THE BOURNEMOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA NEWSLETTER No 1 – MAY/JUNE 2014

Welcome to our new information service on one of the south coast's top Big Bands, the

'Bournemouth Jazz Orchestra'. We hope you enjoy reading information on the band, profiles of the musicians, forthcoming gigs both

of the band and of it's members, and even tales of gigs gone by.If you wish to notify us, email us at: bjazzorch@yahoo.com

Enjoy the read!

History of the BOURNEMOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA

It was in the early 1990s that myself and Eddie Robinson (former saxophonist with the Northern Dance Orchestra)came up with the idea of starting our own big band. Eddie had compiled quite a large library of music already, buthad nowhere to perform them. So, we gathered together 14 other big band musicians from around the Solent area and the BJO was formed. Because of the costs of running the band, it was decided to keep it as a rehearsal band.The BJO consisted of many professional musicians, making their money from teaching and playing, so taking on cheap gigs on a Friday and Saturday was not an option. Because of this, the band decided to meet once fortnightlyaround the Ringwood area on a Monday night. By the end of the rehearsal, we would go away knowing that the 'chops' had had a good old battering, so a good excuse to retire to the bar for that well earned pint!

In 1995, the band was invited to accompany the famous American trumpet player Bobby Shew, who was over here doing a solo tour, guesting with different bands. The concert took place at the Wessex Hotel in Bournemouth.It was also a good time to put a feature in the local Daily Echo, giving not only information about the gig but a feature about the band. As a rehearsal band, occasionally the band would do a paid gig, and these were alwayswell attended.

Eddie used to visit his sister in Canada every year, and while he was there, the BJO was frequently on his mindwhen he would visit the music stores and buy big band arrangements by Canadian and American big band composers such as Gordon Goodwin, Tom Kubis and Bob Florence. These arrangements were a fraction of the price that you would pay for them here. One set of parts that Eddie purchased, was the complete Cuban Fire Suiteby Stan Kenton. As far as we knew, no other band in the UK had the music. Within a year, the band had put together the suite, and performed it in the Wessex Hall at the Lighthouse, Poole. The band was augmented by the tuba player and the french horn section of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. What a great gig that was!Once or twice a year, the band would play at the regular Thursday night jazz club at the Lighthouse, accompanying jazz greats such as Duncan Lamont (sax), Mark Nightingale (trombone) and from America, Art Themen (sax). In 2007, Eddie underwent treatment for cancer that unbeknown to us all, he had suffered from on a previous occasion. Although the treatment, at first, was a success, Eddie was later admitted to hospital. I was fortunate to see Eddie just a few hours before he passed away. His wish was for me to have his libraryand to continue with the band.

After a break in 2012, the band reformed in 2013 with some new faces and with a new direction. Bournemouth Jazz Orchestra 'Unplugged' meets once a month and with a semi rehearsal/concert, raises money for good causes.

Eddie Robinson – Order of Service on Page 2

mailto:bjazzorch@yahoo.com

Next date for your diary:

Bournemouth Jazz Orchestra 'Unplugged'

Monday 19th May – Allenbourn School, East Borough, Wimborne

7.30pm – Admission Free – retiring collection in aidof school funds

The theme is BIG BAND BLITZTunes from WW2 and the Swing Era

TALBOT PRIMARY SCHOOL - Monday 31st March

'REVIEW'

An audience of over 100 attended the gig – this time to raise money for the 'Centre for Wessex Young Musicians'. The Junior Fanfare – conducted by our own Peter Turnbull - reached the final of The National Concert Band Festival where they were awarded a Gold award, gaining 2nd place out of 6 in their section. This was a great achievement by Peter and the talented young musicians (some as young as 11 or 12) as they were up against the top bands from the north of England, as well as London. With a raffle, refreshments and a retiring collection, the sum of nearly £420 was raised. Well done everyone involved, and a huge thank-you to the audience!

The BJO was yet again on great form, considering we had a few 'deps' in, who did a great job. Thank you Julian, Colin, Kyle, Paul and Rob. Lovely to see Will and Alex again, two very talented young pianists from Bournemouth School for Boys who played a great version of 'Bluesette', accompanied by Richard on bass, and David on drums.

A special thanks also to Kate Curtis, Headteacher of Talbot Primary for the free use of the hall. The BJO may be back at Talbot later in the year to raise money for the school band.

Musician ProfileMark Crowe

Born and raised in Wolverhampton, Mark beganplaying local gigs at fourteen. He studied wood-wind and arranging at Leeds College of Music(Jazz Studies), and music education at UCE.

Performance credits include world cruises on theQE2 liner, touring shows form the West End suchas Chicago, the 'Rat Pack' and Fiddler on the Roofas well as extensive solo work as a jazz musician.

Mark is a present day member of the Joe Loss Orchestra and regularly guests with the GlennMiller Orchestra UK, directed by Ray McVay.Credits as an arranger include music for Fred Olsen cruises and Centre Parcs. Mark also

teaches woodwind at various schools.On top of all this , Mark is a qualified private

pilot!

BOURNEMOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA

2014 Line up

Trumpets TrombonesMike Potts Chris Ricketts

Martin Chapman Steve Hayes

Peter Turnbull Bobi Francis

Peter Curtis Colin Francis

Saxophones Piano Mark Crowe Phil Doyle

Gerald Bailey

Alan Melly Bass GuitarJames Rawlinson Richard Pearce

Tom Bruton

Drums

David Waller

Directed by Tony Waller (trumpet)

Guest musiciansRob Tooley (trombone)

Kyle Shenton (sax)

Paul Stiles (sax)

Julian Whitehead (trombone)

Rebecca Bruton (sax)

Colin Williams (trombone)

MUSOS JOKES

What did the guitarist say on his first job?Do you want fries with that?

Why did the chicken cross the road?To get away from the banjo recital!

What do trumpet players use for birth control?Their personalities!

What was the trombone sections most famous entry?Was that it?

What's brown and black and looks good on a conductor?A Doberman!

How do you get a drummer to play quieter?Put a sheet of music in front of him!

MUSICAL FACTOIDS

'In the Mood' is the theme tune of the Joe Loss Orchestra- thank you Mark and Phil!

Roy Eldridge was the first black musican to play in a'white' Big Band.

The term 'disc jockey' was first used in 1937.

The harmonica is the world's best selling instrument.

The Ocarina – wind instrument – is also known as the'Sweet Potato'

Duke Ellington once said ''there are only two types of music – good and bad!

Steve Wonder's hit 'Sir Duke' is dedicated to Duke Ellington.

The CODA

I hope you enjoyed reading our first ever Newsletter. It has been fun putting it together, especially designed for the band's followers. Our next issue will be out towards the end of June (twice monthly). Enjoy the Spring weather, and hopefully see some of you at our next concert – May 19th, Allenbourn School East Borough, Wimborne. All the best.