Big Band Scene (Jan. 2019)
The January Big Band Scene has a tradition, dating back almost a third of a decade, listing the big bands active in the county. Here is the list prepared for the January 2019 issue. Including websites & Facebook addresses, where known and contact details.
Sussex Big Bands – January 2019
Bands with a more or less conventional line-up.
Big Band Sounds
Contact: Darren Vassie, darrenvassie@googlemail.com
Bognor Regis Big Band
Contact: Mike Bosley, 01243 821434, mikebosley@hotmail.co.uk
Brighton Jazz Mafia Big Band
brightonjazzmafia.com
www.facebook.com/BrightonJazzMafia
Contact: Alex Bondonno, 07941 971411, alex@bigbandjazz.co.uk
ConChord Big Band
Contact: Frank Osborne, 01342 322646, info@conchordbigband.com
Happy Days Big Band
www.facebook.com/Happy-Days-Big-Band
Contact: Chris Merryfield-Day, 07910 127785, chrisjmday@hotmail.co.uk
JL Dance & Swing Band
www.facebook.com/JL-Dance-And-Swing-122255671033/
Contact: James Lelean, jlmusic@gmx.co.uk
Phoenix Big Band
http://www.phoenix-bigband.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/ThePhoenixBigBand
Contact: Debby Wells, Deborah.Wells@mercer.com
Ska-Kestra
www.facebook.com/Ska-Kestra-148154381911545/
Contact: Peter Thompson, 07855 008116, contactpeter@btinternet.com
Some Like It Hotter
Contact: Jo Wood, 07545 305690, jowood01@gmail.com,
Sounds of Swing
www.soundsofswingbigband.moonfruit.com
Contact: Chris Tanner, 07769 789225 / 07860 182734', chris.j.tanner@live.co.uk
Sussex All-Stars Big Band
www.sussexallstarsbigband.co.uk
Contact: Peter Blackmore, 01323 764192, p_blackmore@hotmail.com
The BYG (Bells Yew Green) Big Band
www.facebook.com/thebygbigband
Contact: Karen Wardrop, enquiries@thebygbigband.co.uk.
The Brighton Big Band
brightonbigband.blogspot.co.uk
www.facebook.com/The-Brighton-Big-Band-109421702472952/
Contact: John Lake, 07950 317496, johnbruce_@hotmail.com
The CH Big Band
Contact: Christ’s Hospital School, Horsham, 01403 211293
The Fred Woods Big Band
www.facebook.com/fredwoodsbigband
Contacts: Richard Guest, richard.guest6@btinternet.com,
Bill Woods, 07776 200586, billwoods245@aol.com
The Horsham RBL Legionnaires Big Band
Contact: Richard Guest, richard.guest6@btinternet.com
The Johnny Spice Swing Orchestra
www.facebook.com/JohnnySpiceSwingOrchestra/
Contact: Paul Hyde, 01273 516632, Paul.hyde@talktalk.net,
The JP Big Band
Contact: Jim Prior, jamesprior1908@gmail.com
The Les Paul Big Band
www.facebook.com/jazzyfunkster.jazzyfunkster
Contact: Steve Paul, 01273 509631’ steven_paul1@yahoo.co.uk com
The Maestro Big Band
www.facebook.com/The-Maestro-Big-Band-319021478233425/
Contact: Paul Boswell, 01273 517999, paul@maestronewhaven.co.uk
The One World Jazz Orchestra
(pictured, above, in rehearsal)
www.facebook.com/oneworldorchestra/
Contact: Paul Nieman, 01273 256521 / 07706 165768, paultnieman@gmail.com
The Perdido Players’ Swing Band
www.facebook.com/Perdido-Players-1514229442198744/
Contact: Peter Swann, 01444 450335, heapetsw@gmail.com.
