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Award to Newbury musician Pete Allen celebrates his 45 years as a jazz band leader




On Sunday, October 1, exactly 45 years to the day, at a full house at the Bacon Arms, the mayor of Newbury presented top jazz entertainer Pete Allen an award to celebrate his 45 years of being a jazz band leader.

Pete Allen, Nicky his wife and the mayor Pic: Katie Hubbard
Pete Allen, Nicky his wife and the mayor Pic: Katie Hubbard
Pete Allen's award
Pete Allen's award

It was a day packed with the best of Britain’s jazz musicians, Enrico Tomasso, Gary Wood, Andy Dickens, Digby Fairweather and Sean Moyses, playing from 2.30pm to 10.30pm.

As local jazz-lovers know, Pete Allen, an Honorary Citizen of New Orleans, has been bringing top-quality jazz on a regular basis to Newbury for many years and continues to do so. His band has made many TV and radio appearances over the years and released more than 100 albums.

Pete Allen on stage Pic: Katie Hubbard
Pete Allen on stage Pic: Katie Hubbard

Mayor Nigel Foot said: “What an incredible achievement of 45 years. Not many musicians have had such international recognition as Pete has. He has given so much pleasure to countless generations over the years.”

Pete was born in Newbury and attended Winchcombe Primary and Junior Schools and the Downs School, Compton.

Pete and his current band line-up with the mayor Pic: Katie Hubbard
Pete and his current band line-up with the mayor Pic: Katie Hubbard

He formed his professional jazz band in 1978 and has continued to entertain audiences at festivals, theatres and clubs around the world. Pete’s band plays an entertaining musical selection of ‘happy traditional jazz’. It’s a sound that everyone can enjoy and his performances are a combination of well-played music and professional presentation.

Pete Allen and Rachel James his school teacher Pic: Katie Hubbard
Pete Allen and Rachel James his school teacher Pic: Katie Hubbard

The musical content blends instrumentals and well-known songs for listening or dancing, and the band is frequently featured at events for Rotary, Lions International and other charitable concerns such as Macmillan Cancer Relief and Cancer UK.

Pete Allen and the mayor with Liz Chaplin and Sue Mason, two lifelong supporters Pic: Katie Hubbard
Pete Allen and the mayor with Liz Chaplin and Sue Mason, two lifelong supporters Pic: Katie Hubbard

Performances feature a team of talented and much respected musicians including James Clemas (piano), Roger Marks (trombone), Chris Hodgkins (trumpet), Jim Newton (drums) and Dave Hanratty (bass) along with Pete on clarinet, saxophones, banjo and vocals.



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