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The Jives are an acoustic duo comprising Jeff Chapman on vocals and guitars and Al E.Bye on harmonica. In addition Pete Nash guests on piano on one track. The album contains thirteen tracks, all cover versions, which include Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would", Little Walter's "One Chance With You", SBW's "Wonderful Time", Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues" and Broonzy's "Key to the Highway". For good measure it also throws in a couple of Chuck Berry numbers and finishes with Holly/Petty's "Not Fade Away".

It is a pleasant, entertaining compendium of largely familiar blues numbers, very competently played with a distinctly good time feeling. Indeed, if the vocals were rather more scratchy, it could easily be Chas and Dave singing the blues.

The Jives at the Crown were great and played a cracking last gig of the night to a full house.

The Jives are Jeff Chapman, the front man with Essex high-energy r'n'b specialists the Roosters and Al E.Bye, harpist extraordinaire from the AM5. This duo is a rebirth of a format which was last seen on the circuit back in the 80's and from the evidence of this CD, one which has worn very well. The 13 track CD contains a great variety of covers ranging from Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would" a track which, according to the sleeve notes, the guys originally heard "by the Yardbirds, then made it our own", "Mystery Train" replete with wailing train siren harp, the folk blues "Riding in the Moonlight" to a pair of Chuck Berry's, the moody "No Money Down" and the classic "Maybelline". Along the way are such gems as the only track I know about a biscuit, the wonderfully amusing "Oreo Cookie Blues", and a stomping take on Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues" which the sleeve note suggests has "more than a hint of the Tom Robinson Band!" Also included is a lovely acoustic and very different version of the "Spider & the Fly", the flip side of of the Stones 1965 smash hit "Satisfaction", Broonzy's "Key to the Highway" which features some really great barrelhouse piano from the producer and engineer of the CD, the inimitable Pete Nash, plus the Holly/Petty classic made famous by the aforementioned Rolling Stones, "Not Fade Away". This is a really great collection that represents a veritable Who's Who of traditional Blues and r'n'b performed by two very talented musicians in a style that is always individual but always right. Jeff's voice is unmistakeable and his guitar playing offers great variety as he uses a selection of acoustic, Dobro and electric guitars. Because of the duo and acoustic nature of the CD, Al's harp playing is obviously more to the fore than in the setting of the AM5 and thus it is far easier to hear what a good player he is, whether providing rhythm backing or taking the lead. I can't wait to see them live!...........Ashwyn Smyth

Classic material and excellent musicians, these guys start off with the energy most bands aspire to at the end.

The Jives (Jeff Chapman & Al E.Bye) were the opening act with a fine set of good old r'n'b ranging from Chuck Berry to Mickey Jupp which seemed to reinforce what a good duo format this is. It works so well and has a definite individuality which is most appealing and entertaining. Blues Matters April '05

, if you like to be taken back to nights out in the smoky back room of your local spit'n'sawdust pub listening to a group of hirsute, nocturnal white boys who, when you closed your eyes, you could have sworn were black, this entirely likeable album of 'Essex Delta Blues' will make an effective conduit.

"Thank you very much indeed for a terrific line-up this year. We enjoyed Roland Chadwick on Friday evening at the Crows Nest, and the whole Saturday evening at the Red Lion with The Jives - a terrific performance by two great, approachable guys. Their live CD was worth buying too. Sonny Black on Saturday afternoon at the Kings Bar was wonderful, and the only disappointment of the weekend that we had was in not being allowed to sit in at the Moonlight Bistro to listen to him on Saturday evening due, apparently, to the licensing laws. His CD, 'The Blue Way', is essential listening, and accompanied me on the long, long drive to Rotterdam at 4 o'clock on Monday morning! The festival just gets better and better!! Many, many thanks"

