Edge Rewrite
translate Source code View original
Jump to content

The Jive Aces

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Jive Aces)

The Jive Aces
The Jive Aces in concert in 2009
The Jive Aces in concert in 2009
Background information
OriginBillericay, Essex, England
Genres
Years active1989–present
Labels
  • Right Recordings
  • Golden Age Recordings
Members
  • Ian Clarkson
  • Ken Smith
  • Vince Hurley
  • Peter Howell
  • John Fordham
  • Alex Douglas
Websitewww.jiveaces.org Edit this at Wikidata

The Jive Aces are a British six-piece swing band formed in 1989. Known for their high-energy performances and blend of swing, jive, rhythm and blues, the group has released twelve studio albums and toured internationally, appearing at festivals, theatres, and jazz venues in more than forty countries. They reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2012 and have performed at events including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Glastonbury Festival, and London's Aldwych Theatre. The band also hosts an annual "Summertime Swing" event in East Grinstead and produced a daily livestream, JiveStream, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jive Aces have longstanding links to the Church of Scientology.

Career

[edit]
Ian Clarkson in 2006

The Jive Aces were founded in 1989 by vocalist Ian Clarkson, drummer Peter Howell, bassist Ken Smith, and saxophonist John Fordham. According to an interview with LondonJazz News, Clarkson and Howell first met at school, and the four musicians began performing together shortly after leaving school. Trombonist Alex Douglas and pianist Vince Hurley later joined the group in the 1990s.[1][2] Grazia Clarkson, the band's publicist, occasionally performs with the group on accordion.[3]

In August 2008, the Jive Aces performed a Louis Prima tribute show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The performance included an appearance by Grammy-winning singer Keely Smith, Prima's former wife and musical partner, who joined the band for an encore of That Ol' Black Magic.[4]

On 9 July 2010, the Jive Aces performed at the Royal Albert Hall's first swing dance event, "In Full Swing", playing to an audience of around 1,400 dancers on a 5,000 square feet (460 m2) dance floor, alongside the Back to Basie Orchestra and Top Shelf Jazz.[5]

In 2012, the Jive Aces auditioned for Britain's Got Talent with their version of I Wanna Be Like You, receiving positive feedback from the judges and advancing to the semi-finals.[6]

In 2012, the Jive Aces performed for Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Bromley,[7] and in 2013 they played at Buckingham Palace as part of the Coronation Festival.[8]

In spring 2015, the Jive Aces undertook a six-week tour of theatres across the United States. The band continued to tour in the US in subsequent years. They have also appeared at jazz venues including Birdland in New York.[9]

On 10 February 2019, the Jive Aces performed their Big Beat Revue show at London's Aldwych Theatre, featuring guest artists including Cassidy Janson, Jo Good, The Satin Dollz, Antonio Socci, and Lottie B.[2][10]

In 2021, Ian Clarkson performed Bring Me Sunshine for King Charles III at Horse Guards Parade.[11]

The Jive Aces in 2026

The Jive Aces have performed at a number of UK music festivals, including Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Bearded Theory, Hop Farm Festival, and Brecon Jazz Festival.[12] They performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2015 where Vince Hurley collapsed his keyboard from doing handstands on it.[13] The Jive Aces have also performed in UK theatres and arts centres, with occasional regional press mentions noting appearances in cities such as Norwich, Antrim, Carlisle, South Wales, and Exeter.

The Jive Aces host an annual outdoor music event called "Summertime Swing", held at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, UK. The band has occasionally worked with other musicians in studio recordings and live performances, including a small number of guest artists noted in regional press.

During the COVID-19 pandemic while live performances were suspended, the Jive Aces produced a daily livestream called "JiveStream", running for over a year from March 2020.[14]

The Jive Aces have released a number of studio albums and EPs since the 1990s, including concept and tribute projects drawing on swing, jazz, and rhythm and blues influences. The band writes original material for many of its releases, with some tracks appearing in film and television, including placements in Sex Education and airplay on BBC Radio London.

The Jive Aces have received a number of minor awards and recognitions. In 2011, their video for Bring Me Sunshine won a Telly Award in the music video category.[15] The band has also received acknowledgements from Variety, the Children's Charity,[16] and won "Best Band" at the Boisdale Music Awards in 2018.[17]

Scientology

[edit]

The band is noted for having strong links to the Church of Scientology as members of the Sea Org, and for promoting the group and its missions.[18][19]

The band have been known to perform up to 300 times a year,[20] often promoting Scientology[18][21] or presenting an anti-drugs message.[22][23]They have been noted for their "high-energy shows".[24]

The Jive Aces have supported the Church of Scientology's Say No To Drugs campaign since 1996,[25][26][23] performing to shoppers in city centres throughout the UK,[27][28][29] to give a message to young people[30] that it is "not cool to take drugs", through distribution of "Truth About Drugs" booklets written by the Church.

The self-produced materials used in these campaigns have been described as "discredited pseudoscience"[31] and without "pharmacological basis"[32] by health care professionals.

