Sarah Spencer's Band Collective

Sarah Spencer's runs three bands:  'Transatlantic Band' | 'Sax 'n' Bone Band' | 'Mississippi Mudbugs | Sarah is also available for guest appearances.

With a career ignited on the British jazz scene at just 18 and validated in the hallowed halls of New Orleans' Preservation Hall a year later, Sarah Spencer is a musical force of nature.

• Her playing embodies a rare and authentic connection to the roots of traditional jazz, honed over decades of leading world-class bands on both sides of the Atlantic.

• A captivating instrumentalist and dynamic bandleader, Sarah offers a versatile and electrifying portfolio of ensembles, each delivering a truly unforgettable musical experience.

• Sarah's musical journey is a testament to her dedication. After forming her first band at 20, she spent over two decades in the USA, immersing herself in the culture and sound of American traditional jazz before relocating to the UK in 2017.

• Her versatility is showcased not only in her own projects, but also through her work with other prestigious groups. She is a key member of the frontline in Mike Owen’s internationally performing Scarlette’s Serenaders, plays with the Scarlette’s Parade Band and Festival Freaks, and is a member of the hot quartet, Red, Hot and Blue.

• Whether leading one of her own dynamic bands or appearing as a highly sought-after guest artist, Sarah Spencer brings unparalleled skill, authenticity, and a deep love for the music to every single performance.

SARAH SPENCER'S
TRANSATLANTIC BAND:

• The flagship ensemble, Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band, is a powerhouse six-piece delivering an electrifying and authentic traditional jazz sound.

• Featuring a stellar line-up of top-tier musicians from across the UK, the band is renowned for its driving rhythm section and formidable, swinging frontline.

• Their extensive repertoire and dynamic interplay have wowed audiences at clubs and festivals across the UK, Europe, and the USA.

• This is the ultimate band for an unforgettable night of hot, swinging jazz.

Band Members:

• Sarah started playing on the British jazz scene at 18, was the youngest visitor to play in Preservation Hall at 19, and formed the first of her own bands at 20.
• She moved to the USA in 1993 and then  relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has continued to lead Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band in the UK, Europe and in the USA.
• She is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s Scarlette’s Serenaders, which performs internationally, plays in Mike Owen’s Scarlette’s Parade Band, Mike Owen’s Festival Freaks, and is a member of the quartet, Red, Hot and Blue.
• In addition, she performs as a guest artist with many other bands all across the UK, USA and Europe.
  
  'Magic' Mike Henry - Cornet

• Mike played Cornet in local brass bands, before gaining recognition for his talents at the age of 9.
• At the age of 11 he studied at the Junior Royal College of Music in Manchester.
• This was followed by a Scholarship to Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.  
• At 18 he gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music in London, finishing in 1997.
• He started playing with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra in 1978 and appeared in all the major Concert halls in England & Europe, with TV, Radio and recordings, along with the occasional classical date with the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as session work in all styles of music.
• Some of the bands with whom he has appeared are:
  European Glenn Miller Orchestra, Midnite Follies Orchestra, Squadronaires Orchestra, Ray Gelato’s Giants, Keith Nichols Blue Devils, Bryan Ferry on his tour of Europe, Acker Bilk Paramount Jazz Band, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen and The Big Chris Barber Band. Mike joined the Transatlantic Band in 2021.
  

Jim Swinnerton - String Bass

• Jim is one of the most powerful string bass players on the global traditional jazz scene.
• A very talented and energetic acoustic bass player in the old style, his parents has always been keen jazzers and he grew up with jazz records constantly on the turntable.
• His father Jack Swinnerton was an influential and famous jazz promoter in the 50’s and 60’s, running the famous MSG in Manchester and responsible for bringing many well-known US musicians to the UK from Red Allen to George Lewis. Jim joined the Sun Street Stompers in Lancaster at around 19 years of age and is in great demand all across the UK.
• He has played with numerous bands, including Martin Bennetts Old Green River Band, Phil Mason and Richard Bennett, The Jazzaholics and Mike Owen’s Scarlette’s Serenaders.
• Jim plays with bands all over the country and was a part of the band for the very popular stage show, The Million Dollar Quartet.

  Rachel Hayward - Banjo/Guitar

• Rachel learnt classical piano until, moving with work to Kidderminster, she fell in love with New Orleans jazz upon hearing it for the first time.
• She bought a banjo and joined Stan Allsopp’s Ragtime Band. Following a spell playing with Norman Thatcher’s New Orleans Jazz Band, Rachel teamed up with Chris Pearce and Tony Sharp to form the very popular trio that played in pubs and clubs around Gloucestershire and beyond, joined on many occasions by Roger Bennett of Blue Note fame.
• She played for many years with Ken Pye’s Creole Serenaders, touring with Sammy Rimington at times, but developed her guitar playing with Paul Munnery’s  Swing Street, her idol being Freddy Green of Count Basie fame.
• She joined Harlem, the 10-piece New York style jazz orchestra, in the late 1990s, and continued playing with Paul Munnery in his later bands, Hootie and the Gang and the Saratoga Club Orchestra.
• The progression to vibes stems from her passion for Lionel Hampton, and the sound of the Benny Goodman early small bands.
• She formed her Goodman style quartet, Rachel’s Dream, which featured John Hallam and Tom Kincaid.
• She plays and sings with Hotsy Totsy, the all-female band, with Debbie Arthurs and Zoe Lambeth, and Andy Leggett’s Centenary Serenaders.
• Rachel has been a member of Sarah Spencer’s bands since 2024, adding her steady and reliable rhythm and drive to the already-powerful rhythm section.
• As well as playing, Rachel organised Bude Jazz festival in the early part of this century, and is currently Musical Director of Upton Jazz Festival.