The Ron Green Big Band
rongreenbigband.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/rongreenbigband/
Contact: Ron Green, 01798 813008 / 07752 405493, rongreen980@btinternet.com
The Ronnie Smith Big Band
Contact: Rod Burrows, 01903 783053, rod@burrowshome.co.uk
The Simon Bates Big Band
Contact: Simon Bates, 07739 231467, info@simonbates.co.uk
The South Coast Big Band
www.southcoastbigband.co.uk
Contact: Duncan J. Reeks, 01323 767804/ 07721 184031, djreeks@btinternet.com
The Studio 9 Orchestra
www.studio9orchestra.com
www.facebook.com/studio9orchestra/
Contact: s9orchestra@gmail.com
The Sussex Jazz Orchestra
a18462.wixsite.com/sussex-jazz-orch
www.facebook.com/Sussex-Jazz-Orchestra-SJO-299962200055146/
Contact: Patrick Billingham, 07812 418560, g8aac@yahoo.co.uk
The Sussex Universities’ Big Band
sussexbigband.co.uk
www.facebook.com/sussexunibigband
Contact: sussexbigband@gmail.com
The Swingshift Big Band
www.swingshiftsussex.co.uk
Contact: Jonathan Bailey, 01825 872574, swingshift4u@hotmail.com
The Tony Strudwick Big Band
www.tonystrudwick.co.uk
Contact: Tony Strudwick, 01903 764328, tonystrudwick@msn.com
Bands with less conventional line-ups.
Saxshop
www.facebook.com/saxshopbrighton
Contact: Beccy Rork, beccyrork@gmail.com
Seaford Rock & Jazz Orchestra
www.seafordrockandjazz.co.uk
Contact: Pat White, 01323 897360 thewhites@pwhiteseaford.co.uk
The Downsbeat Swing Band
Contact: Steve Field, 07729 890174 stevefield46@hotmail.co.uk
The Swingin’ Saxophone Big Band
www.facebook.com/theswinginsaxophonebigband/
Contact: Karen Wardrop, karen.wardrop@btopenworld.com.
The Wacky Band
www.facebook.com/TheWackyBand
Contact: Graham Stephens, thewackyband@outlook.com.
or Paul paul@classicbikes-sussex.co.uk.
Trees
www.facebook.com/treesensemble
Contact: Terry Pack, 07801 482984, tpfeedback@hotmail.com.
Big Band Gigs and Events for January – Early February
([R] means a residency)
Wednesday 2nd January.
[R] 8:30 pm, The Fred Woods Big Band at the Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1TE (01403 254628). £2 (Club members free.)
Sunday 6th January.
[R] 12:45 – 3:00 pm, Sounds of Swing Big Band at The Horseshoe Inn Hotel, Posey Green, Windmill Hill, Herstmonceux, East Sussex BN27 4RU (02035 645225). Free entry.
Monday 7th January.
[R] 8:00 – 10:30 pm, The Rox Sessions Live at ‘The Hoff’. Bognor Regis Big Band open rehearsal at the Hothampton Arms, London Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1PR, (01243 821434). Free entry with collection for the Rox music charity.
Tuesday 8th January.
[R] 8:00 – 10:30 pm, The Ronnie Smith Big Band at The Humming Bird Restaurant, Main Terminal Building, Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, BN43 5FF (01273 452300). Free entry with collection.
Friday 25th January.
[R] 8:30 – 11:00 pm, The Les Paul Big Band (Family & Friends evening) in Patcham, BN1, £5. For further details contact Steve (01273 509631) steven_paul1@yahoo.co.uk (Bring your own refreshments.)
Sunday 3rd February.
[R] 12:45 – 3:00 pm, Sounds of Swing Big Band at The Horseshoe Inn Hotel, Posey Green, Windmill Hill, Herstmonceux, East Sussex BN27 4RU (02035 645225). Free entry.
7:30 – 10:00 pm, Big Band @Brunswick: Brighton Jazz Mafia at The Brunswick, 3, Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JF (01273 733984). Free entry with collection.
Monday 4th February.
[R] 8:00 – 10:30 pm, The Rox Sessions Live at ‘The Hoff’. Bognor Regis Big Band open rehearsal at the Hothampton Arms, London Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1PR, (01243 821434). Free entry with collection for the Rox music charity.
Wednesday 6th February.
[R] 8:30 pm, The Fred Woods Big Band at the Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1TE (01403 254628). £2 (Club members free.)