THE JIVES @ New Crawdaddy Club, Billericay, 14/09/06 The Jives are an acoustic duo with Jeff Chapman on guitar and vocals and Al E. Bye on harmonica. Both musicians are very experienced and well known from previous bands. Most recently Jeff fronted The Roosters and Al was with the AM5. They have gained a healthy following at festivals all over the UK and some in Europe, but this was a rare local gig so too good to miss. Although not having seen them for two years I was aware that Jeff had moved from soft electric to electrified acoustic, but the set also turned out to be more varied than previously. The old predominance of the Feelgood factor was gone. They started in upbeat fashion with Ride Your Daddy Tonight. Al was prominent on harp with Jeff growling out some deep and earthy vocals. Freddie King’s ’The Boogie Man’ continued the up tempo feel, but a nice surprise was Guy Tortora’s ‘Early In The Morning’. Guy is very popular at the Crawdaddy so this was well received indeed and also provided a nice change of pace. Some fun was injected with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s ‘Travellin Mood’. Further variety came from the music of Chuck Berry, John Lee Sonny Boy Williamson, Carl Perkins and James Taylor. Appeasing the Feelgood fans was ‘Down To The Doctors’ and the evening closed with ‘Not Fade Away’. Overall this was a quality set by two very good players. Jeff takes all the vocals, but Al gave his all on harp. The duo have progressed significantly in the last two years…see them if you get the chance.
Alan Harvey

"Anyone expecting the usual run of the mill blues duo will be very surprised at the big sound these guys produce"

Jeff Chapman & Al e Bye have long been associated with the Crawdaddy having appeared many times with bands such as Jeff Chapman's Roosters, the AM5 and Hair of the Dog, but in my opinion, the Jives is the medium in which they are most relaxed and enjoy themselves the most.
This was very evident on Thursday last as they romped through a wonderfully varied set list which included numbers by Guy Tortora, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Mickey Jupp and even Patsy Cline! With Jeff's solid and exciting but never flashy guitar and Al's controlled yet individual harp playing, their set flew by all too quickly for the enthusiastic audience at the Club and demonstrated only too clearly why they are so much in demand on the festival and club circuit throughout the UK and Europe.
Add to the music the lovely explanations and introductions to the songs, such as Jeff describing one number as one they heard the "top harmonica player in Norway" play at a Belgian Club and so they wrote down the words and have been playing it since, and the fact that the guys so clearly really enjoy themselves, which adds even further to the audience's enjoyment and you have a cracking evening's entertainment.
Ashwyn Smythe

The Jives @Ruitery Complex -Vilvoorde 19 04 2008

Le Klaxon Blues Club , Houtem/Vilvoorde, a organisé ce samedi a last minute gig ,avec le British Blues band' The Jives'.
Suite à une annulation aux Pays-Bas ,il fallait ,in extremis, trouver un show à ces vieux briscards ,les gars du Klaxon ont dit OK.
Ils trouvent une fuifzaal dans le Ruiterij Complex (dans le magnifique 3 Fonteinen Park à Vilvorde),et 30 personnes se présentent aux guichets, pour voir le duo de vétérans blues.
Conditions difficiles:salle beaucoup trop grande,trop haute...ils ne joueront pas too loud pour éviter la reverb.Pas de pils non plus,le système de refroidissement des pompes est naze .De la Palm au menu...
A 21:30 ,ils ont une autre installation et free beer for everybody !Les English n'en reviennent pas ...Never seen in the U K,free beer...

