The Len Phillips Big Band

The Band has been playing now for 22 years. The policy of the Band has never changed with the accent always on Swing. No rock, no pop and not a guitar in sight - just the pure sound of sixteen excellent musicians playing the music from the swing period.

Anton Browne and Eleanor Keenan, both singers who live and love this style of music compliment the Band with their own high standard of professionalism. We have the perfect balance.

Len recalls writing a weekly music column for a local newspaper in the 1980's when he stated that “Never again would we see dance halls packed to capacity, dancing to a sixteen piece Big Band.“ This was a statement that he proceeded to prove wrong.

An evening of The Len Phillips Big Band is always programmed with the utmost care. It's Swing all the way, with the music from the libraries of Glenn Miller, Ted Heath, Stan Kenton and Duke Ellington.

Recently added to the Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole and Doris Day scores are the original arrangements of two of the countries outstanding singers: Lita Roza and Dennis Lotis who have appeared with the Band in cabaret and concerts have both given permission that their numbers can be performed by Anton and Eleanor.

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 TODD MILLER AND THE JOE LOSS ORCHESTRA

A British Success Story

Britain’s most popular Music Orchestra of the past fifty years is the JOE LOSS ORCHESTRA. Even in the Mood the Orchestra’s signature tune since 1938, is now in the 2000’s amongst the most popular and most played instrumentals of all time. In 1990, Joe entrusted the leadership to his lead singer, Todd Miller (who joined the Orchestra in 1972), ensuring that the great tradition that has brought the best in musical entertainment continue.
The Joe Loss Orchestra has experienced 14 world cruises on the QE2 many Royal occasions – including two Royal Weddings and two Command Performances. They have performed live on BBC1, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Hong Kong TV and have broadcast on Radio’s1 and 2, plus many independent and local radio stations. Touring has taken them to every major Theatre, Ballroom and Hotel in Britain, and during their 1978 world tour, they were invited to be the first Western Dance Orchestra to play in the Republic of China.
Todd the Orchestra and Singing Stars are best appreciated when in direct contact with their audience. Dancing or in concert, their music brings together people off all musical tastes and age groups for a fantastic night out! A combination that doesn’t just play music – IT ENTERTAINS!
Todd Miller & the Joe Loss Orchestra is a 13 piece band and the line-up is as follows: 3 Trumpets, 2 Saxophones, 1 Trombone, 4 Rhythm, 3 Vocalist which include the one and only TODD MILLER

Venue Pedigree:

• Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James Palace, Belvior Castle, Eton Hall-Chester
• 14 world cruises on Queen Elizabeth II
• First Western Dance Band to play in the Republic of China
• 2 Royal Command Performances
• Royal Premier

Television:

• BBC1, Yorkshire TV, London Weekend TV, Thames TV, Channel 4
• ATV Hong Kong

  Some of the hotels (UK):

• Savoy, Claridge’s, Dorchester, Grosvenor House, Piccadilly Hotel, London
  
• Intercontinental, Park Lane Hotel, Midland Hotel, Birmingham Metropole
  
• …… and many more (not forgetting Seacroft!)

