To book either band email tony@sunshinejazz.co.uk or telephone 07729 373974

ABOUT THE BANDS

Tony Scriven Sunshine Band brings the authentic, high-energy sound of New Orleans Jazz to London and the Home Counties. Paying heartfelt tribute to the legendary Monty Sunshine – a pioneer of British New Orleans jazz and the clarinettist behind the 1959 hit 'Petite Fleur' – the band delivers a dynamic mix of stomps, blues, marches, spirituals, Rags, and popular tunes from the golden age of jazz and beyond.

Led by veteran drummer Tony Scriven, who himself played with Monty's renowned band until Monty's retirement and who had previously fronted 'Vintage Jazz' (famously 'The Hottest Band in London' during their acclaimed Lord Napier residency), this accomplished six-piece band entertains both listeners and dancers, filling every event with passion, excitement, and nostalgia.

The Gambit Jazzmen
Gambit Jazzmen: L to R Iain McAulay (Trombone); Andy Maynard (Banjo); Alan Gresty (Cornet); Pete Lay (Drums / Leader); John Maddocks (Clarinet / Sax); John Arthy (Bass)

The Gambit Jazzmen formed in 1982, one of the most popular bands on the Jazz Club / Festival circuit was led by drummer Pete Lay who sadly died unexpectedly on Sunday 7th September 2025. Pete was not only a great New Orleans style drummer and leader of The Gambit Jazzmen, but entrepreneur, Festival Organiser, Editor of Just Jazz Magazine and authority on New Orleans Jazz, particularly the revival of jazz in Britain. Pete was survived by wife Heather, who herself promotes jazz clubs at Warlingham and Twickenham.

Pete's untimely demise left the Gambit Jazzmen without a drummer. Tony was asked by band members if he would like to take over as drummer and leader of the band. As he used to play with clarinet player John Maddocks in The Blackbottom Stompers yonks ago, and Alan Gresty in Monty Sunshine's Band, he jumped at the chance of playing with such a popular and well-established band.

As most professional musicians these days are playing with more than one band, He has decided to do it on a trial basis to see how things work out. Because Heather has said she does not want the band to continue using the name Gambit Jazzmen, the remaining band members have decided that because of their popularity they want to carry on and are going to use the name New Orleans Wanderers. The Gambit Jazzmen already had gigs in the book in 2025 and in 2026. Organisers have been advised of the name change so all those gigs will now be completed with the New Orleans Wanderers.

Regarding Sunshine Band Tony is pleased with their success so far. As a newly formed band it has not been easy to break into the scene, but every gig they have played so far has immediately given them repeat bookings. Tony will still be promoting the Sunshine band as it is close to his heart and it offers something a bit different with Paul Busby on Sousa.

Tony will also be wanting to do gigs with the New Orleans Wanderers - in most cases this will be at venues that he also plays with the Sunshine Band. Both bands will keep their seperate line-ups and programmes, still playing within the New Orleans framework.

MEET THE SUNSHINE BAND

Tony Scriven standing

Tony Scriven

Drums / Vocals / Leader
Tony Scriven playing drums
Pete Leonard standing with trumpet

Pete Leonard

Trumpet / Vocals
Pete Leonard playing trumpet
Tim Asson standing with clarinet

Tim Asson

Clarinet
Tim Asson playing clarinet
Colin Graham playing trombone

Colin Graham

Trombone
Colin Graham standing with trombone
Bill Stagg playing banjo

Bill Stagg

Banjo/vocals
Bill Stagg standing with banjo
Paul Busby playing sousa

Paul Busby

Sousa
Paul Busby standing with sousa

THE SUNSHINE BAND IN ACTION

Gatemouth - Sidcup Jazz Club - Aug 2024

Bugle Boy March - Sidcup Jazz Club - Jan 2025

Just A Little While To Stay Here - Sidcup Jazz Club - Jan 2025

Magnolia's Wedding Day - Sidcup Jazz Club - Aug 2024

Whistling Rufus - Riverhead Jazz Club - May 2025

St. Philip Street Breakdown - Riverhead Jazz Club - May 2025

TONY'S STORY

Young Tony Scriven drumming through a chair
Tony Scriven

Tony Scriven started playing drums aged 15 and as a teenager he joined the band led by legendary New Orleans style clarinet player Cy Laurie, who for many years had been one of the top three Traditional Jazz Clubs in London - The Cy Laurie Jazz Club in Great Windmill Street, Soho - the others being the Humphrey Lyttelton Club at 100 Oxford Street, and The Ken Colyer Club (Studio 51) at Great Newport Street next to Leicester Square Tube Station.

Being the youngest member of Cy's band, Tony stayed with the band, touring the UK and the continent until Cy took a Sabbatical and set off for India to study Transcendental meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This was 8 years before the Beatles did the same thing, looking to find enlightenment!

Cy Laurie holding a clarinet
Cy Laurie

After Cy's departure, in the early sixties, Tony was one of the founder members of The Max Collie Rhythm Aces formed by Australian Max who had come over to Europe with The Melbourne New Orleans Band.

Max Collie's Rhythm Aces Initial Line Up
Max Collie's Rhythm Aces: L to R: Eddie Edwards (Banjo); Max Collie (Trombone); Annie Hawkins (Bass); Trevor Arnold (Trumpet); Tony Scriven (Drums); Roy Pellett (Clarinet)

Tony played with Max's Band touring the UK and the Continent, leaving in 1970 to support wife Jan in starting a family - ostensibly 'settling down'.

