It was 3pm on an autumnal afternoon and we waited expectantly at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn, enjoying the good humoured banter between the folks who had settled in. Mad Ed's Hot Five were tuning up and almost ready to start their weekly Sunday afternoon trad jazz session.

One only has to read the Blue Bell's web site to understand that Trad Jazz wasn't just the only thing folks were here for: fun and laughter coupled with a superb selection of real ales and ciders made for an extremely convivial atmosphere.

The site says Roy Gregory needs little introduction to North West jazz fans as a ferociously driving one man rhythm section playing Djangoesque guitar and searing banjo... this man is seriously hot. Did I mention his limitless song repertoire? He knows 'em all.

Stan Williams has earned himself a reputation as a fine trumpet player and is much in demand. Fortunately he lives three miles away from the Blue Bell. He has a blue trumpet, we have no idea why.

Stan can sing too, but quite frankly, he never seems to know the words, keeps doing that skibbly skoobly oobly dah wah wah stuff.

Dr Tom Rippeth, a native of Royton but now resident but a cycle ride away from the Blue Bell, is a talented Tynesider playing trombone, Wagnerian horn, bass and piano and is mostly a sensible influence within the band. His proper job is calculating how hot and horrible global warming is going to get. What a little ray of sunshine he is.

Carol Horne, the splendid clarinettist, has revealed herself as a fine singer, delivering songs with enough passion and tenderness to bring forth a flood of tears from a glass eye.

Last is Ed Lloyd-Hughes, bass player. He first played in a trad band when he was young. He has the loudest voice in Wales, but not the sweetest, as he would admit himself.

On Sunday the fantastic Dave Hopkins (on clarinet and saxophone) ably deputised for Carol Horne, who was on tour in Ireland.

Next Sunday, Mad Ed's Hot Five is celebrating its first birthday at the Blue Bell Inn so a party is on the cards!

Steve Marquis