We had a splendid afternoon at our annual pilgrimage to the great North Big Band Festival on Saturday.

We played a challenging and entertaining programme which went down well with the audience and adjudicators alike.  It was great to see all our hard work rewarded with an adjudicators award for the best Section going to our lovely trombone section.  We will of course not hear the last of this for some time.

Special mention must be made of the fact that two of our pieces were arranged for the band by band members.

The multitalented and previous award winner on Bass, Caroline Guirr did a fantastically tricky arrangement of ‘All That Jazz’  from Chicago to feature our very own Jazzy vocalist Miss Barbara Hignett, (no relation)

Great intro from Mike ‘Keys’ Cunningham in his reinvigorated return to the band. Tom and Caroline assisting

Father and Son due Niall and Sam Armstrong arranged Earth Wind and Fires ‘Fantasy’ for a show stopping finale number featuring Sam on some impossibly high trumpet notes.

Great review as always from ‘Bepop Spoken Here‘

We had a great night out to celebrate 10 years as a band, and the end of Xmas term at ‘The Valley’ in Corbridge.

Sadly our MD Dave Hignett had to dash off to get the train before the obligatory photo opportunity with the surprise token of our appreciation for all of his efforts could be taken.  We usually rely on him missing the train and coming back but on this occasion he was guided by our lovely vocalist Barbara Hignett, no relation, so had no excuse to miss it.

Instead here we see the band as it was the last time we visited ‘The Valley’ in 2012

Here we see a few stragglers from our current lineup full of curry and Cobra at the end of a lovely night.See you in 2022!

We had a great gig at this fabulous venue playing to the Marina crowds with the stunning backdrop of Mr Disneys ship full of Micky Mouses moored next to us on the Tyne.

Here we see our youngest band member Ben blasting out a fantastic trombone solo watched on by his very proud dad Nat. Thanks to Immy for working the video and cameras.

Thanks to Matt Simms and all the staff at Boatfolk for making us so welcome and plying us with drink (and food).

As always we appreciate the enthusiastic reviews by Russell at Bebop Spoken Here

The Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina – September 11

A beautiful autumn day. A trip to the coast, a look in at Cullercoats Crescent Club (quiet), a wander round Tynemouth Metro station market (busy), a visit to Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (this was Heritage Open Days’ weekend, but it’s open year round) overlooking the Tyne estuary and out to the North Sea, and on to Coble Dene to catch one of the region’s most popular big bands.

Royal Quays Marina reeks of money, squillions of small pleasure craft moored adjacent to the Port of Tyne ferry terminal, a world away from the less well off housing estates just up the road. Mark di Suvero’s Tyne Anew sculpture stood in the shadow of two towering cruise ships – Disney Magic and DFDS – preparing to set sail. Also in their shadow, Dave Hignett’s Tyne Valley Big Band was busy entertaining residents, resting cyclists, walkers, cafe diners and a few jazz fans.

Today’s edition of the TVBB boasted no fewer than seven trumpets, a full compliment of reeds – Sophie Speed and Andrea DeVere blowing some great tenor sax – Caroline Guirr on bass and David Johnson, drums, yes, many familiar faces were on parade. Quincy Jones’ Soul Bossa Nova, Henry Mancini’s ever-popular The Pink Panther Theme, Barbara Hignett belting out Paolo Nutini’s Ten Out of Ten and Aretha Franklin’s big hit, Respect, a typically energetic set from the Tyne Valley boys and girls.

Closing out a fine set, Dave Hignett’s crew went out on Erik Morales’ Feelin’ the Funk. It was time to head up to Black Storm Brewery’s tap room then on to Newcastle for some last minute shopping. Russell

It’s been a long time coming but the end of the Covid pandemic is hopefully in sight and we are up and running in a socially distanced and hygienic fashion.

We had our first post pandemic gig  at the Tynedale Beer Festival Corbridge, a fitting location marking 10 years since we started up!  Thanks to Chris and all the sound crew who made us so welcome. We had a hoot and look forward to next year.

We have other planned gigs at Royal Quays and Greenside as per calendar See you there!

Keen eyed viewers will note that we were planning a couple of post Covid lockdown gigs on June and July  Sadly these events have been cancelled or rescheduled so as it stands we won’t be up and running again until September at the earliest when we are hoping that things will be approaching normality.  (The calendar will be updated to reflect this if and when I can get it to work)!

No its not a pub (for a change) but a community cinema. We got a slot in a very interesting programme featuring music made during lockdown.

Listen carefully at 55 minutes to hear our very own tromboner Nick Brodins dulcet tones.

Virtual Music in a Virtual World

Well done Nick!

Its been a long old summer of rest and recreation, for some more than others.

In July we said goodbye to Alexis at her last ‘Phoenix Nite’ Gig. Alexis is off to further her studies in music education at York University and we wish her well.

Our glorious Tenor section, Heidi Alexis and Andrea

A lovely hug from ‘Crusher’ Hignett. It left a lasting memory for Alexis, and possibly some bruising.

The aftermath of a Saathi End of Term/Bye Bye Alexis curry.  What a fine night on a very long table.

And so we look toward restarting rehearsals.

Over the Summer there have been major renovations of the driveway leading to the grounds of Hignett Towers. Luckily our illustrious MD has been very careful to avoid injury to his fine and delicate conducting / playing fingers by engaging our lovely vocalist Miss Barbara Hignett, no relation, and Ace Bassist Connor H to lay the flags. All nice and flat too.

We have a couple of gigs lined up soon so hope to see you there.