“Luscious renditions of jazz standards from greats including Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.” Ammar Kalia, The Guardian
The Down for the Count All-Stars are a mini big band who bring the sounds of the Swing Era back to life, with an electrifying show full of incredible energy and musicianship. Since bursting onto the scene at Twinwood Festival in 2013, Down for the Count All-Stars have quickly earned themselves a reputation as one of the hardest swinging bands in the UK. They are constantly in demand, regularly selling out shows at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Hideaway Streatham, Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, Le Caveau de la Huchette (Paris) and The London Jazz Festival.
Down for the Count started life as a group of school friends in Buckinghamshire in 2005, in the inspiring environment of the Aylesbury Music Centre. The band’s musical director Mike Paul-Smith explains, “all of us took part in student orchestras and jazz bands and had amazing opportunities to perform at places like The Royal Albert Hall, on tour at The North Sea Jazz Festival, and at great concerts with famous jazz artists. Without the fantastic environment at our local music centre, we never would have had the idea to form the band and try to do the same sort of thing ourselves.”
Now the All-stars are just one of the line-ups that this group of friends form up in to delight audiences up and down the country. I can say that hand on heart because I have seen them live in concert. They are a group of friends for when they are on stage and doing something they have a passion for, and when you have a passion for your job the result is magical, and they are 100%. It was one of the concepts that Mike Paul Smith the Down for the Count founder & conductor was keen to stress when we chatted.
“I don’t view the vocalists as being separate from the band, we are all band members, some pay instruments, some sing“. There is a healthy banter between everyone, and that is what creates the marvellous laid back atmosphere of a Down for the Count gig. Speaking of health reminds me, Mike Paul Smith originally was intending on a career in medicine and actually studied gene therapy and thought about a career down that route, keeping music as a relaxing hobby.
“ However, I was finding that each year we were getting more and more performance opportunities, so I made the decision to concentrate on music full-time about six years ago – and haven’t regretted the decision yet! Each year brings new special memories – in 2018 we had a 3-night residency at Le Caveau de la Huchette in Paris, Europe’s oldest jazz club and the club featured at the end of the film La La Land.“
“Then in 2021, we performed to 10,000 people at an outdoor concert where we were supporting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s been a fantastic journey and we feel so lucky to be able to perform in front of so many people, and to share the joy of live swing and music.” For your chance to catch the Down for the Count All-Stars at a venue near you, please check on their website.
