About Us

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The Silver Ghosts are a London based 7 piece swing ensemble (trumpet, trombone, clarinet, banjo', double bass, drums, vocals) performing numbers that evoke the hot, breathless and high spirited dance gigs of the 1920s, 30s & 40s.

The band has performed at The Royal Albert Hall, The 100 Club, and other renowned jazz venues, as well as swing dance club nights in and around London.

The Silver Ghosts were lucky enough to have recorded a session for the BBC at the beautiful Art Deco premises at Bush House, just before the latter moved to their new location.

Remaining faithful to the smart sartorial spirit of the period of the music, the look is considered an important part of the ensemble's performance.

Some of the band know a few period partner dance moves as well, and are liable to swing out on the dance floor, doing Charleston or Lindy Hop swing dancing.

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Where The Silver Ghosts Have Performed

The ensemble have played at several well known and prestigious London venues and club nights, including:

• The Royal Albert Hall (Elgar room)
• Ronnie Scott's bar
• The Savoy
• The Nightjar
• Green Note
• The Candlelight Club
• The Blues Kitchen, Camden
• Gaz's Rockin' Blues
• Crazy Coqs (Brasserie Zédel)
• Le QuecumBar
• The Pheasantry (PizzaExpress, King's Rd.)
• St. Martin's-in-the-Fields (Café in the Crypt)
• Floridita London
• The 100 Club

Recent Clients

• The Crown Estate
• Laurent Perrier Champagne
• Rolex
• Torus Insurance Limited
• The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
• Bond Radar on Bloomberg
• Harvey Nichols Restaurants

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Origins

Starting as duet Mark (The Colonel) on the trumpet and Karl (Caps) learning the ukulele, the founder members had been inspired by the energy and style of several swing dance club nights around town where the DJs play nothin' but antique 78s on period equipment modified for modern speakers, while patrons express their passion for dance music from that riotious, hedonistic and heroic era. Sometimes their affection is observed soley through period garb but mostly it is declared on the dancefloor with classicly energetic partner dances like the Lindy Hop and Charlston.

Over subsequent months the outfit settled as a seven piece ensemble, gigging at swing dance club nights, prestigious jazz venues like 'The 100 Club', The Royal Albert Hall, as well as functions and as a wedding band.

In the period to which the band are paying tribute, larger ensembles that were able to play 'unplugged' were naturally much more common, which is why the band remain committed to performing as the extended seven piece lineup they have formed. Despite the changes in culture, economics and technology, The Silver Ghosts recreate the authentic ensemble swing jazz sound.

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Musical Influences

Irving Berlin, Billie Holliday, Louise Armstrong, Josephine Baker, Cab Calloway, Ruth Etting, Cole Porter, Édith Piaf, Benny Goodman, Trixie Smith, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Pearl Bailey, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Tommy Dorsey, Fats Waller, Washboard Rhythm Kings, Brother Bones, Django Rheinhart, Artie Shaw, Al Bowlly, Lew Stone, Miff Mole, Hoagy Carmichael, Bix Beiderbecke, Joe Venuti...

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