Traditional, "trad", "good-time" New Orleans/Chicago jazz: even "pub jazz". Call it what you like, its audience appeal lies in its unmistakeable swing, catchy tunes, sassy lyrics, foot-tapping rhythms and an infectious sense of fun.
A fellow-jazzer said to Bernard recently, "You can't play this stuff without a smile on your face." He was right: think 1920s/30s Louis Armstrong, with Fats Waller, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington and Great American Songbook repertoire (Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald) thrown into the mix. Closer to home, picture the British jazz revival of the 1950s-70s with its "trad" bands such as those of Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, Alex Welsh et al, none taking themselves too seriously.
Bernard Trafford has loved playing and singing jazz since he discovered it more than 50 years ago. Three's Company is the name of the small Oxford-based band that he takes out nowadays, most often as a trio, though it's a flexible group that will readily stretch at need to a quartet or quintet, recognising that events and venues vary hugely in scope and scale.
This is classic traditional jazz/swing: authentic and addictive without slavishly following any particular formula. The band comprises excellent musicians who play because they love it. You can get a hint of what it sounds like from some video-clips snatched at live gigs: click on the blue titles in the text below.
A 2026 open-air performance at a private wedding party furnished an opportunity to catch the band in classic trio (trumpet, guitar, string bass) format playing some cool, understated background music: catchy American Songbook number I'm beginning to see the light and Duke Ellington's subtle In a mellow tone both caught the attention of the highly appreciative guests.
Honeysuckle Rose sees the same trio in a pub setting, paying tribute to Fats Waller: while Waller's I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter was caught at a wedding in Summer 2025, the band playing as a quartet.
The band is adaptable. In a moment, the place of the string bass is taken by a tuba!
Meanwhile, Everybody loves my baby features the band as a full quintet, playing at a private garden party in July 2025.
Of course, jazz musicians get around, and you'll often see many of the same players featuring in bands under other names. So you may catch Bernard joining guitarist Will Arthur at the latter's weekly Tuesday evening jazz sessions at Oxford's famous Bear Inn - with Terry Davis on bass.
Jazz at The Bear Inn, Oxford
The historic city centre pub attracts an appreciative all-age crowd, encouraging great evenings of jazz, as these two tracks, from 2025 and 2026, demonstrate: As Long as I Live is a gentle mid-tempo number (with, in the background, our friend George Taylor sitting in on trombone), while Basin Street Blues is a self-indulgent, nostalgic (seven-minute!) visit to New Orleans.
Will (of course) lends his name to The William Arthur Trio, in which Bernard played at The Harcourt Arms in August 2026, with Esther Ng on bass.
This was the first time that the well-known Saturday music venue in Jericho, Oxford, had booked jazz. Judging by the rapturous audience reaction, it won't be the last.
Please use the Contact page to reach Bernard Trafford about booking the band.