Music

The Jive Aces will be performing at the Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival this weekend.
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The Jive Aces at Real Ale and Jazz Festival

July 14, 2010

As The Jive Aces, one of the busiest bands in the world, return to the Real Ale and Jazz Festival, Phil Creighton gets into the swing of things.

When Bill Haley invited his beau to rock around the clock, he probably didn’t have in mind rocking around the country the whole year long, but that’s just what The Jive Aces are doing.

Listen to audio clips from The Jive Aces here.

Last week, the sextet were, among other gigs, performing at Henley Festival, while this week they will be one of the first bands at this year’s Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival in Caversham Meadows – just two gigs in a schedule that will see them play more than 300 gigs this year, impressive when you consider that there’s only 365 days altogether.

The Aces are old hands at the Real Ale and Jazz Festival and they’re looking forward to returning.

“It always has a great atmosphere with a mix of people watching and, with the swing and jive dancers on the floor, it’s always good fun,” says Ian Clarkson, the band’s lead singer and trumpeteer.

They’ve already given some thought into what they’ll be playing.

“If it rains we’ll do Singin’ in the Rain, if its hot we’ll play Summertime,” Ian quips.

One of the reasons that the band is always on the road is that they just love performing live.

“The buzz of the live show is always great, we love communicating with the audience,” Ian says. “Rather like when actors talk about loving theatre work over movies, there is that connection. I love recording but it’s difficult to capture the energy and spirit on a CD.”

And the Jive Aces respond to their audiences, adapting their play lists as they go along.

“We have an idea of the audience beforehand and write a list of songs to play,” Ian says. “Really

I take note of the people, their reaction and whether they are dancing. We then play it by ear and make it up as we go along. Every audience is different.”

That buzz for Ian also comes from the way in which the summer outdoor festivals see all ages come together to enjoy the beer and the music.

“I think the festivals we have here in the UK are very important – they bring people together to have fun, all generations, young and old.

“It’s better than watching TV or playing video games,” he says.

For youngsters not into jazz, how would Ian feel if it was the Real Ale and Rap Festival?

“Well I can’t imagine real rappers supping on a Charles Wells Bombardier or Old Thumper,” he says.

Although Ian knows the suggestion of fusing real ale with rap is a humorous one, he also knows that the younger generation are getting really behind the band.

“Jive and swing are becoming very popular now with the younger audience,” he explains. “We often have 17 and 18 year olds at our gigs and many of them take up dancing and also the image to some degree. I guess to them it is totally new.”

As well as their music, the Jive Aces have one other message to share with their audiences and it’s something that they feel very strong about: drugs.

“Unfortunately the stereotypical band image is brought about by the people who have a vested interest in drugs being popular and it spreads because they make it seem “cool”, which of course it’s not at all,” Ian says.

“It’s sad to see really talented artists ruined by drugs and drink abuse – I have seen it close and personal too so I know what it does.

“Many young would-be musicians are sold the ‘drugs-are-cool’ thing because they are a bit rebellious and think its against the system, then you realise it is part of the ‘system’.

“We have more energy and more fun without drugs.”

There is one thing that any band has to have: a rider. These are demands made by the stars – Van Halen for example demanded that the group had a bowl of M&Ms with all the brown sweets removed, while Michael Bolton is said to have banned onions from his dressing room.

The Aces … well, Ian laughs at the suggestion that they’re making the organisers of the Real Ale and Jazz Festival count out blue Smarties from the tube.

“No, don’t be silly...” he starts. Then thinks. “Maybe an Italian chef to make us Tiramisu and cappuccino,” he jokes. “Actually, at one regular gig in LA we always have Fat Burger on the rider because it is our favourite burger.”

Whatever they’ve requested for the Real Ale And Jazz Festival tomorrow night, you can be sure that they’ll be ready to shake, rattle and roll their audiences as they enjoy some good rocking tonight.

The bands

Thursday
• The ‘Old Thumper’ Jazzband
• The Jive Aces

Friday
• The Andy Cooper Top Six
• Laura B & The Moonlighters

Saturday
• The Tim Dawes Band
• The Artemis All Stars
• The Red Stripe Band

Essential info

Doors open at the Christchurch Meadow site at 7pm on Thursday and Friday, 4.30pm on Saturday.

The bar closes at 11pm each night, with music finishing at 11.15pm.

Tickets are £15 for Thursday or Friday and £20 for Saturday They can be bought in advance from the website, by calling (0118) 944 1650 between 10am and 8pm or from Hickies in Broad Street, 3 Way Physiotherapy in Woodley and The Black Horse Pub in Emmer Green.

Tickets will be available on the door unless sold out beforehand.

For more details, log on to www.raaj.info.

* Look out for pictures and reports in next week’s Reading Post

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