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Ross Mitchell has been actively associated with the professional dance world for many years. In fact, attend one of the International Dance Championships or a grand ball in Europe and chances are you will hear the distinctive sound of Ross Mitchell musical arrangements being conducted by no less than the maestro himself!
Ross’ introduction to dance music began when he became a professional musician at the tender age of 15 when playing drums, he joined the Nat Allen Band at the Ilford Palais, London where he very quickly became acquainted with the particular requirements of the dance enthusiast. After two years touring with Sid Phillips and his band, Ross joined the Mecca Organisation leading his own trio in Norwich. The association lasts 25years during which time Ross and his band played at many of Mecca’s main ballrooms around Britain, during which he became the recipient of a number of awards for musical excellence. The list of Ross’ achievements is impressive. Not only his he performed (playing the latest danceable ‘Top 40’ music) at all the major function venues in London and the rest of Britain, his expertise at selecting the best musicians for his bands and his skill at organising musical arrangements has made Ross Mitchell highly sought after for prestigious Ballroom Dancing and private functions around the world.
The popularity of his particular type of Dance Music encouraged Ross into recording. Radio and television appearances have followed, with Ross, singes and band performing on BBC TV for the United Kingdom Dance Championships and also being featured on the BBC Radio 2 series ‘Shall we Dance’ and ‘Let’s Dance’.
The success and demand for Dance Music convinced Ross and his wife Cindy to form their own recording company specialising in dance music played by his own Band and their artists. As a result the company ‘Dance and Listen Limited’ now provides dance enthusiasts all over the world with First Class Strict Tempo Dance Music. In 1991 and 1993 Ross was presented with the ‘Classique de Danse’ Music Award for his achievements in the world of ballroom dance music.
In September 1993 and August 1994, Ross and his singers were invited to Australia to perform at the Adelaide Music Fiesta. September 1994 (and 1995) saw Ross his band and singers work for the first time in Hong Kong for one week of dance shows. In April 1994 Ross Mitchell was asked to become Musical Director for ‘Dance News Special Projects’. This entailed creating a brand new orchestra call ‘Ross Mitchell Dance and Listen Orchestra’ which appeared for the first time, alongside the world famous Ross Mitchell Band and Singers at the International Championships held at The Royal Albert Hall, London during October 1995. In November 1995 Ross was presented with a second ‘Carl-Alan Award’ for his services to the dance industry and during 1996 and 1997, he and his musicians once again traveled to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Norway and to Denmark for a major Danish TV series based on Ballroom Dancing. January 1998 saw Ross presented with the Ballroom Dancers Federation ‘Music Award’.

David Gwyn writes – Over the past years, Ross has been even busier and at the time of press is embarking on a tour of the Far East with a one nighter in Hong Kong followed by five nights in Shenzhen, China for the Chinese Ballroom Championships. He then returns to Hong Kong and is joined by a few more musicians flown form the UK to make his band a 17 piece – can I carry your bag Sir?
For the record the Band played for ‘the Champions of Tomorrow’ at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, The Manchester Championships, UK Open Championships at the Bournemouth International Centre (2 consecutive nights) all in January. March – Jakarta, Indonesia and Singapore, July – UK Championships, Bournemouth etc. etc. etc

OUR GUESS – ROSS AND THE BAND WILL KEEP YOU BUSY AT SEACROFT IN AUGUST!

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The George Thorby Big Band was formed by George in 1952 and has been working constantly since then to the present day.

In 1968 George's band was the first big band to appear on the popular TV show "Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks."

Over the years the personnel in the band has changed many times over, but two of the original line up of the band, Ronnie Findon (Saxophone & Clarinet) and Gordon Rushton (Trombone)still feature regularly with the band.

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It would be in or about the mid-eighties that I was first aware of Jonathan. He was then a member of the highly successful East Norfolk Youth Jazz Orchestra which were well known for their many excellent concerts at Pakefield (incidentally this was one of my early successes when I introduced them to the popular Big Band Holidays).

Jonathan, like then, has introduced star names to his excellent line-ups believe me, he has played with the best; Don Lusher, Tommy Whittle, Ronnie Whittle, Dennis Lotis have all shared the stand with this exceptional young man. He was always keen to learn, I recall on many occasions being in conversation with top musicians with a very young Jonathan, 'tweaking in'. Full marks - he was lapping up the atmosphere and learning, which in turn has helped him achieve so much since.

His band is now regarded as East Anglia's premier Big Band, they carry with them an extensive library including numbers made famous by the bands of Miller, Ellington and Basie to name a few.

As in the past, this excellent Big Band will give you Big Band music to dance to which is indeed unique; my promise is that you'll hve an excellent night - enjoy yourselves! (click here)

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Quality all the way is how you would describe Matthew Ford, who brings his BIG BAND to Pakefield. No stranger to this popular venue he has appeared there many times with The Syd Lawrence Orchestra amongst others.

Matthew brings with him a wealth of experience having reguarly appeared at the major concert halls with the Halle, B.B.C. Concert Orchestra etc. and many top U.K. touring bands, howevere it is as a big band singer performing the hits of Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, Matt Montro and of course Sinatra that you will enjoy this evening. Matthew, due to his big name in the business is able to draw upon some of today's top musicians to back him. Sheila Tracy, the late Malcolm Laycock, Tondy Jundell (B.B.I), Encore Magazine, etc. have all given him rave revues in the past.

click here to view a you-tube clip

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