Musician Profile

Band Info

Bill Phelan – Trumpet. Bill has been the leader of The Muskrat Ramblers Jazz Band since March 2006 and founder of The Hassocks Jazz Club in the same year, and has been resident at the club since its formation, prior to that it was resident for several years at The Mid Sussex Jazz Club. Bill took over the running of The Mid Sussex Jazz Club after ‘jumping’ Jack Gilbert died and continued to develop the club already so well developed by Jack. Bill has been a musician playing, trombone, trumpet, sousaphone and double bass since the 1950’s, starting with the Wood Green Excelsior Silver Band on G trombone and for a while in a 16 piece big band on double bass. He became interested in jazz in London about 1956 but always strictly amateur. Moved to Brighton in 1969 and played with most of the local bands ever since.