Kit Packham’s One Jump Ahead

Kit is a bandleader, singer, saxophonist, composer, record producer and manager, with red hot material, irresistible rhythms and good humoured vocals. Kit’s ensemble, One Jump Ahead, were dubbed by Time Out ‘class exponents of the jump jive oeuvre.’

WHAT’S GOT 14 LEGS, 3 HORNS AND OVER 200 TEETH?

The answer is a uniquely entertaining 7-piece band called One Jump Ahead. They’ve also got over a hundred songs in their repertoire to get people dancing and enjoying themselves! They have wowed audiences from Islington to Israel, Clerkenwell to County Cork and from Docklands to Deutschland!

One Jump Ahead are led by singer, saxophonist and songwriter, Kit Packham. The rest of the band consists of: piano, guitar, bass, drums, trumpet and another saxophone. 40’s jump/jive star Louis Jordan used an identical format and the swinging tempos, sizzling sax solos and humour of his songs are equally abundant in Kit’s own critically acclaimed material. The rest of the repertoire stretches from Fats Waller to Fats Domino taking in Duke Ellington, T-Bone Walker and Jon Hendricks among others.

Although the band take their inspiration from the 1940s, they are playing for the sophisticated jazz audiences of today. 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. The successful revival of Jordan’s music in Five Guys Named Moe showed that people still love to party!

The good-time atmosphere was apparent on their debut album On The Shady Side Of The Street released under their earlier name Kit Packham & The Sudden Jump Band. They became One Jump Ahead in the early 90s. This was also to be the title of their next album, released in 1992. By now, Kits songwriting skills were fully honed and the 8 pieces he composed for the project drew the phrases “quite superb”, “the best R’n’B lyricist in the country” and “notable contributions to the genre”, from the critics. Their latest album, From Top to Toe, came out in 1999 to further rave reviews. “Packham….confirms his position at the very top of the compositional tree…”, “..classic R&B..” and “..top-class playing…” were some of the comments this time.

“You guys have sure done your homework!” were New Orleans singer/pianist Frankie Ford’s words after the band accompanied him during his 1992 European tour. Paul Jones also praised them after their session for his R&B programme on BBC Radio 2. When they broadcast live from GLR for Mary Costello her comment was “Absolutely brilliant!” Listeners to Jazz FM, RTM, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and BBC Radio Kent will have heard interviews with Kit, and Blues magazine Blueprint featured One Jump Ahead in its ‘Best of British’ series. Book them NOW and find out just how good they are!

What The Papers Say:

‘Class exponents of the jump-jive ouevre’ – Time Out

‘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

One Jump Ahead Repertoire

 

1 Is You Is Or Is You Aint My Baby – Louis Jordan

2 Choo Choo Ch’Boogie – Louis Jordan

3 Night Train – Jimmy Forrest

4 Call The Police – Nat King Cole

5 Aint Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Louis Jordan

6 Is There A Doctor In The House – Kit Packham

7 It Should Have Been Me – Ray Charles

8 Gimme That Wine – Jon Hendricks

9 Red Top – Lionel Hampton

10 Early in the Mornin – Louis Jordan

11 I Will Not Be Your Fool – David Bromberg

12 Your Feets Too Big – Ink Spots

13 Straighten Up & Fly Right – Nat King Cole

14 On Broadway – Drifters

15 Three Cool Cats – Coasters

16 Hatchet Man – Robins

17 Java Jive – Ink Spots

18 Honey Just Allow Me 1 More Chance – Bob Dylan

19 Reet Petite & Gone – Louis Jordan

20 Big Ten Inch Record – Bullmoose Jackson

21 Shake Rattle & Roll – Joe Turner

22 You 0ughta Steer Clear of the Water – Kit Packham

23 Aint That Just Like A Woman – Louis Jordan

24 Until the Real Thing Comes Along – Billie Holiday

25 Dont Get Around Much Any More – Duke Ellington

26 I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

27 Seven Come Eleven – Benny Goodman

28 Need Your Love So Bad – Little Willie John

29 Hit That Jive Jack – Nat King Cole

30 Pennies From Heaven – Louis Prima

31 Summertime – George Gershwin

32 Doctor Jump & Sister Jive – Kit Packham

33 What’s the Use of Getting Sober – Louis Jordan

34 Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style – Bullmoose Jackson

