Kit Packham’s One Jump Ahead

Energetic Jump Jive Band

One Jump Ahead presents an irresistible blend of jazz and blues with swing and jump-jive styles generating a highly charged atmosphere and a superbly memorable night for you and your guests.

Led by singer, saxophonist and songwriter, Kit Packham, One Jump Ahead is a 7-piece band comprising piano, guitar, bass, drums, trumpet and another saxophone modelled on the 40's jump/jive star Louis Jordan. Indeed the swinging tempos, sizzling sax solos and humour of Louis Jordan's songs are equally present in Kit's own critically acclaimed and fresh-sounding material. The repertoire embraces Fats Waller to Fats Domino taking in Duke Ellington, T-Bone Walker and Jon Hendricks among others.

Although the band takes its inspiration from the 1940s, they play for today's sophisticated jazz audiences. Among the energetic Jitterbugs and Lindy hops, you'll find contemporary instrumentals full of atmosphere. For a change of pace, there are Latin numbers and the funky 'second-line' rhythms of New Orleans. But swinging tempos aimed at the feet are their speciality.

One Jump Ahead has appeared at venues such as The Barbican, The Royal Festival Hall, The 100 Club and The Vortex. They perform at festivals all over Europe and have featured on Radio 2 for Paul Jones' Rhythm & Blues programme, G.L.R. and Jazz FM. They have performed in venues from Islington to Israel, Clerkenwell to County Cork and from Docklands to Deutschland! One Jump Ahead also play for Corporate events, private parties and wedding receptions etc.

See also The Duchess & Her Dukes featuring vocalist Debra Noelle.

Music Samples

Let The Good Times Roll 697 kb

Barefootin' 851 kb

Testimonials

"Class exponents of the Jump Jive oeuvre"

. ..Time Out

"Absolutely brilliant!"

. ..Mary Costello - GLR

Exuberant and raucous, these and other tunes...are joyfully recreated today on Britain's thriving swing scene by bands such as Kit Packham's One Jump Ahead"

-The Independent Magazine

"Vigourous jump-jive and R & B"

-Daily Express

"A spicy recipe, with lots of riffs, stop chords, a nod here and there to early Nat Cole...blues with a message"

-Jazz Journal

"London's most consistent and entertaining jump-jive specialists"

-T.N.T.