b. c. 1947, England. Playing clarinet from the age of 14, Hallam was in military and dance bands while still at school. He co-founded the Blue Lotus Jazz Band, whose appearances included a mid-60s gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall. During their visit to the capital, the band played a guest spot at the 100 Club. From 1968 until the end of the 80s, Hallam was with Sheila Collier’s Smoky City Jazzband, playing in Europe and on record, radio and television. After quitting Collier, Hallam freelanced through the 90s with numerous UK jazz musicians, such as Alan Barnes, John Barnes, Campbell Burnap, Digby Fairweather, Denise Lawrence, Danny Moss and Roy Williams, and with visiting US jazzmen, including Benny Carter, Al Grey, Randy Sandke, Clark Terry and Allan Vaché. Hallam, who also plays flute, soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, shows preference for mainstream jazz and has gained an approving audience in the UK and beyond. Hallam leads his Jazztet and the Just Jazz small groups and has played in the duo, Riverboat Days, with Jeff Barnhart, and in the latter’s British Band, and in the Crazy Rhythm Trio with violinist Mike Piggott.