“It’s Trad, Dad!“ Reissue (2023)
In Europe, especially from the 1950s until the mid-1960s, the music scene was dominated by traditional jazz. This style of jazz was a variation that drew both on the Dixieland Revival of the late 1930s and the subsequent New Orleans Jazz Revival of the early 1940s in the United States.
Initially, this music was played by only a few bands in Great Britain. However, its breakthrough as the predominant music genre began with the early successes of Chris Barber, Mr. Acker Bilk, and Kenny Ball, along with their bands.
As influential bands, they largely shaped the further development of traditional jazz, which, unlike the American revivals, incorporated influences from other musical currents such as blues, rock, and pop. This specific British variant came to be known as Trad Jazz.
Trad Jazz was performed by a variety of bands, both professional and amateur. It gained popularity in clubs and concert halls, was recorded in radio stations’ studios such as the BBC to bebroadcasted live or with a time delay. It could also be heard and seen on television. Many of the numerous released records achieved high sales figures and ranked in the top of music charts.
Taking this development into account, the film industry did not remain untouched and sought to share in the successes of Trad Jazz. The most well-known example is the musical comedy “It’s Trad, Dad!” directed by Richard Lester and released by Columbia Pictures in 1962. The film depicted how two teenagers (played by Helen Shapiro and Craig Douglas) and their friends managed to organize a show featuring some Trad Jazz bands despite resistance from the mayor and a group of adults. The film mainly consisted of musical performances, which, unlike a traditional musical, had little to do with the plot. Prominent representatives of Trad Jazz such as Chris Barber, Mr. Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Bob Wallis, and Terry Lightfoot, among numerous other musicians and bands, were featured. Chris Barber’s Jazz Band performed with Ottilie Patterson and contributed the tracks “Down By The Riverside” and “When The Saints Go Marching In.” The film’s soundtrack was released on a long-playing record (Columbia 33SX1412).
The musical comedy “It’s Trad, Dad!” was released in the United States under the title “Ring – A – Ding Rhythm.” It has recently been reissued and is available for the first time on DVD and Blu-ray since February 2023. Thus, this film serves as a historical document of the enthusiasm for Trad Jazz during that time.
The reissue of “Ring – A – Ding Rhythm” on DVD and Blu-ray can be purchased from local and online retailers, as well as from well-known internet platforms.
Toni Ginsel, 18 March 2024