Kenneth 'Edward' Colyer (, –, ) was a and , devoted totally to New Orleans jazz. His band was also known for interludes.

He grew up in in and was a member of a church choir. When his older brother Bill  went off to serve in he left his jazz records behind, which hooked Ken. He joined the at 17, travelled around the world and heard famous jazz musicians in and .

In the UK he played with various bands and joined, in 1949, the Crane River Jazz Band (CRJB) with , and . The band played at the on , in the presence of .

Parts of that group merged with other musicians to form the . Ken rejoined the and jumped ship to get to where he played with his idols in the where he was offered the job of lead trumpeter on a tour but was then put in prison and deported. Bill posted his famous letters from New Orleans on the door of Dobell's Jazz Record Shop—so he returned home to a crusader's welcome.

Ken was met at Southampton by brother Bill and Chris Barber. They had already contacted Ken and advised him that they had formed a co-operative band, originally intending to use Pat Halcox, but, at the time, he had decided not to turn professional.

The first Ken Colyer Jazzmen, therefore, was formed, with Ken on trumpet, Chris Barber on trombone, Monty Sunshine on clarinet, Ron Bowden on drums, Lonnie Donnegan on banjo and Jim Bray on bass. At the time Ken told the Melody Maker: "We are going to try to popularise New Orleans music without distorting it, aborting it, or slapping any gimmicks on it. I am pleased to be reunited with some of the old Crane River bandsmen, and very glad to have Ron Bowden who is the best British drummer I have played with." Certainly not the sentiments he was to express in just over a year’s time.

After a brief period of rehearsal, the band left for a tour of Denmark. They were well received, played at several locations, including the Storyville Club, and even commandeered the Landskrona ferry for a riverboat shuffle. During their stay in Copenhagen, the band was recorded and these recordings became the first releases on the Storyville label, released in the UK on the Tempo label.