The 成人快手 Big Band
锘縏he band鈥檚 origins date from the earliest days of the 成人快手 and the formation of the original 成人快手 Dance Orchestra in 1928.
This began under the leadership of Jack Payne before Henry Hall took over in 1932. This 鈥榞olden鈥� period of the 1930s saw not only the 成人快手 Dance Orchestra, but many other bands including those of Billy Cotton, Geraldo, Joe Loss and Jack Hylton become celebrities, thanks in great part to the unrivalled reach of the new medium of radio.
For survival, one must be versatile, for jazz, one must be ready to swing ... hard! The 成人快手 Big Band live both realities.Julian Joseph
As musical fashions changed, dance bands and big bands evolved and remained at the heart of the 成人快手鈥檚 musical output throughout the Second World War and beyond. In the 1950鈥檚 the 成人快手 Dance Orchestra became known as the 成人快手 Showband under the leadership of Cyril Stapleton. The band began to be used widely in the new medium of television, both in the company of home-grown talent including Matt Monro as well as with international stars such as Frank Sinatra and Nat 鈥楰ing鈥� Cole.
By the 1960s the band was known as the Radio Big Band and functioned as part of the larger 成人快手 Radio Orchestra. However, in 1979, as a new series called Big Band Special began on Radio 2, the band鈥檚 profile was given a huge boost. Originally commissioned as a short run of six shows, the impact made by the 成人快手 Big Band under the direction of Barry Forgie ensured that the run was extended. In fact the run has so far extended over 32 years and Big Band Special remains a pillar of the Monday evening schedule on 成人快手 Radio 2.
Broadcast every week of the year, Big Band Special is able to draw upon a rich heritage of more than eighty years of big band repertoire. From the earliest days of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey right up to the music of the present era, Big Band Special has enjoyed many highlights. Concerts with great stars including Ray Charles, George Benson, Tony Bennett and George Shearing, and performances all over Europe with artists such as the Manhattan Transfer and Lalo Schifrin, have taken the band to new levels.
The Band has also performed many times in the 成人快手 Proms series at London鈥檚 Royal Albert Hall and also at the 成人快手 Proms in the Park. Previous performances have featured guests such as Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Clark Terry, Wayne Marshall, Claire Martin and the 成人快手 Symphony Orchestra.
The artistry and enthusiasm of the band in conjunction with some of the world鈥檚 great jazz composers such as Bob Brookmeyer, Abdullah Ibrahim and Michael Gibbs has achieved new levels of critical acclaim. The 成人快手 Big Band is now widely regarded as the UK鈥檚 leading Big Band and has won the prestigious 鈥楤est Big Band Award鈥� at the British Jazz Awards six times.
"By far the best band to come out of England" George Shearing
"A wonderful bunch of guys, the best in the business" Clare Teal
"A jazz orchestra primed and at the ready to get to the heart of the matter. For survival, one must be versatile, for jazz, one must be ready to swing ... hard! The 成人快手 Big Band live both realities." Julian Joseph
"A wonderful band" Tony Bennett