The Jives
Leigh on Sea ,Essex!
Ou Jeff Chapman ,acoustic guitar & vocals et Al E Bye mouth harp.
Jeff est un vieux de la vieille:sideman pour Wilko Johnson(Dr Feelgood),fondateur des Roosters ,participation à des Cd's d'artistes divers (the Hise Brothers,among others),membre des Doctors Orders ...le British blues ,il connaît.
Al E Bye est un vieux compagnon de Jeff.Dans les early eighties ,ils étaient dans le groupe 'The Chicago Bearcats'.Il reste un Ep vinyl( chez Carve Up ),de cette époque pub/rock pur jus.
Al a son propre groupe, pratiquant un R'n B énergique ,les AM 5 .
Le duo tourne sans arrêt dans les clubs et festivals anglo-saxons.
21:45
On attaque un set plein d'adrénaline ,de dirty beer drinking blues ,de smoky backroom rock and roll.
'You got me up You got me down ...chante Jeff et l'harmonica de Al t'emmène dans les territoires visités par Little Walter ,les Red Devils ,Jimmy Reed ...High energy!
Droit à l'essentiel ,pas de fioritures.
'You can't judge a book by its cover' le typical Bo Didley sound,un shuffle infernal.
'Matchbox' Carl Perkins ,un rock saignant.
'Oh ,she's tuff' popularisé par les Fabulous Thunderbirds.Un rire satanique et un harmonica souverain.' Oh ,my baby ,she's tuff She ruff and tuff...ah ,les bonnes femmes!
Un petit Little Walter pour suivre'One more chance with you' du swing,baby.
'Travelling Mood' un country blues.On aura droit àtoute la panoplie !On voyage au creux du Tennesse en passant par l'Alabama.
La galère ,la vie de bluesman itinérant.
Robert Johnson 'Walking Blues', nerveux et saccadé.The right attitude ,the right feeling!
Hier ,ils jouaient à Anvers devant des kets de 12 ans ,qui ne sentaient pas cette musique.Je vous jure ,nous on le sent jusqu'aux os ,ce 'Baby ,please don't go'.
'Sweet Home Chicago' ,une petite leçon de calcul : 2 and 2 is 4...ça va ,même si t'es bourré!
Time for good old Chuck Berry' I gotta get me a car baby to cruise down the road....'Des caisses et des nanas :le rock ,c'est ça!
Elvis:'Mystery train':le 16 coaches s'arrête in Vilvoorde Station.Des fourmis dans les jambes!
Break -bar time!
The Jives vend ses 2 live CD's pour 10 €

Set 2
'Ridin in the Moonlight' Howlin Wolf .T'aimes pas ma bagnole ,baby?Viens faire un tour.
C'est reparti sur les chapeaux de roue .Blow ,Al,blow!
The Jives c'est la même histoire que les Feelgood,le Bluesband ,les Inmates ou les Hamsters...British blues at his best!
Chuck Berry,Muddy Waters,Sonny Boy Williamson ...que du bon dans leur répertoire.
'Early in the morning I ain't got nothing but the blues...le cafard en te levant ,tu broies du noir,t'es dans la merde ,t'as même pas a bullet à mettre dans ton pétard pour te flinguer:le blues,baby!
'Ain't got you' un vintage rock à la Vince Taylor.Une Maserati,des femmes à la pelle,mais c'est toi que je veux...de Calvin Carter.Eric Clapton la reprend également.
Un titre de Sonny Boy Williamson ,datant des années 30 'Wonderful time' .Une leçon d'histoire du blues passionnante.
'After Midnight' de Patsy Cline .Que bois -tu ,baby?Quelle question !Bourbon!
J L Hooker 'Madman's blues' avec voix d'outre -tombe.
Le pace ne faiblit pas ,du 100 miles /hour ,du début à la fin.
The Jives can jive!
Encore un petit rock :shake your hips ,baby...le rock ,c'est mieux qu'une séance chez le psy!Pas besoin de fitness ,bouge tes fesses ...
Un square-dance de Leadbelly.Un harmonica à la John Mayall ,et farandole chez Jean-Luc Dehaene!
'Retour au real rock :Buddy Holy 'Not fade away'.
Notre single ,airplay jusqu'en Croatie 'Shake, Rattle & Roll' ,bon conseil!
Ces gars se sont donnés comme si la salle était bondée.Une musique simple mais diablement vigoureuse.
La boisson aidant, quelques Teddy Bears et leurs chicks se sont mis à danser ,ils en veulent plus.
L'organisateur s'empare du micro et réclame un bis.
'Route 66':oublie Grimbergen,Strombeek,Wemmel...direction St Louis ...Un enchaînement avec 'Johnny B Good' et on revient sur la 66.
That's rock and roll!
Plus de 2 h de show ,thank you very much and good night.
The Jives sont le premier groupe signé pour le Klaxon Blues Festival en novembre.

Pas étonnant!

