MORE than 30 years ago the pull of full-time jobs and family responsibilities ended the dreams of a group of young men eager to make it big in the world of jazz.

Between 1956 and 1968, Trevor Philcox, Keith Slade, Keith Samuelson, Terry Whitney, Vernon Leigh, John Frucht, Barry Morgan and Brian Clarke were The Riverside Jump Band.

They played hundreds of concerts all over Sussex, made regular radio broadcasts and appeared on the same bill at festivals as household names like Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, Chris Barber and Humphrey Lyttelton.

But as their daytime careers took off the band members were scattered across the country and the Riverside Jump Band was disbanded.

Now the retirement, or semi-retirement of the men has allowed them the time to catch up with old friends - and they are reforming for a one-off charity performance of Dixieland jazz at the Lewes Jazz Club where they played weekly for 18 months in 1958/9.

Founder member and leader Keith Samuel said: "Getting together again was purely social at first, but when Keith Slade moved back to Lewes from his home in Devon and we realised we could all still raise instruments to our lips, the idea for a millennium reunion session was born."

They have an average age of 63 and have had successful and varied careers. Among them is a journalist, a bank manager, a catering director and an insurance executive.

Mr Samuel said: "Reforming means hard work but we're confident we can be battle-worthy in time for the public performance.

"We are limbering up with at least one full-scale rehearsal and are planning an attractive evening's programme in which the band will generate plenty of hot, toe-tapping jazz - without the need to activate oxygen masks."

The Riverside Jump Band made its public debut in Southwick in 1956 and later enjoyed a hugely successful run at the Hangleton Manor Hotel in Hove.

"The place was packed to its medieval rafters," said Mr Samuel. "The owner took fright at such large numbers and placed an advert in the local paper on three consecutive nights announcing the closure of the sessions because of 'accommodation difficulties'.

"We were all too young at the time to appreciate the massive irony of it."

Jazz found its traditional home in the backrooms of pubs and clubs, filled with a mass of loyal supporters, but in the early 1960s the heightened interest in the music, created by the Trad Boom, elevated it to huge popularity.

Mr Samuel said: "It was very sad when we called it a day. We had played together so long and were probably one of the best-known groups in Brighton at the time. But our careers were taking us away."

The band members kept in touch over the years, sending regular Christmas cards, but it was only late last year that they considered getting together again.

Clarinet player Keith Slade said: "I enjoyed playing with the band and thought it was a really good idea when I was approached about reforming. I have been playing with different people and in different places over the years, but it will be nice to play at home."

The Riverside Jump Band will be playing at the Lewes Jazz Club, Constitutional Club, 139 High Street, Lewes, on Thursday, March 9, between 8pm and 11pm.

Mr Samuel, who now lives in Hampshire, added: "We're hoping that some of our friends and fans from the 50s and 60s will come along and enjoy a night out in a good cause."

Admission is £4 and profits are in aid of the Ear Foundation, the charity which helps deaf children hear and speak.

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