Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Contact
Please contact Elli Clements for further information.

Elli Clements
Special Projects Manager
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Email: bbcbigband@rpo.co.uk
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7608 8839
Fax: + 44 (0)20 7608 8801

BIOGRAPHY
The BBC Big Band is widely regarded as the UK’s leading Big Band. It has won the prestigious ‘Best Big Band Award’ at the British Jazz Awards six times and was nominated for the same award again in 2008. The BBC Big Band has entertained thousands with international stars such as Tony Bennett, George Benson, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, George Shearing, Michel Legrand, Phil Woods, Joe Lovano, Patti Austin, Lalo Schifrin, Bob Brookmeyer, Michael Bublé, Claire Martin, Amy Winehouse, Abdullah Ibrahim, Dr John, Jack Bruce and Ray Charles.

The BBC Big Band has performed many times in the BBC Proms series at London’s Royal Albert Hall and also at the BBC Proms in the Park concerts. Previous performances have featured guests such as Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Clark Terry, Wayne Marshall and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Building on the strong reputation it has built up through performances on the international festival circuit, the BBC Big Band has recently appeared at the Glasgow, London, Coventry, Armagh, Gateshead, Cheltenham, Leeds, Edinburgh and Scarborough jazz festivals. In October 2008 the Band travelled to Mexico, joining forces on stage with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra to play a Beatles inspired programme to enthusiastic audiences totaling 20,000 during a week-long tour. In 2009 the BBC Big Band toured to Poland for two performances at the Sala Kongresowa in Warsaw.

Highlights of the current season include a series of six concerts, recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Big Band Special’ programme, celebrating the BBC Big Band’s role as Associate Artist of the Birmingham Town Hall at this newly re-launched concert venue. At the recent BBC Play It Again event at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, the BBC Big Band worked with Black Voices and hundreds of aspiring musicians from the area, in an educational music project which was widely acclaimed by both the media and the public alike. The BBC Big Band continues to actively participate in an outreach programme in partnership with Birmingham Town Hall – particularly with local school and community music groups.

In Spring 2009, the BBC Big Band proudly launched its first London concert season at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. These concerts highlight the Band’s acclaimed versatility, ranging in style from stage and screen hits to mellow contemporary arrangements of classics and Rat Pack favourites. Artists that featured in the 2009 series included Stacey Kent, Claire Martin, Kim Criswell, Todd Gordon, Anita Wardell, plus West End star Ruthie Henshall. Other highlights of the past year included a performance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and a selection of concerts across the country including venues in Buxton, Crawley, Worthing, Basingstoke and Lowestoft. 2010 promises to feature many exciting projects, with the Band’s third concert series at Cadogan Hall beginning in March, combined with performances all over the UK and touring schedules lined up abroad in France, Germany and Italy.

'By far the best band to come out of England.' - George Shearing

'A wonderful bunch of guys, made up of the finest jazz musicians in the country - the best in the business.' - Clare Teal

'A jazz orchestra primed and at the ready to get to the heart of the matter. Now, for survival; one must be versatile, for jazz; one must be ready to swing...hard! The BBC Big Band live both realities!' - Julian Joseph

'A wonderful band.' - Tony Bennett