35 Jump Jive & Wail – Louis Prima

36 Sure Had A Wonderful Time Last Night – Louis Jordan

37 Caldonia – Louis Jordan

38 Minnie the Moocher – Cab Calloway

39 Sneaky Pete – Bullmoose Jackson

40 Romance Without Finance – Tiny Grimes

41 Everybody Eats When They Come to My House – Cab Calloway

42 Mary Ann – Ray Charles

43 My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone

44 Tequila – Champs

45 Messin’ With The Kid – Junior Wells

46 Outskirts of Town – Jay McShann

47 Framed – Robins

48 Filthy McNasty – Horace Silver

49 Last Time I Saw Jeanine – Eddie Jefferson

50 Bloodshot Eyes – Wynonie Harris

51 On The Shady Side of the Street – Kit Packham

52 Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley

53 Barnyard Boogie – Louis Jordan

54 Harlem Nocturne – Earle Hagen

55 Busted – Ray Charles

56 Trick Bag – Earl King

57 It Don’t Mean A Thing – Duke Ellington

58 Route 66 – BobbyTroupe

60 I Live The Life I Love – Willie Dixon

61 Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Fats Waller

62 I Missed My Turning – Kit Packham

63 It Had To Be You – Frank Sinatra

64 When I Was In France With Frances – Kit Packham

65 Don’t Bother Me No More – Mongo Santamaria

66 Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk

67 Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino

68 Georgia – Hoagy Carmichael

69 All of Me – Billie Holiday

70 Margarita! – Kit Packham

71 On The Sunny Side of the Street – Louis Prima

72 Three Handed Woman – Louis Prima

73 One Jump Ahead – Kit Packham

74 Hot Licks Cold Liquor & Warm Hearted Women – Kit Packham

75 But I Was Cool – Oscar Brown Jr.

76 Lemonade – Louis Jordan

77 The Last Meal – Hurricane Harry

78 Who Drank My Beer – Dave Bartholomew

79 Worksong – Oscar Brown Jr.

84 Saturday Night Fish Fry – Louis Jordan

85 Let the Good Times Roll – Louis Jordan

86 I Want You to Be My Baby – Louis Jordan

94 Five Guys Named Moe – Louis Jordan

95 My Girl Josephine – Fats Domino

98 I Know Your Wig Has Gone – T-Bone Walker

99 How Come You Ain’t Rich? – Louis Jordan

100 Dixie Chicken – Little Feat

101 Nutella the Hun – Kit Packham

102 Caravan – Duke Ellington

103 I Can’t Get Started – Billie Holiday

104 Nadine – Chuck Berry

105 In The Mood – Glenn Miller

106 Honeysuckle Rose – Fats Waller

107 Moon River – Andy Williams

108 I Wanna Be Like You – Louis Prima

109 Lets Stay Together – Al Green

110 What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

111 Love Is Here To Stay – Billie Holiday

112 Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole

113 Midnight Hour – Wilson Picket

114 Knock On Wood – Eddie Floyd

115 Under the Boardwalk – Drifters

116 Makin’ Whoopee – Frank Sinatra

117 Dancing In The Street – Martha Reeves

118 Barefootin’ – Robert Parker

119 I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown

120 One Mint Julep – Ray Charles

121 T’Aint Nobodys Bizness If I Do – Bessie Smith

122 Hi Heel Sneakers – Tommy Tucker

123 Pink Champagne – Joe Liggins

124 Flip, Flop & Fly – Joe Turner

125 Willie & the Hand Jive – Johnny Otis

126 I Aint Got Nothin But The Blues – Duke Ellington

127 It Ain’t Broke – Kit Packham

128 All Around the World (Grits Aint Grocery) – Lou Rawls

129 I’m Walkin’ – Fats Domino

130 True Love – Bing Crosby

131 As Time Goes By – Dooley Wilson

132 The Lady is a Tramp – Frank Sinatra

133 Just a Gigolo/I Aint Got Nobody – Louis Prima

134 Good Mornin’ Judge – Wynonie Harris

135 Couch Potato – Kit Packham

136 Why Keep a Dog & Bark Yourself? – Kit Packham

137 Closer to the Bone – Louis Prima

138 A Perfect Day – Lou Reed

139 This Guys In Love With You – Herb Alpert

140 We Have All the Time in the World – Louis Armstrong

141 It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones

142 Soul Limbo – Booker T & the Mgs

143 My Baby Said Yes – Louis Jordan & Bing Crosby

144 Rhythm With My Blues – One Jump Ahead

145 From Top to Toe – One Jump Ahead

146 Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra

147 My Girl – Otis Redding

148 Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Glenn Miller

149 Stompin’ at the Savoy – Erroll Garner

150 That Ole Devil Called Love – Billie Holiday

151 The Big Swingin’ Dick – One Jump Ahead

152 Jumpin’ on the Bandwagon – One Jump Ahead

153 Sad Times. Co. UK – One Jump Ahead

154 Talk, Talk, Talk – One Jump Ahead

155 We Don’t Normally Work This Cheap – One Jump Ahead

156 Shakin’ Like a Jelly – One Jump Ahead

157 I Don’t Want No Junk Mail – One Jump Ahead

158 The Simple Things In Life – One Jump Ahead

159 Tarmac Jack – One Jump Ahead

160 Fried Bananas – One Jump Ahead

161 Cleaning Up My Act – One Jump Ahead

162 The Blues Is In My Blood – One Jump Ahead

163 Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett

164 The Chicken & the Hawk – Joe Turner

165 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Van Morrison

166 Brown eyed Girl – Van Morrison

167 Stray Cat Strut – Stray Cats

168 I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You – Elvis Presley

169 A Kiss to Build a Dream On – Louis Armstrong

170 I Can’t Give You Anything But Love – Billie Holiday

171 They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Fred Astaire

172 A Wink & A Smile – Harry Connick Jr.

173 Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & the Waves

174 Chartreuse – Louis Jordan

175 Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

176 You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry

177 Be My Guest – Fats Domino

178 Blue Monday – Fats Domino

179 Moondance – Van Morrison

180 Twistin’ the Night Away – Sam Cooke

181 Dance the Night Away – Mavericks

182 I Saw Her Standing There – Beatles

183 Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin

184 We Are In Love – Harry Connick Jr.

185 New York, New York – Frank Sinatra

186 Mack the Knife – Frank Sinatra

187 I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra

188 Beyond the Sea – Charles Trenet

189 Hello Dolly – Louis Armstrong

190 My Babe – Little Walter

191 Satin Doll – Duke Ellington

192 Have You Met Miss Jones – Frank Sinatra

193 Take the A Train – Duke Ellington

194 Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller

195 The Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison

196 My Funny Valentine – Miles Davis

197 Every Time We Say Goodbye – Sarah Vaughan

198 Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes – Dean Martin

199 I Love Paris – Ella Fitzgerald

200 Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra