Hot Jazz, Warm Feet

John Chilton has gained an international reputation as a jazz biographer, having written acclaimed books on Sidney Bechet, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Bob Crosby, Louis Jordan, Henry Red Allen and Roy Eldridge. His lively autobiography not only reveals the fascinating background to his jazz researches but also shines a bright light on his many years as a professional jazz musician. For thirty years he led the Feetwarmers backing singer George Melly, sharing escapades that took them all over the world. Before working with George, he was in Bruce Turner s Jump Band and also led the Swing Kings which backed many visiting American jazz stars. He has dedicated his life to jazz, both as a player and as an author in 2000 he was voted Jazz Writer of the Year and his story is full of anecdotes and revelations about the many British and American musicians he has known. George Melly has described him as an anecdotalist of genius .