JULY birthdays were the theme that Mr. Peter Hardman chose for his Monday recital.

His reason for this choice? It is the month in which he himself was born and fortunately so was a whole host of jazz stars. It meant that we were able to hear a vast range of exciting music from the July birthday boys and occasional girl.

Soprano sax star Steve Lacey was first up with the Gil Evans orchestra's Ella Speed taken at fastish pace spurred along by drummer Nick Stabulas. Mel Lewis and Red Mitchell laid down an infectious beat for birthday tenors Richie Kamuca and Bill Perkins on Just Friends, who also popped up on the very lively It's All Right With Me.

A whole raft of players featuring on Remember Who You Are claimed July as their month of birth; Danny Barcelona, Billy Kyle, Joe Morello, Joe Darensbourg and Louis Armstrong, who his entire career claimed to have been born on July 4, but later research put his birth date as August 4.

There was a free-swinging solo from trumpeter Conte Candoli and some nice piano from Paul Moer on Some Good Fun Blues. The riff-based The Queen's Express swung all the way with excellent solos from July boys Earl Warren, Kenny Burrell and pianist Hank Jones.

Trumpeter Don Ellis was the celebrant in the Maynard Ferguson band as he and his fellow trumpeters tore up Three More Foxes while birthday girl Della Reese sang Thou Swell beautifully, backed by the Neal Hefti outfit Band leader Erskine Hawkins celebrated with After Hours, although the star of this track was the composer pianist Avery Parrish.

Charlie Christian's and Cootie Williams's birthdays were celebrated with their appearance with Benny Goodman and playing Wholly Cats.

Three excellent trumpeters were born in July. Johnny Cole's rejoicing took the form of an outstanding solo on Davenport Blues, and then the underrated Joe Thomas gave us a solid swinging solo on The Way You Look Tonight, which was followed by fervent playing from Lee Morgan on Boy, What A Night.

The light-toned tenor saxist Billy Usselton marked his birthday with an up-tempo Tangerine while the much bigger toned Plas Johnson rejoiced with his emphatic solo on Moten's Swing and bandleader Billy Eckstine turned blues shouter on Blowin' The Blues Away.

Another July band leader, Don Redmond, led his swinging big band with a rousing At The Swing Cats' Ball, which was followed by a trombonist speciality, Blue Lou, featuring the wonderful Carl Fontana.

Another July boy Bruce Turner was abused by the fans when he first appeared with Humphrey Lyttelton and labelled "the Dirty Bopper", the title he gave to the tune that Peter chose for us, but he eventually won them over with his exuberant jazz.

Bassist Leroy Vinegar was a bopper from the start and never suffered abuse for it and for his birthday treat Peter had him laying down a Latin rhythm on No Regrets.

Peter concluded his enjoyable look at July birthday celebrants with two big band numbers.

Ernie Wilkins led his all star outfit with a powerfully swinging Broadway and this was followed by Ken Hanna's Kenton-esque outfit taking us to Nirvana.

H.I.