Hi, my name is Claire Hamlin. I was born in 1969 in Essex, UK, and, as a
teenager, dreamed of being in a band. A few years of childhood classical
piano lessons had left me with some musical knowledge but no idea of how
to play anything other than written music. A love of blues and 50's
rock'n'roll helped me to gradually start to work out how to play and
improvise in this style, and, some years later, (hurray!) I joined my
first band, a rock'n'roll show playing mainly Elvis, also Jerry Lee, Carl
Perkins etc touring clubs and theatres in the UK. Something of a baptism
of fire!
At this time there was also a healthy local blues scene, and I enjoyed
some great jam sessions.
After 6 years I moved on to a new band, the Alabama Slammers. We played
Jump Jive (Louis Jordan style) and spent 5 busy years playing on the
rock'n'roll/jive scene. This gave my playing more of a swing boogie feel,
and I started to become more interested in Boogie Woogie and New Orleans
style piano.
The band split, re-forming as my current band, the Slammers Maximum Jive
Band, gigging here and occasionally in Europe, living my dream, loving it.
Lately I've become more and more addicted to Boogie Woogie Piano,
currently listening to the amazing Axel Zwingenberger/Big Joe Turner CDs,
wow! I've started to put together some solo pieces to play at local open
mic nights, always good fun, one day I hope to bump into Big Joe Turner
junior to sing along!
I was delighted to find a forum full of like-minded people to help me
learn, thanks for all the videos!
My band website is www.slammersmaxjive.co.uk
And myspace page www.myspace.com/clairepiano
On tyoutube I'm know as 88boogie
