In 1954 the members of Ken Colyer's Jazzmen split from Ken Colyer and became Chris Barber's Jazz Band. They have been one of Europe's most successful traditional jazz bands ever since. 　　Over the years, Chris Barber's Jazz Band evolved into The Chris Barber Jazz And Blues Band, an eight-piece group, mixing the styles of blues and jazz. The demarcation of this transition is March 1973. 　　At the end of 2001 Chris extended his band with three more musicians into The Big Chris Barber Band.