Peter Morris and Ponjo's Stompers - Jazz Band East England & Greater London

The traditional jazz band, Ponjo’s Stompers, was formed in 1972 by bassist, Peter Morris, from the ashes of the defunct Ray Elliott Jazz Band, and quickly gained popularity by combining ‘hot’ jazz with entertainment.

The instrumentation is the classic line up of cornet, clarinet, trombone, banjo, double bass and drums, and at least two of the personnel vocalise. In 1974 the band started weekly Sunday night concerts at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea. These continued for over 10 years, to be followed for a further 5 years of Sunday nights at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea.

Many jazz luminaries played with the band : Digby Fairweather, Humphrey Lyttelton, Wild Bill Davison, Mike Cotton, Monty Sunshine, Kenny Davern, Charlie Galbraith, Bob Kerr, Kenny Ball, Hugh Crozier, Martin Litton, Maxine Daniels and Ken Sims, to name but a few.

More than 30 years on the band is still playing entertaining traditional jazz. These days mostly in corporate entertainment and special events, open air events, wedding receptions, private parties, funerals and concerts, and the occasional TV appearance.

The band can appear in combinations from a trio to a seven or eight piece band with female jazz singer. All combinations are capable of playing acoustically and the need for an electricity supply can be purely academic.

All the musicians are full-time professionals and, as you would expect, if the date is free the band will play anywhere. There is no geographical limitation.

Whatever the combination, and wherever the venue, good, hot, foot-tapping, good-time jazz is guaranteed.

We seek to entertain, not to educate.

PETER MORRIS

Peter is also part of COCKNEY DOODLE DO, a traditional cockney sing-a-long duo.

He also appears as a solo keyboard player/vocalist playing laid-back ‘lounge’jazz in restaurants and at wedding receptions and parties etc. His music is drawn from the classic popular tunes of 1930-1950 era.

Jazz Band East England & Greater London East England & Greater London
Peter Morris and Ponjo's Stompers are a traditional Jazz Band based in Essex and have more than 30 years of experience!