John Hallam

Born around 1947 in England, Hallam took up the clarinet at fourteen and performed with both military and dance ensembles before finishing school. He established the Blue Lotus Jazz Band alongside fellow musicians, an outfit that secured a mid-1960s engagement at London’s Royal Albert Hall; while in the capital the group also appeared as guests at the 100 Club. Between 1968 and the close of the 1980s he remained a member of Sheila Collier’s Smoky City Jazzband, touring Europe and contributing to recordings, broadcasts, and television programs. Once he left Collier’s organization, Hallam spent the 1990s working as a freelance musician alongside numerous British players—Alan Barnes, John Barnes, Campbell Burnap, Digby Fairweather, Denise Lawrence, Danny Moss, and Roy Williams—as well as American visitors Benny Carter, Al Grey, Randy Sandke, Clark Terry, and Allan Vaché.

In addition to clarinet, Hallam performs on flute and on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, favoring mainstream jazz and attracting a supportive following both at home and overseas. He directs his own Jazztet and the Just Jazz small ensembles, has appeared in the Riverboat Days duo with Jeff Barnhart, performed with Barnhart’s British Band, and participated in the Crazy Rhythm Trio alongside violinist Mike Piggott.