Musician Profile

Band Info

Annie Hawkins – Double bass. Annie Hawkins came from a family of classical musicians in her home town of Melbourne, Australia but began teaching herself to play jazz string bass during the late 1950’s. Annie left her studies at Melbourne University and emigrated to Britain in 1962 and continued her jazz apprenticeship sitting in with bands in London’s many jazz clubs. Eventually she joined the London City Stompers and went on in 1966 to become a founder member of the Max Collie Rhythm Aces – playing at one time alongside Graham Bell. Her emerging style of slap bass playing gained the attention and respect of musicians playing in the New Orleans tradition and during the 1970’s Annie recorded and played regularly with Ken Colyer. During the 1980’s Annie became a cornerstone in the band of long time friend and associate Sammy Rimington. This experience allowed Annie to further deepen her understanding of New Orleans Jazz by playing in Sammy’s band with many great New Orleans Jazz musicians including Kid Thomas, Louis Nelson, Mannie Paul, and Alton Purnell. Significantly, some of these New Orleans musicians took time out at festivals to listen to and approve of her playing. Annie left the band when Sammy emigrated to Sweden. Annie continued playing during the 1980’s working abroad in Europe and even in Borneo where a village chief offered to marry her! In the U.K. she worked in jazz clubs, and played commercial and private functions in the midlands with Roger Bird and Dave Vickers in a band called Spicey Advice. During the 1990’s, she worked with the Ken Colyer Trust band, recorded with Humphrey Lyttleton, and led her own band “Annie Hawkins New Orleans Legacy” which attracted acclaim in the UK and Europe. She also played in the Manchester based French Quarter along with her friend and admirer, drummer Ron Mckay. She appeared at many festivals with this band and also as a member of Taff Lloyd’s Ragtime Serenaders. Annie was also a founder member of Tony Scriven’s Yorkshire Stompers and played jazz clubs and festivals in the U.K. and Europe with this band. The next decade saw Annie become a founder member of American musicians Jim Fryer and Jeff Barnhart Fryer-Barnhart International Allstars.