John 'Tidge' Riches - Bb & Eb Clarinet,  Alto & Tenor Sax

I have been playing clarinet off and on since the fifties mostly in New Orleans-style bands in East Anglia. Like others in the band, I was hooked on New Orleans jazz way back in the fifties. Ever since, off and on, I have been trying to play this simple (but so difficult to get right) music, mostly on clarinet, but also saxophone, in New Orleans style bands in East Anglia.

My chief influences are inevitably the various George Lewis bands, and also the rhythmic saxophone styles of John Handy, Emanuel Paul, and the R & B and Rock 'n Roll players of the fifties

For the enthusiasts, I play a B&H 1010 clarinet and a 1950's "The Martin" alto saxophone.