Friday 15th June 1984
Appearing at Warminster Arts Centre next Friday (June 22nd 1984) are Bilbo’s Boogie Band, a six-piece jazz-funk outfit who hail from Brighton. Jazz-funk is currently very big in the United States where it originated but here in the UK it is usually played by musicians for musicians and the general public rarely gets a chance to hear it. However, the band are currently putting matters to right with a concert tour of Southern England and their spontaneous sessions have already proved so popular with all types of audiences.
Much of the music they will be playing on the tour is new to this country and influenced by such well known American jazz-funk artists including Al Jarreau, the Brecker Brothers and Ronnie Laws but nearly a half of their set consists of original material penned by three band members Tony McCormick, John Spencer-Sugden and Alan Morgan.
Lead guitarist and band manager John Spencer-Sugden describes the jazz-funk sound as a mixture of modern jazz combined with exciting rhythms and grooves! All six band members are masters of several instruments and between them they have backed such famous names as Johnny Mathis, Jack Jones, Grace Kennedy and Annie Ross as well as making numerous television, radio and film appearances.