Bournemouth Bluebird Jazz Club - Trad Jazz on most Mondays at the Bluebird Club Longham, Opposite Haskins

The Rascals of Rhythm have a very distinctive sound and once heard become instantly recognisable. The band does not fall into any obvious catagory, which is one of it's great strengths, but it does provide a refreshing visit to an era of swinging, carefree jazz with a repertoire drawn from the classic Jelly Roll Morton & King Oliver through Fats Waller to Duke Ellington, Luis Russell and Benny Carter. It also includes much from the pens of those wonderful tunesmiths whose work makes up the Great American Songbook. The band is also happy to work with guest instrumentalist and vocalists without losing it's unique character - and indeed often does.

The Rascals of Rhythm are tuneful, swing like mad, exude energy and enthusiasm and are a well organised and distincitve unit.  The Rascals are led by :–
Dave Moorwood a self taught musician who started in skiffle groups in the early 50s playing banjoy, guitar, mandolin and even clarinet. From about 1962 he worked in blues bands, dance bands and with anorgan trio, as well as several Oxfordshire jazz bands. In 1989 he formed the Big Bear Stompers, a now almost legendary "Frisco" style band which suvived till 1999, often playing host at their Lains Barn venue to top jazzmen as guests, including Ball, Bilk and Lyttelton. However in 1996 Dave was asked to join the Pete Allen Jazz Band and became a pivotal member of the rhythm section for the next 8 years when he finally resigned to concentrate on playing his favourite acoustic guitar, singing and arranging for the Rascals of Rhythm. He takes great delight in searching for gens amongst the myriad almost forgotten songs of the 20s and 30s, many of which you will hear at Rascals performances. He does also remain a first choice "dep" in several top bands.