist, joined the band in November 2023. He is well-known to the Googlies audience following appearances in the House Band and also the Googlies septet 7-Aside. 

A filmstrip style image of Wally Shaw looking into the camera and standing besides his double bass at Googlies Jazz Club London.

Wally has a wonderful bass tone and in the 1960s accompanied Tubby Hayes, Don Rendell and Ronnie Scott etc. at the Flamingo Club. He was with John McLaughlin for three years, and Brian Auger, and spent three years on the Cruise Liners working with innumerable jazz stars. Wally is a lovely approachable man who enjoys talking about his experiences of the Golden Era of British Jazz.

A filmstrip style image of John Jarvis playing his Gretsch drums at Googlies Jazz Club London.

John Jarvis: JJ, founded Googlies in 2002, and has played drums with the band ever since, accompanying the best of British at over 1,000 Googlies sessions. Great brush work, he encourages and never overpowers soloists and always seems ahead of the game. JJ also plays in several big bands.

Others who occasionally play with the House Band include: Richard Busiakiewicz (piano), Gabriel Keen (piano), Geoff Duckworth (saxes & flute), Dominic Bentham (bass), Ronnie Fenn (drums).