Leeds Jazz Club is on the move again, maintaining the nomadic streak which has been a major characteristic since its formation in the 1970s.
Back at the start, the club specialised in mainstream to Dixieland with the likes of Bud Freeman, Art Farmer , Yank Lawson and the World's Greatest Jazz Band appearing at the Guildford, then the Star and Garter, Kirkstall followed by tenures at the W
ellesley, the Dragonara, and the Shamrock before closing in 1978.
The club was revived in 2000 with a resident band at New Wortley Conservative Club, before moving in 2002, with John Wall in charge, to the Hanover Arms in Lower Wortley.
It subsequently moved again to Upper and Lower Wortley Liberal Club, where it has stayed for the past three years.
Now, from the beginning of September, there will be a new home for the Tuesday night venue – Armley Conservative Club.
"We are getting a slightly bigger room with space for dancing, and a larger car park," said John about the latest shift in a footloose club which has left a trail of musical imprints on Leeds in its long history.
These days the policy is unashamedly traditional to Dixieland.
"We present more than 30 bands a year and we have a loyal and growing audience,'' said Wall.
"There is still a public out there for trad – as long as it's good."
A highlight of the autumn programme, on November 4, will be a visit by the Budapest Ragtime Band, who are based in Hungary.
It all goes to prove that the spirit of New Orleans still thrives at a club which might be restless but sticks to its basic beliefs and is still in great demand.
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