Category: Big Band Scene

1 October 2017

Big Band Scene (Oct. 2017)

Patrick Billingham looks forward to the New World Orchestra, applications for the Eastbourne bandstand in 2018 and revisits the legacy of Glenn Miller.     Sadly, the weather intervened on the 3rd of last month, so Super Sunday was downsized to just three big band gigs.  The last of which was in the evening featuring Terry […]

1 September 2017

Big Band Scene (Sept. 2017)

Patrick Billingham looks at Super Sunday, co-operation and competition.     In late July I posted ‘Super Sunday – 13th August. Find out more in the Sussex Jazz Magazine – out soon’ on a Facebook page.  Referring to four separate big band gigs across the county on that day.  All around the same time in the […]

1 August 2017

Big Band Scene (Aug. 2017)

Patrick Billingham looks at Bader’s Big Band and requests.       The Douglas Bader Foundation have announced that they are recruiting for Bader’s Big Band.  A new project.  For those under a certain age who are unaware of his heroic exploits, Douglas Bader lost both legs in an aircraft crash in 1931.  Nevertheless he was […]

1 July 2017

Big Band Scene (July 2017)

   Patrick Billingham reviews recent big band gigs at The Brunswick, The Round Georges and B.O.A.T..  That’s another election out of the way. My thanks to all who responded to my plea to register to vote and then to use it. Now back to the real world where the big band Summer season is starting […]

1 June 2017

Big Band Scene (June 2017)

Patrick Billingham reviews recent big band gigs and looks at/for missing parts. It is flaming June at last.  Time to say goodbye to May.  I have been to a couple of gigs recently.  One of which was a Saturday Afternoon of Jazz in the packed out foyer of The Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham.  With […]

1 May 2017

Big Band Scene (May 2017)

     Patrick Billingham brings you the latest big band news and looks at pad organisation. Once again it is May. Once again it is Festival time. Brighton’s major cultural event. Where we used to look forward to seeing internationally renowned big bands.  With the tickets sold out weeks before the concert.  But, once again, […]

1 April 2017

Big Band Scene (April 2017)

This month Patrick Billingham surveys recent big band gigs and examines the legacy of Glenn Miller.       The Big Band@Brunswick programme continued last month with a debut performance by Big Band Sounds, who are based near Uckfield. This well rehearsed ensemble played mostly mainstream charts and standards. Ably supported by singers Jo Kimber and […]

1 March 2017

Big Band Scene (March 2017)

This month Patrick Billingham looks at the Big Band @ The Brunswick series and profiles The Sussex All-Stars Big Band       It has been a good start to the year from the big band point of view.  There was a most enjoyable performance by Terry Pack’s Trees in the South Coast Jazz Festival.  Their […]

1 February 2017

Big Band Scene (Feb. 2017)

This month Patrick Billingham gives listings for the Big Band at The Brunswick series and and reviews a recent concert by The One World Orchestra.     Hail to the chief!  Congratulations to the new democratically elected leader of the free world.  Even if there are rumours that public disrespect of the president is to […]

1 January 2017

Big Band Scene (Jan. 2017)

    This month Patrick Billingham updates the list of big bands around Sussex (and other large ensembles).       Happy New Year.  Let’s hope that 2017 will bring fewer unpleasant surprises than 2016.  Or perhaps we should adopt the old Albanian approach.  We expect 2017 is going to be a better year than 2018, which, […]

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