About Taff Lloyd

A self‑taught musician Taff Lloyd born in January 1938, hails from "The Last of the Summer Wine" area, in West Yorkshire, England.  His interest in playing drums started in 1952 after hearing Baby Dodds playing "The Darktown Strutters Ball" on a 1944 Bunk Johnson recording on BBC radio. At the age of 16 years he played drums with his first band the "Canal Street Jazz Band" and for a couple of years he also played banjo with several Huddersfield based skiffle groups. Coming from a soccer playing family his interest at that time was mainly playing soccer, but the urge to play New Orleans music was always a prominent feature in his mind, a pair of drum sticks, a banjo or guitar and his treasured New Orleans jazz records were always close at hand. In the mid 60's he moved to work in South Africa, playing little but gaining from the roots the African rhythmic influence and the feel. On his return in the 70's he joined Dennis Armstrong's Quartet and Jazz Band playing banjo, later he joined the Ed O'Donnell Jazz Band from Leeds playing both drums and banjo, staying with that band for four years. In 1980 once again he left the UK to live in South Africa and again it was the same story - playing little, but most important being able to listen, study, absorb and play whenever possible the wonderful rhythmic music of Africa - This African apprenticeship can be heard in his playing.

On his return to the UK in 1986 again he joined the legendary Ed O'Donnell Jazz Band. In 1990 Taff decided to travel more and accept offers to guest and play with other bands. Amongst those bands were Brian Carrick's Heritage Hall Stompers, Savannah Jazz Band, Sonny Morris' Delta Jazz Band, Phil Mason's New Orleans All Stars, Rod Chambers and his Louisiana Joymakers, from Scotland George Penman's New Orleans All Stars and Bill Salmond's Louisiana Ragtime Band and from Australia the Sydney Zenith Jazz Band. After his first gig with Brian Carrick he was asked to join the band - he accepted and has played and recorded with Brian's Heritage Hall Stompers for lengthy periods since.

During that busy period Taff found time to form two fine New Orleans style bands,  "La Harpe Street Jazzmen" playing every Tuesday evening at "Gildersome Lodge" near Leeds, in the ten years residency there, many fine guests appeared with his band, it is almost impossible to list them all :‑ Tommy Burton, Ed O'Donnell, Christine Tyrrell, Chris Blout, Big Bill Bissonnette, Brian Carrick, Trevor Williams, Phil Mason, Mick Bums, Annie Hawkins and from New Orleans Walter Lewis. The other band being a festival and touring band "Taff s Ragtime Serenaders" This band over a period of around ten years boasted some fine New Orleans style jazz musicians, being firm favourites with all New Orleans jazz fans, they were very successful with appearances at jazz festivals in Bude, Keswick and Glossop, they also made a successful trip in 1999 to Scandinavia performing in Copenhagen and Gothenburg.

In May 2000 Taff retired from his day job and moved to live in Denmark, there he played with local bands and musicians in the Copenhagen area. That year he received a call from Big Bill Bissonnette of Jazz Crusade Recordings. The call was inviting Taff to record with Gregg Stafford, Dr. Michael White and Jaques Gauthe in New Orleans - These recording sessions were to become some of the finest produced by Bill Bissonnette for Jazz Crusade.

2001on his next visit to New Orleans whilst playing alongside Norman Thatcher and his wife Sarah at Fritzels European Jazz Pub down Bourbon Street, the idea to form a new band arose, they had the nucleus of a band but a clarinet, trombone and string bass were needed to complete the classic line‑up. Keith Box, Jeff Milner and Peter Wright required no persuasion; This new band was to become "Taff`s New Orleans Stompers" playing in the in style of the early George Lewis and Bunk Johnson bands, over the band's three years existence they recorded twice: "Echoes Of The Crescent City" (PKCD ‑ 196) on PEK Records and "Carrying The Torch" (Taco Sound CD‑0 16) on TACO Recordings (DK).

In 2002 after more than forty years as one of the most respected New Orleans style drummers in Europe, Søren "Doc" Houlind based in Copenhagen formed a new band "Doc Houlind International New Orleans Style Jazz Band". For Søren it had been life‑long ambition to front a band, not from his usual drum chair but by playing trumpet. The opportunity to form this new band and play trumpet arose when he heard that Taff was now a Danish resident and available to join him. Six months later the young trombonist Mike Owen also joined Søren. This band has developed into one of finest in Europe playing authentic New Orleans style jazz. Within a short time besides playing at many Danish clubs, pubs and festivals this band has appeared at venues in Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Holland, Thailand and Syria, with tours in 2005 being arranged to visit  China, Norway, Luxembourg and once again Syria.

Taff is also featured with the popular up and coming Copenhagen based band, New Orleans Gumbo, who play local club and pub gigs and have a regular monthly sell-out gig at the "Kræmmercaféen" in Herringløse, a small village on the outskirts of Copenhagen.