BBC Big Band

Sunday 4th May, 8–11.15pm (support band 8–8.45pm, BBC Big Band 9–11.15pm, 2 sets), in the Marquee Pavilion

The Band is probably best known for its regular Monday night show Big Band Special, as well as on BBC Radio 3's Jazz Line Up. It also reaches worldwide audiences through the World Service and online.

The Band has played with stars such as George Benson, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Tony Bennett, George Shearing, Michel Legrand, Cleo Laine, Lalo Schifrin, Michael McDonald, Joe Lovano and Ray Charles.

Regularly featuring at major UK venues and on concert tours with major artists has also taken the Band abroad, in addition to its regular studio and concert recordings.

Building on the strong links on the UK and European Festival circuit, the BBC Big Band appeared at the 2007 Aberdeen, Gateshead, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and Brecon Jazz Festivals, and a concert in the Royal Albert Hall Prom season.

From October 2007, the BBC Big Band has appeared at Town Hall Birmingham as an Associated Artist in a series of concerts, as well as in the re-opening event. At the recent BBC Play It Again project at Symphony Hall Birmingham, the Band met with great public acclaim, working with Black Voices and hundreds of aspiring musicians from the area.

What the experts say:

"Thank you guys, you're wonderful" Michel Legrand

"By far the best band to come out of England" George Shearing

"A wonderful band" Tony Bennett

"Joyous.." George Benson

"Awesome!" Patti Austin

"They brilliantly continue the tradition of Big Band music. As such they are important as well as marvellous" Michael Parkinson

"Awesome!" Patti Austin

"What a great band!" Billy May

"...for me, this is the band" Mel Torme

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

"The BBC Big Band brings the very best out of its guests, swinging tight and hard, utilising a section of blistering soloists in their own right. Led by the marvellous Barry Forgie or Jiggs Whigham, my many gigs with the guys have been challenging, exciting and above all, great fun" Ian Shaw (Best Vocalist: 2007 BBC Jazz Awards)

"The BBC Big Band exemplifies what this music is all about – hard-swinging, full-strength, unadulterated jazz!" Regular Band guest, Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison

"One of the most exciting bands on the scene today" Joe Lovano

"Not only are they terrific musicians, they also have a marvellous sense of humour." Ken Bruce

"I told my wife that for my next birthday I want this band as a gift." Lalo Schifrin

"The most amazing big band I've ever heard. They're the best!" Martin Taylor

"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

BBC Big Band link

• BBC Big Band (www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/bigband)
•  Watch Joe Lovano play in concert at the 2007 Brecon Jazz Festival - Track: Oh! (comp. Lovano)
  
•  Watch Joe Lovano play in concert at the 2007 Brecon Jazz Festival - Track: Embraceable You (comp. Gershwin)