Max Collie's Rhythm Aces Later Line Up
Max Collie's Rhythm Aces: L to R: Max Collie (Trombone); Jack Gilbert (Clarinet); Tony Scriven (Drums); Jim McKintosh (Banjo); Geoff King (Bass); Trevor Arnold (Trumpet)

In the 1970's Tony played with a band in London led by Trombonist Mac Duncan and trumpet player Sonny Morris, who had both been involved with those other legends of New Orleans jazz, Trumpeter Ken Colyer and Clarinettist Monty Sunshine. In 1972 Tony made a number of recordings with The Ken Colyer Handpicked Jazzmen, which can be seen on youtube. After Mac Duncan's untimely death, Tony took over Mac's band calling it 'Vintage Jazz' - billed as 'the hottest band in London', with a residency at the famous Lord Napier Pub in South London, playing every Saturday night for 10 years throughout the 1980's.

Vintage Jazz at the Lord Napier in Thornton Heath
Vintage Jazz: L to R: Jumpin' Jack Gilbert (Clarinet/Saxophone); Ray Holland (Bass); Dave Stradwick (Trumpet); Tony Scriven (Drums/Washboard); John Shelley (Trombone); Colin Scudamore (Banjo)

Vintage Jazz Original Napier Session 1984

Jumpin' Jack Gilbert playing at The Lord Napier

Jumpin' Jack Gilbert playing at The Lord Napier

Monty Sunshine
Monty Sunshine

In 1991, following drummer Geoff Downes stroke, Tony was asked to join Monty Sunshine's Band. Monty became famous after making the hit record "Petite Fleur" with Chris Barber's Band in 1959 and after leaving Chris to form his own band in 1961, became one of the leading New Orleans style bands on the UK/Continent tour circuit, making many recordings which can all be heard on YouTube.

Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band on steps
Monty Sunshine's Band: L to R Tony Scriven (Drums); Alan Gresty (Trumpet); Tony Bagot (Bass); Monty Sunshine (Clarinet); John Beecham (Trombone); Barry Dew (Banjo)

Tony played; toured, and recorded with Monty's Band until Monty was forced to retire for health reasons in 1998. Tony fulfilled all the Monty Sunshine dates in the book under the name The Best of British Jazz Band featuring Ian Wheeler, who had just left Chris Barber replacing Monty on Clarinet.

Best of British Jazz Band
Best of British Jazz Band: L to R: John Beecham (Trombone); Tony Bagot (Bass); Alan Gresty (Trumpet); Tony Scriven (Drums); Ian Wheeler taking Monty's place on Clarinet; Stu Morrison (Banjo)

After fulfilling those dates,Tony, who had had a holiday home in the Algarve for many years, decided to move there full time to live and work in Portugal. In 2000 he achieved this objective, buying a villa in the Algarve where he moved to with wife Jan and 2 Great Danes and a Jack Russell.

Having been playing the drums all his working life, he quickly took over and reformed The New Orleans Band of The Algarve. This band was an immediate success, playing Hotels; Restaurants and concerts throughout Portugal. With so many expats, British; German; Scandinavian - retirees and Portuguese homeowners, who had all grown up listening to New Orleans jazz throughout Europe in their younger days it was not difficult to find and please audiences everywhere they played, providing a mixture of excitement and nostalgia and a link to the past with a fittingly international flavour to the band line-up.

New Orleans Jazz Band of The Algarve
New Orleans Jazz Band of The Algarve: L to R: John Ballinger (UK - Trombone); Cory Sea (USA - Guitar); Tony Scriven (UK - Drums); Dave Lawson (UK - Clarinet); Luis Hilario (Portugal - Bass); Han Wezenaar (Netherlands - Clarinet/Baritone Saxophone)

Sadly, the idyllic life of living and playing jazz in the paradise of the Algarve had to come to an end. Out of the blue, wife Jan was suddenly diagnosed with Myeloid Leukaemia, with no cure. After struggling for two years with chemotherapy, having enjoyed 11 years in the sun, Jan sadly passed away. Although the New Orleans Jazz Band of The Algarve was still a great success, the magic had gone.

Tony eventually found a new partner, Diane, and they decided to return to the UK in 2023. Having played all his life, Tony decided to form a new band in the UK paying tribute to the legend that was Monty Sunshine, playing hot New Orleans style jazz with a mixture of Stomps; Blues; Marches and Spirituals, and music from the 20's; 30's; 40's; and beyond.

Tony Scriven Sunshine Jazz Band

The current line-up is Tim Asson on Clarinet (paying tribute to Monty); Peter Leonard on Trumpet and Vocals; Rob Pearce on Trombone; Bill Stagg on Banjo and Vocals; Paul Busby on Sousa; and Tony on Drums / Washboard and Vocals.

Tony Scriven Sunshine Jazz Band

Every club they have played so far, has been sold out with immediate rebookings. After a life of touring, Tony has decided to limit his gigs to London and the Home Counties. Currently, they can be heard and seen playing at all the major clubs in the area, including - Sidcup Jazz Club; Sylvie's Place Warlingham; Willingham Cambridge Jazz Club; Great Bookham Jazz Club; Colchester Jazz Club; Runnymede Jazz Club; Dunton Green, Riverhead Sevenoaks Jazz Club; Epsom Hot Jazz Club; Bexhill on Sea, with more to follow.

Tony Scriven Sunshine Jazz Band

Because so many of the bands on the UK circuit are playing in a more Dixieland or Mainstream style, The Sunshine Band wants to bring back that hot, ensemble music from the Crescent City of New Orleans where it all began all those years ago.

For details of any of these gigs, more information, or to book either band do not hesitate to email Tony on tony@sunshinejazz.co.uk or telephone 07729 373974 - you can also find details of the band's gigs on the Jazz Guide website at www.thejazzguide.co.uk

BOOK THE BANDS

Ready to bring the New Orleans sound to your event? Get in touch with Tony to discuss availability and bookings.

To book either band email tony@sunshinejazz.co.uk
or telephone 07729 373974.