Richard Church - Trumpet/Cornet

I first started playing the cornet at school and then went on to play with brass bands, orchestras and dance bands. My love of New Orleans Jazz stems from my older brother, who recorded live bands in the 60's (on a little Phillips reel-to-reel), at 'Studio 5' in Norwich. I was an avid listener, but never actually played this style until the late 80s, when I began ‘sitting-in’ with local bands (Redbeans 'n' Rice included).

One day I was asked to do a ‘dep' and so started the steep learning curve. I was asked to join Redbeans after Vic Bevan left and now play with them every other week at Beccles. I also play on their other public and private gigs.

My greatest influences are Louis Armstrong, Kid Thomas, De De Pierce and strangely, Ruby Braff.