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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
This month Patrick Billingham searches for missing parts and discusses band finances. The end is nigh. Not of civilisation as we know it, although after recent election results . . ., but of 2016. The time of year when bands are preparing for the festive season and, pun intended, blowing the dust of […]