- Swing Unlimited
Swing Unlimited Big Band is a community based
Big Band , and is probably unique in British Jazz in that it is totally self-funding, receiving no grant of any kind, making it a true community band, being run by the community, for the community. The current musical director of SUBB is James Stead (a regular at the prestigious [http://www.thecaptainsclub.net/ Captain's Club] inChristchurch, Dorset [Captain's Club [http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/display.var.815636.0.0.php Bournemouth Echo 20th July] ] )with Julian Whitehead (principal trombone in the recently formed New [http://www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm Mantovani Orchestra] and Bass Trombone in [http://www.dorsetchamberorchestra.org/ Dorset Chamber Orchestra] )as assistant, although the band is led very much in the style ofLoose Tubes , rehearsing in the round where any member of the band can direct at any one time. Regularly performing at Highcliffe [Wave 105 [http://www.wave105.com/calendar/Default.asp?DATE=09/07/2006&page=3 Accessed 19th February 2008] ] Castle [Highcliffe Diary [http://www.cadarts.com/Diary/DiaryPerformance.htm] ] . The band has recently increased its community feel by performing with the [http://www.highcliffecharityplayers.co.uk Highcliffe Charity Players] in their production of Happy as a Sandbag [Happy as a Sandbag [http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/whatson/leisure/reviews/display.var.2440329.0.oh_what_a_lovely_war.php Bournemouth Echo 4th September 2008] ] .Formation of the Band
Swing Unlimited Big Band was formed in late 2001 by various musicians including David Wilkinson [Official SUBB Website [http://www.subb.eu/rt_cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=66] Accessed 19th Feb 2008] and James Rawlinson [Mr Kyps Review [http://www.mrkyps.net/gigreviews.asp?ID=46] ] . Both wanted to play upbeat and interesting big band music- with maybe a hint of nostalgia [Step Back in time with MGs [http://archive.thisisdorset.net/2006/8/4/116241.html 4th August 2006] ] but felt the opportunities to do so in Dorset were somewhat limited.
Location
The Band is based in
Bournemouth which is on the South Coast [The Swing Dance Company [http://theswingdancecompany.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1192 Swing Unlimited Vote] ] of the UK.Current Line-up
Saxophones:James Rawlinson, Janine Guy, Vicki Newman, Will Upton, Rachel Leo, Karen Pitt, Nick Studdert-Kennedy, Penny Bishop
Trumpets:Kevin Courage, Alan Jenkins, Pat Peiro, Nick Jarvis
Trombones: Julian Whitehead, Richard Curren, Jenny Fellowes, Colin Williams
Rhythm Section: James Stead (Keys), Andy Pitt (Bass), Chris Panaretou (Guitar), Jon Foulds and Alan Elliot (drums and percussion)
Discography
There are numerous live recordings available, and SUBB are currently working on a recording in conjunction with music students of Lytchett Minster School [Music Technology Department at Lytchett Minster School in Dorset [http://www.lytchettminster.dorset.sch.uk/ Live Recording] ] .
Education and Outreach
One of the aims of SUBB as a community band is to not only provide outreach to the community in terms of charity events for organisations like the
Soroptimist International and local charities such as the Rotary Club, but to get into local schools, providing workshops and joint events that help young people to see that keeping music live is very important. One of the aims of SUBB is to get out into local schools about three times a year [Ferndown Upper School December Newsletter [http://www.fernup.dorset.sch.uk/ezone/epublications/files/newsletters/newsdec2007.pdf page 4] ] .References
External links
* [http://www.subb.eu/ Official SUBB Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/swingunlimited/ SUBB in MySpace]
* [http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=8812166/ Howard Mitchell sings with SUBB]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
