Straight No Chaser Main Website
Last nights Brunswick gig saw the band performing a couple of new works written and arranged our very own superstar sax player Simon D’Souza. Not only does he perform those amazing tenor sax solos that we all love, but it also seems he isn’t all too bad when it comes to turning out a note or two on the written page!
So our intimate crowd had the pleasure of hearing the first performance of Simon’s new tune Solid Ground, a funky latin number that is really putting the band through their paces. You can hear Solid Ground at the link below, featuring solos by Jon Brown (trumpet) and Paul Nieman (trombone), and the funkiest Baritone Sax playing from Rose Farrell
Not content with one masterpiece Simon has also provided us with a beautifully crafted arrangement of the Jobim classic Desafindo, also premiered last night. This recording features Paul Nieman on trombone again along with Russ Holdsworth on tenor sax.
We are looking forward to some new arrangements from Simon very soon so keep watching this space!
Alex
Filed under: Gigs
@THE BLACK HORSE PUB . 93 West Street, Reigate, Surrey. RH2 9JZ.
Wednesday 10th February
Noel Joyce Quintet
Featuring: Paul Jayasihna trumpet Kelvin Christiane saxes/flute John Crawford piano David McLeod bass
FANTASTIC FOOD AVAILABLE! To see the menu please visit : www.blackhorsereigate.com To book your table please phone: 01737 245694 Music starts 8.30.pm
Filed under: Gigs
Lots of gigs coming up in February, really hope you can make some of them. First of all we are doing a children’s workshop gig on Sat 6th feb in the afternoon for the Dharma School. We have done several workshop gigs for other schools in the past and I am sure this one will be very educational, as well as great fun! First “proper” gig of the month will see us returning to the very cool Brunswick in Brighton, which we will be keeping as an occasional gig in the future. Gary Wright will be joining us on vocals for this one. Finally we are at the Hassocks Hotel for our regular once a month spot on Sun 28th Feb. Hopefully the Just The Three Of Us will be back in action by then and singing with us again for this night!
Dharma School
Saturday 6th February 2010
3.30 until 6.00 p.m.
at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Surrenden Road, Brighton, BN1 6PA
A fun, interactive, introduction to the music and workings of a professional Big Band for children of all ages and their families. Dharma classes are learning a couple of Big Band Jazz favourites and on the day will play and sing along to the “Straight No Chaser Big Band”.
Tickets ONLY available from the school office.
Adult £6.50 Children £2.00
The Brunswick Venue
Monday 8th February
Straight No Chaser
The Brunswick, 1 Holland Road (sea end) Hove BN3 1JF.
01273 733 984 Email: venue@brunswickpub.co.uk
8.00pm – 10.30 ish Gary Wright Vocals Free entry, collection taken.
The Hassocks Hotel
Sunday 28th February 7.30pm
Straight No Chaser
The Hassocks Hotel: Station Approach East, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8HN
Vocals JUST THE THREE OF US. Free entry, collection taken.
Filed under: Gigs
The big band is back for its first gig of 2010 !
Next sunday 24th January sees the return of Straight No Chaser to its home at The Hassocks Hotel. After a fantastic gig in December we are hoping to see you all there again. This time the band will be accompanied by the amazing Just The Three Of Us vocal trio, so it should be a really special occasion. As normal the gig is free entry with a collection taken.
The Hassocks Hotel
Sunday 24th January 7.30pm
Straight No Chaser
The Hassocks Hotel: Station Approach East, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8HN
A great funky tune: Soul Vaccination complete with storming sax solo by Simon Da Souza, performed at the Forest Row Arts Festival earlier this year. However SNC spies were in the audience and managed to capture some red hot dancing on the camera.
Filed under: Gigs
Many thanks to all those who braved the foul weather to come and see the band last sunday night. The band was out, although in slightly reduced numbers ( a few trombone problems, and somebody forgot some saxophone music… no idea who… ) but despite this (or some some maybe because of this!) the music performed was really excellent.
An amazing audience turned out to listen to us, one of the biggest so far at this venue, which really switched the band on, and let them create a great performance. Beautiful solos performed by Doug Logan and Simon Brooker, as well as a truly heartfelt performance of “Stardust” by the inimitable Gary Wright. Many thanks too to the audience for their generous donations to the band beer fund!
We will be continuing with our residency at the Hassocks in the New Year with our first performance pencilled in for Sunday Jan 24th.
Filed under: Pics / Vids / Audio
We did video quite a lot of the performance earlier this month at Hove Town Hall. I am just getting around to editing it down.
Here are two to get us going
Is You Is, Featuring Just The Three Of Us
**** just added 16/12/9 Its Oh So Quiet (with Just The Three Of Us)
Keep coming back as there are more and i will keep adding them as I get them edited.
Filed under: Gigs
We are back at The Hassocks Hotel this Sunday (13th Dec) for our final performance of 2009!
We would love to have a nice audience to play to for this one, so please come do come along. Gary will be joining us on vocals, and it should be a great gig, with some nice new material that we have been working at recently.
The Hassocks Hotel
Sunday 13th November
Straight No Chaser
The Hassocks Hotel: Station Approach East, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8HN
7.30 pm – 10.00 ish, vocalist: Gary Wright, Free Entry with collection taken.
Filed under: Uncategorized
What a fantastic gig last night! After almost a year of planning the big band played to sold out venue of happy christmas revellers, all dancing to a swing and latin set from the band, which to be honest was playing in absolutely top form.
The band was joined on this occasion by singers from the local area, including the fab trio Just The Three of Us, and 2 male singers: Tony and Gary. These singers have worked with the band at similar occasions in the past and did some truly wonderful singing. Of course as ever the girls: Siggy, Rachel and Karen really stole the show, with their gorgeous three part harmonies, solo tunes and great dance moves and stage presence.
We did manage to take some videos of the performance, and they are being edited as I type, and should be posted up on the internet very soon. If you were there, you might even spot yourself dancing in the crowd… so please watch this space!
We estimate that around £4000-5000 was raised during the evening for the Martletts charity, so it really was a success on all counts. We are currently planning similar events in the new year and I will post up here as soon as I know more.
Filed under: Gigs
Our two regular gigs are returning again this month, and the Hassocks gig got a mention on the Big Band Special on BBC Radio 2 on tuesday! I hope you will be able to come down and give us some support.
Hassocks Hotel
Sunday 8th November
Straight No Chaser
The Hassocks Hotel: Station Approach East, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8HN
7.30 pm – 10.00 ish, vocalist: Gary Wright, collection taken.
The Brunswick Venue
Monday 16th November
Straight No Chaser
The Brunswick, 1 Holland Road (sea end) Hove BN3 1JF.
01273 733 984 Email: venue@brunswickpub.co.uk
8.00pm – 10.30 ish Jaqui Samson (vocals) Free entry, collection taken.