Michel Preumont

The Jives @ New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Harding Elms, Billericay, ESSEX. September 16th 2008. review by Mike Lightfoot
"Many of us were looking forward to seeing Trafficker, the band formed by Tommy Allen and indeed the anticipation for this gig was high. But then as they old saying goes every silver lining has a cloud.
Approximately 6:10 pm New Crawdaddy Club promoter Paul Dean received a phone call from a member of the band. Apparently the bands van had broken down on the way to Essex and they were unable to play.
A phone call to Jeff Chapman of the Jives saved the evening. However, a number of people had turned expecting to see Trafficker and were very disappointed to be told the bad news. Unfortunately they didn't stick around to see the Jives.
However, there's another old saying. Every cloud has a silver lining. Enter the Jives.
And for those who stayed we were served up a treat. Jeff Chapman, guitar and vocals and Al E Bye, Harmonica put on an impromptu set, totally off the cuff. A fine mixture of delta blues ( I'm Ready ) a breakneck speed version of Pick a Bale of Cotton, some Robert Johnson, Red Hot ( not as good as the Heaters ) Rock 'n' Roll ( Mystery Train ) Baby Please Don't Go ( better than the Heaters!!!!! ) and Jeff's irrepressible sense of humour, what was heading for a calamitous night turned out to be a superb night after all.
In fact, considering the circumstances I personally regard the Jives performance as one of the highlights of 2008.
So once again many many thanks to Jeff and Al E. You really did save the night for the club and for those who stayed."

6th Klakson Blues Festival -Eppegem -29 11 2008
Eppegem aan de Zenne,commune de l'entité de Zemst ,à quelques encablures de Vilvorde.
C'est dans la Rubenshofzaal ,grande salle derrière le café ,face à l'église,comme il se doit,que le Klakson Blues Club organise son festival n°6.
Excellente organisation,balance impeccable et équipe de bénévoles active.Un bémol ,la même chanson pour tous les blues festivals :un horaire flou et donc, une séance marathon te laissant sur les genoux.En sachant que la marée chaussée multiplie les contrôles ,t'as pas intérêt à te consacrer à la recrudescence nationale du taux de Maes consommée au m2.

19h50 ' THE JIVES

En avril les vieux routiers avaient donné un show explosif au Ruiterij complex ,le Klakson les a retenus pour leur festival.Jeff Chapman et Al E Bye n'ont pas rajeuni depuis ,mais la fougue est intacte.
High energy pubrock,rhythm'n blues ,blues or vintage r'n r.Tu veux du good time feeling rock'n roll ,tu sonnes chez The Jives.
C'est parti ...Baby,can you ride with daddy tonight? Howling Wolf 'Riding in the Moonlight' .La bagnole est rutilante,le moteur tourne nickel ,la highway pas encombrée , on fait un petit tour baby?
Tu montes dans la limousine avec Jeff et Al , bye bye Brussels ,en route pour l'Essex blues.
Bo Diddley 'You can't judge a book...' ,ne me juge pas sur l'apparence ,baby!
Un 'Baby please don't go' nerveux suit. Al arrache des lignes rugueuses de son mouth harp et Jeff se démène comme un teenager.
Pas encore beaucoup de monde dans le Rubenshof mais ça balance.
Robert Johnson 'Walking Blues' Al en vedette!
'Ain't got you' des tas de poupées me tournent autour ,baby ,mais c'est toi que je veux.J'ai tout,tout ,tout ,et je sais pas où aller coz I ain't got you.
'Wonderful time' Sonny Boy Williamson ,écrit dans les années 30.
Simplicité,efficacité,authenticité!
On passe au rock 'Matchbox' Carl Perkins. Un favori des fêtes foraines des fifties , auto-scooters et robes à pois.
'She's Tuff' avec ricanements caverneux.Place aux Teddy Boys 'Mystery Train' 1953 Junior Parker /Sam Phillips (Little Junior's Blue Flame) .1955 Elvis Presley ...train I ride 16 coaches long ..pas le TGV ,mais il avait emmené ma baby.
'I'm ready' Muddy Waters ,du Delta blues dans les lits de la Senne.
Que pensez-vous d'un bon vieux Chuck Berry?'No money down' pas trop connu ,mais juteux avec les accords de 'There's a riot going on'.
Shuffle time 'Sore up',qu'Omar & the Howlers a à son répertoire.
Un peu de country? 'Walking after Midnight' Patsy Cline . Dommage que les jambes de Jeff soient moins galbées que celles de la Virginia girl!