Nova Scotia Jazz Band

Nova Scotia Jazz Band

Nova Scotia Jazz Band is a jazz group that plays in the classic style associated with Eddie Condon, Muggsy Spanier, Bix Beiderbecke and Alex Welsh. The band’s line-up features Mike Daly on cornet, Duncan Findlay on banjo, Ken MacDonald on string bass, and John Burgess on clarinet and saxophones.

The group presents itself as a fresh approach to traditional jazz, with repertoire and performance style rooted in the Dixieland and swing tradition. Their sound is described in terms of direct, blues-influenced playing, with an emphasis on humour, creativity, and an upbeat, swinging feel.

Contemporary descriptions of the band highlight the interplay between Burgess’s clarinet and saxophones, Daly’s cornet, Findlay’s banjo, and MacDonald’s double bass, placing the group within the tradition of classic hot jazz ensembles.