 Rob Pearce - Trombone

• Rob is London born and bred and started playing the trombone at the age of eight.
• He became part of the jazz scene when he was 16 and now plays in a number of traditional New Orleans bands, both as a regular member and as a guest, and leads his own band called the Mardi Gras JazzBand.
• Rob makes very regular trips to New Orleans, and has played alongside a very large number of New Orleans musicians in a large number of venues, including in Preservation Hall, the Natchez steamboat, all the Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street jazz clubs and has a huge repertoire of New Orleans Jazz.
• He has has played at Jazz Clubs in Hong Kong, Australia, USA and throughout Europe.

Graham Smith - Drums

• Graham is a busy Midlands-based drummer who can be seen performing at many UK jazz venues and festivals.
• He started drumming in his father’s dance bands at the age of 14 with whom he eventually formed the Jazz Allsorts in 1999.
• He has been a full-time drummer since 2000, and has played with a litany of UK bands, including Rod Chamber’s Louisiana Joymakers, The Antique Six, Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz,  Amy Roberts‘ Gentlemen of Jazz, Slide by Slide and Kevin Grenfell’s Giants of Jazz.
• Besides leading his own bands: Jazz Allsorts and Shades of Jazz, he is currently the first call for the drum seat in all of Sarah Spencer’s bands, George Huxley’s Allstars and  Reeds United, Perdido Street, Reeds a Plenty, the Savannah Jazz Band and performs with violinist Ralph Allin and Jeff Barnhart‘s (USA) Sweet & Hot.
• He has also played with and supported a long list of UK and visiting musicians such as Alan Barnes, Art Themen, Digby Fairweather, Chris Barber,  Jim Fryer (USA), John Hallam, Jim Douglas and Roy Williams.

SARAH SPENCER'S SAX & BONE BAND:

• "It's all about that brass!
• For a lush, sophisticated sound, you have to hear our Sax 'n' Bone Band in action.
• On a gig with the Harlem Jazz Orchestra, Zoltan Sagi and Sarah were talking and Zoltan said that he wanted to play a N.O. Revival-style gig with himself and Sarah.
• Inspired, Sarah has formed a band of some of the best musicians in the UK who play in that idiom.
• She decided to highlight the 2-reed front line and go without a trumpet player but, instead, have Mike Owen join them, which makes the band about as authentic in the New Orleans dance hall style as can be.
  

Band Members:

Sarah Spencer - Tenor Sax

Mike Owen - Trombone

Zoltan Sagi - Alto Sax

Rachel Hayward - Banjo/guitar

Jim Swinnerton - String Bass

Graham Smith - Drums


Mike Owen - Trombone Bio:

• Mike Owen is a highly respected trombonist and vocalist known for his powerful, energetic, and authentic "tailgate" New Orleans style of playing.

• His sound is often described as the driving force of the rhythm section and a commanding voice in the frontline.

•  He is a prolific and successful bandleader in his own right, leading several popular and internationally performing ensembles, including:

  • Mike Owen’s Scarlette’s Serenaders

  • Mike Owen’s Scarlette’s Parade Band

  • Mike Owen’s Festival Freaks

•  In addition to his world-class trombone playing, Mike is also a well-regarded vocalist, delivering classic jazz and blues numbers with charisma and authenticity.

• He is considered a central figure in the UK's traditional jazz circuit and is sought after for festivals and jazz clubs across the country, Europe, and beyond.

• He maintains a close musical partnership with Sarah Spencer, featuring in her 'Sax 'n' Bone Band' and, in turn, featuring her as a key member of his own projects.

Zoltan Sagi - Alto Sax Bio:

• Hungarian by birth, Zoltan attended the Guildhall School of Music studying clarinet with Robert Earle and later Frank Allen (CBSO) at Warwick University.

• He is completely self-taught on saxophone drawing much inspiration particularly from Johnny Hodges, Cannonball Adderley and Stan Getz .

• Zoltan spent his early professional playing career in dance bands and in the New Orleans jazz genre playing alongside Dan Pawson and also performing at festivals both here and abroad.

• After this came a period of success in the field of  music education.

• A return to fully professional playing saw a near 3-year stint with Chris Barber, touring the world extensively.

• He has made numerous C.D's, and other recordings as a freelance session musician and has also appeared with such musicians as Earl Warren (ex-Count Basie), Benny Waters, Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Humphrey Lyttleton, Roy Williams, Bruce Turner, Marty Grosz, Digby Fairweather, Duncan Swift, Bruce Adams, Greg Abate etc.

• Zoltan has played with many bands over the years, most notably, Harlem, Swing Syndicate, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Sticky Wicket Swing Orchestra, Kenny Ball and The Charleston Chasers. Currently he can be seen with his own quartet/trio, Sarah Spencer’s Sax ‘n’ Bone, the Harlem Jazz Orchestra and the Stars of British Jazz .

• As a composer Zoltan has written soundtracks for such clients as Cadburys, Samsung U.K., Powergen and Severn Trent.

SARAH SPENCER'S MISSISSIPPI MUDBUGS: 

Hot, swinging, and intimate!

The Mississippi Mud Bugs bring the classic quartet sound to life. Perfect for getting up close and personal with the music.

When asked to put in a band at a gig that wouldn’t be her standard lineup, Sarah has formed the Mississippi Mudbugs (with gratitude to Mike Owen for the band name).

 It has a 2-piece front line and a powerhouse rhythm section and plays the music of the New Orleans dance halls."

Band Members:

Sarah Spencer - Reeds

Mike Owen - Trombone

Rachel Hayward - Banjo/guitar

Jim Swinnerton - String Bass

Graham Smith - Drums