Return to "Chatham Big Bands" page

Primitive Roots Jazz Band

The Chatham Concert Band is Canada's oldest (84 years) civic sponsored band. It has many separate groups within the band e.g. smaller groups that perform for on request functions, e.g. The Dixie Cats (Dixieland music), The Hungry Five Polka Band, The Jingle Bell Rovers Christmas Group and The Primitive Roots Jazz Band, an 18-piece stage band for dancing.

In the early 1980s when Phil Carney was the band master they had a swing band called The Stage Band. Later, under the direction of Vaughan Pugh the current bandmaster, became the Primitive Roots Jazz Band.

For many years they have played for dances, parades, and special events in Southwest Ontario. Recently the band has acquired the library and stands of the old Wilf Lancaster Band giving them much greater ability to fulfill a variety of functions.