Jazz Legends Jam Again: 46 Years Later at The Old Duke Pub!

In Bristol, a group of jazz musicians have come together to recreate a special moment from the past. They gathered at the Old Duke Pub, a place known for its long history of live jazz music. Back in 1979, some musicians recorded an album at this very pub. Now, more than forty years later, they have made a new album called Jazz At The Duke Volume II. This new record is not just about music; it is also meant to raise money for the Bristol Jazz Festival. Some of the musicians who played on the first album have returned to play on the new one, showing that jazz music is still alive and well in Bristol. Andy Leggett, who played on both albums, said he hopes the new record shows that jazz is still full of life. He never imagined there would be a second album when they made the first one so many years ago.

The idea for the new album came from Joe Trudgeon, a record producer and jazz musician. Joe found a copy of the original 1979 album in a charity shop. When he looked at the names on the album, he realized that he knew some of the musicians. This made him think about how important it is to remember the people who played jazz at the Old Duke. Joe said that many of the musicians from the first album are no longer with us, and that is one reason why he wanted to make the new album now. He wanted to make sure that these musicians are not forgotten. Joe also said that they could have recorded the album somewhere else, but he felt it was important to do it at the Old Duke, where the story began.

Paul Archibald, who helped produce the new album, said that the Old Duke is a place with a lot of history. Jazz music has been played there since the 1960s, making it one of the oldest jazz venues in Britain. Paul said it is a privilege to play with such talented musicians. He also hopes that in another forty years, someone will find this album and decide to make a third one, keeping the tradition alive. The musicians even recreated the old photograph from the first album cover, standing outside the pub just like before. This project is not just about music; it is about celebrating the history of jazz in Bristol and making sure it continues for many years to come.