The New Valley Stompers
The band formed forty three years ago in 1973 and has continued on in one form or another ever since and is now The New Valley Stompers.
Chris Caudwell - Trombone
Learned to play the trombone in Auckland as a teenager at secondary school and in brass bands. Gave up the trombone for thirty four years after playing in the National Youth Orchestra in 1962. Played guitar in a rock group in the mid sixties.
Dave Thompson - Clarinet
Played in dance bands with Brian Smythe and Graham Kelly, the New Zealand Air Force Band. went to the NZ School of Music after retiring from Pharmacy practice, studying Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Theory. Attended Jazz Summer School in France in 2009 and 2012.
Bill West - Cornet
His first gig was playing rock & roll in his teens; then played jazz on electric guitar with a trio in a pub in York in the United Kingdom. His first proper jazz band was in Zambia in his 20’s. Later moved to New Zealand, formed the Bill West Band Recently started playing again after a break of 20 years.
Brian Smythe - Banjo
Played keyboards for 10 years for Bourbon Street Beat, a 7-piece stage Band .Played keyboards in Nelson Operatic pit orchestra for 'West Side Story, Godspell and In the Mood review at Theatre Royal, also keyboards for many gigs in 1980-1982 with the Tim O'hara Band.
Roger Metcalfe - Sousaphone
Roger began his musical career in the UK learning piano and singing as a child. He is the only member who has survived for virtually the entire life of the band. He also plays blues and folk music in other groups.
Graham Kelly - Keyboard
Ran his own successful dance band in Wellington for 24 years. He played in the Bill West Jazz Band Played with his son Brian’s band “Hotter than Six” in Melbourne in the eighties and early nineties.
Barry Carter- Percussion
Barry plays several instruments including banjo, acoustic and bass guitars, as well as washboard and other percussion. Barry is also a skilled Sound Engineer .
Marian Price-Carter - vocal
Marian has been performing as a vocalist for over 20 years and is the most recent addition to The Stompers.. She also plays the recorder, mandolin and clarinet, for which she has developed a unique blues style.