In April 2012, the band lent its support to the Multi-Marathon for a Drug-Free UK, a 130-mile run organised by the Church of Scientology; The First Annual Multi-Marathon for a Drug-Free United Kingdom[33] from London to Brighton in Crawley, West Sussex, not too far from Saint Hill Manor, a site regarded as the British headquarters of the Church.[34]

In 2018, the band was featured in an episode of the series "Meet a Scientologist", on the network "Scientology Network".[35] The half hour show uses vintage footage, interviews, and performance clips to tell the tale of The Jive Aces' rise from street entertainers to headlining at major festivals and events around the world and the story behind their commitment to drug prevention.[36]

Discography

[edit]

The band has released studio albums, as well as compilations, EPs and singles.[37]

Albums

[edit]
  • 1992: Jumpin' with the Aces (Mumbo Jumbo)
  • 1996: Our Kinda Jive (JA Recordings)
  • 1997: Bolt from the Blue (Right Recordings)
  • 1998: Planet Jive (Right Recordings)
  • 2005: Life Is a Game (Right Recordings)
  • 2008: Recipe for Rhythm (Right Recordings)
  • 2009: Dance All Night (Right Recordings)
  • 2011: Amazing Adventures (Golden Age Recordings)
  • 2012: King of the Swingers: A Salute to Louis Prima (Golden Age Recordings)
  • 2015: Spread a Little Happiness (Golden Age Recordings)
  • 2017: Diggin' the Roots Vol 1: Rockin' Rhythm & Blues (Golden Age Recordings)
  • 2018: Diggin' the Roots Vol 2: Hot Jazz (Golden Age Recordings)[38]

Collaborations

[edit]
  • 2003: Blair Sings Astaire – with Lionel Blair (Right Recordings)
  • 2025: I've Got A Feelin' – Gina Haley with The Jive Aces CD & vinyl (El Toro Records)

EPs

[edit]
  • 2011: It's Skiffle Time (Golden Age Recordings)
  • 2013: Christmas Is Where You Are (Golden Age Recordings)

Singles

[edit]
  • 2002: White Hot Christmas (Right Recordings)
  • 2006: Singing in the Rain (Right Recordings)
  • 2006: White Cliffs of Dover (Right Recordings)
  • 2011: Bring Me Sunshine (Golden Age Recordings)
  • 2018: Music, Music, Music (Right Recordings)

Other releases

[edit]
  • 2016: For the Record — vinyl only (Invisible Hands)
  • 2018: Diggin' the Roots Vol 1&2 — vinyl only (Golden Age Recordings)
  • TBA: Good Rockin' Tonight: The Roots of The King (Golden Age Recordings)

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Jive Aces returning to their homeland". Basildon Recorder. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  2. 1 2 Coombes, Rachel (28 December 2018). "INTERVIEW: Ian Clarkson of The Jive Aces (Aldwych Theatre, 10 Feb)". London Jazz News. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "The Jive Aces - A Flat Out, No-Holds-Barred Good Time!". 8 December 2018.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent show six: Jive Aces put Simon in good mood". STV. 28 April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Ball, Jane (21 May 2012). "Jive Aces: From busking in Romford to singing for the Queen!". Romford Recorder. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent's Jive Aces in royal anniversary celebration". East Grinstead Courier. 20 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Cohen, Alix (8 December 2018). "The Jive Aces – A Flat-Out, No-Holds-Barred Good Time". Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Jive Aces' Big Beat Revue". Nederlander Theatres. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  11. ↑ Hewitt, Phil (29 November 2021). "Celebrating Bring Me Sunshine success with The Jive Aces". SussexWorld. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ Krol, Charlotte (30 June 2015). "Pianist keeps playing after piano collapses at Glastonbury". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "Silver winner, TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces - Music Video". The Telly Awards. 2011.
  16. ↑ "Red cross thanks local people". Belfast Telegraph. 24 May 2006. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Boisdale Music Awards 2018 Hosted by Jools Holland & Ferne McCann". Boisdale. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  18. 1 2
  19. ↑ ""We're The Jive Aces and We're All Scientologists"". Mike Rinder's Blog. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "Jive Aces are the kings of the swingers", Morecambe Today, 25 March 2009
  21. ↑ scientologyb; Beliefs, Scientology (30 May 2011). "Meet Scientologists--the Jive Aces". Scientology Beliefs. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Rutter, John: "Scientologists back anti-drugs festival", The Scotsman, 22 August 2002
  23. 1 2 Moore, Jamie (17 January 2020). "The Jive Aces". Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  24. ↑ Nelson, Kate. "Interview: Britain's got Talent stars The Jive Aces say Scientology helps them perform". Gravesend Reporter. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  25. ↑ photo caption, The Croydon Post, trinitymirror.com, 31 January 1996. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  26. ↑ Ward, Michelle (18 February 2025). "THE JIVE ACES – See them Live 27th February". Phoenix FM. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Scientologist rock'n'rollers the Jives Aces bring anti-drugs message to Sunderland". www.sunderlandecho.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Just say yes to anti-drugs show". www.lep.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  29. ↑ Group jives against drugs, The Tunbridge Wells & Crowborough Times, archant.co.uk, 15 May 1996. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  30. ↑ "Duke Ellington School of the Arts Students Jam With top UK Band Jive Aces – The Washington Sun". thewashingtonsun.com.
  31. ↑ Mathis-Lilley, Ben. "A Scientology-Run Anti-Drug Group Works Extensively in New York City Schools". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Parents Outraged After Scientology-Sponsored Group Delivers Anti-Drug Messages At New York City Schools". International Business Times. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  33. ↑ "The First Annual Multi-Marathon for a Drug-Free United Kingdom". Prweb.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012.
  34. ↑ "Band helps blast out an anti-drug message". Thisissussex.co.uk. Crawley Observer. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  35. ↑ "New Scientology Network Season Debuts". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  36. ↑ "The Jive Aces". Scientology Network. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  37. ↑ "Allmusic.com Directory". Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  38. ↑ Cohen, Alix (11 December 2018). "The Jive Aces: Diggin' the Roots—Hot Jazz Volume II". Cabaret Scenes.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Jive_Aces&oldid=1366491813"