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Syd Lawrence Orchestra at The Apex...

The Best Big Band in the Land is back at The Apex with their explosive new show ‘Big Band Brass’ - a rip roaring swing extravaganza, packed with all your Big Band Favourites.

Founded in 1967 by trumpeter and arranger Syd Lawrence, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra has been thrilling audiences for over 50 years with its exciting blend of high-octane Big Band Swing and Classic Dance music. Count Basie himself described the Syd Lawrence Orchestra as “So good it should be BANNED!”. 

You can hear a selection from the orchestra’s repertoire of over 2,000 classic Big Band arrangements, including Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” and “In the Mood”, Tommy Dorsey’s “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”, Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing”, Artie Shaw’s “Begin The Beguine”, Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll”, Count Basie’s “April in Paris” and Ted Heath’s “Hot Toddy”.

The programme also features hits from the Great American Songbooks of George Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin and singers Frank Sinatra, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Sammy Davis Jr, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Matt Monro, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.

Since Syd’s retirement in 1996, the Orchestra has been directed by Chris Dean, who believes in leading the Orchestra with pace and good humour, performing the classics of the swing era in a way that entertains the audience. “The music is what people want to hear” says Chris, “information they can get in books, they come to a concert to be entertained, not to hear a lecture”.

Chris’s aim has been to increase the number of young musicians playing Big Band Swing. The “new blood” of some of today’s finest young jazz musicians has brought fire and drive to the Orchestra’s performances, ensuring they remain the most enduringly popular Big Band in Britain today.

Syd Lawrence Orchestra play The Apex on Tuesday 7 March at 7.30pm. See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets.