Sheffield Jazz present Beats and Pieces Big Band

Beats and Pieces Big Band 19 November

Vincent Keddie writes

"Beats and Pieces Big Band - gale-force energy plus startlingly original material - dozens of awards over six years, including 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Awards Ensemble of the Year. Influences from Ellington through Loose Tubes to Radiohead, vivid ideas and brilliant mood changes – they’ve redefined the big band for the 21st century. Back again after their brilliant sell-out gig at Millennium Hall Sheffield in 2014.

With high profile national and international awards to their name (Best UK Newcomer at the 2013 Jazz FM Awards & European Young Artists’ Jazz Award at 2011 Burghausen International Jazz Festival, Germany) and consistent audience and critical acclaim for their performances across the UK and Europe, the Beats & Pieces Big Band are fast becoming one of the country's most talked about jazz groups. Led by composer and conductor Ben Cottrell, their music draws on a wide range of influences from Ellington to Loose Tubes to Radiohead to redefine the role of the big band for a new generation.

The band's debut album 'Big Ideas' was released in March 2012 and was marked with a major UK tour, with the Manchester show at the RNCM recorded by the BBC for broadcast on Jazz on 3, and the London gig at a sold-out Ronnie Scott’s receiving glowing 5 star reviews in both The Guardian and The Telegraph.

Ben Cottrell: director;
Anthony Brown, Sam Healey, Ben Watte: saxophones;
Owen Bryce, Graham South, Nick Walters: trumpets;
Ed Horsey, Simon Lodge, Rich McVeigh: trombones;
Anton Hunter: guitar;
Richard Jones: piano;
Stewart Wilson: bass;
Finlay Panter: drums.

"Few bands play work of this complexity with such passionate conviction. Movers and shakers such as [Colin] Towns, Matthew Herbert, Darcy James Argue and [Ben] Cottrell demonstrate that large ensembles remain a vital force in contemporary jazz." John L Walters, The Guardian

"Beats & Pieces dazzled with a glorious, full-bloodied set demonstrating all that’s good about big band jazz. The big band tradition is alive and well and living in Manchester." Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise

“They couple gale-force collective energy and confidence to startlingly original material (most of it by its rising-star leader Ben Cottrell) that acknowledges big-band traditions while radically modernising them.” John Fordham, The Guardian

www.beatsnpieces.net  

www.efpirecords.com  

Thursday 19 November at 20.00 – The Foundry, Sheffield University Students Union, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TG