Big Band Jazz: The Scott Willcox Big Band
Jazz London Radio features
Scott Willcox Big Band
On Sunday 7th April the track Listen Up featuring Georgia Mancio was played on the JazzRadioLondon.com's regular big band slot on Sunday evening.
Fourth CD Released!
The new CD from Scott with a stellar line-up playing an eclectic mix of tracks.
Available now from Scott Willcox.
For more information and track samples see the CD page.
2017 Gigs
Bull's Head
13 December - Bull's Head, Barnes
From a review by Andrew Cartmel in London Jazz News:
“....many pleasant astonishments of this evening”
“Where Next? … Steve Main was outstanding and David Frankel's dream-like piano fashioned the conclusion. The real shock was finding musicians of this calibre playing in a pub in S. London on a snowy Wednesday night.”
“African Dance was jaunty, exploratory piece … somewhat reminiscent of a skilful Mingus traffic jam – with trumpets (Gabriel Garrick and Andy Gibson) and reeds playing car-horn interpolations when they weren't unfurling the cheering melody.”
“On Listen Up …(Georgia) Mancio's voice floated lightly through the lines of the ensemble playing, like a bird through evening trees.”
“Slane … an Irish folk song … when the combo came in, like friends turning up for a party, we were reminded why the principle of big bands exists.”
“The Water is Wide was another folk song setting, with aching lyrical intro by the tenor saxes and Andy Gibson on trumpet. … When Dave Frankel's piano and Gladdish's trombone came in, the piece opened like a flower in sunlight. Gibson soloed with great taste and judgment and Frankel played with the lightest of touches. The combination of voice and large instrumental unit was at its most memorable on this evocation of an ancient, simple ballad.”
2016 Gigs
Jazz in Reading
May 2016 - Progress Theatre, Reading
“Elated from the experience of playing some extremely challenging, impossibly written, highly original music
as a member of Scott Willcox's 10-piece to a very appreciative, full audience at The Progress Theatre, Reading.
We really made it happen! What a true privilege to share such a joy with incredible musicians [David Frankel (piano), Ben Hazelton(bass), Eric Ford (drums), Andy Gibson and Gabriel Garrick(trumpets), Tony Woods, Bob Mackay, Duncan Eagles, Julian Costello (saxes)].
Thank you!”
Gabriel Garrick, Trumpet
Quotes from previous 2016 gigs:
“Really enjoyed the gig at Cafe Posk last night (Friday Jan. 8). Great music and a lovely ambience.”
Howard Lawes
“May I say that I thoroughly enjoyed your arrangements... something different and original.”
Peter Kaczmarski, Cafe Posk
The Scott Willcox Big Band features some of the UK's leading jazzers and has won much acclaim since its debut in 2007. Scott writes the charts for the band. Some of his players who played with George Russell when he visited the UK have said that Scott's music reminds them in places of George Russell's writing.
The band's second CD, Go For It, was launched at the Spice of Life, Soho, on Wednesday 24th July 2013.
The album features compositions and arrangements by Scott Willcox played by an all-star line up which includes Gabriel Garrick, Chris Biscoe, Pete Hurt, Andy Gibson and Tony Woods. The CD is available on Marquetry Records.
“Imaginatively arranged and conducted, and impeccably played by an ensemble of highly accomplished musicians ‘Go For It!’ represents a hugely enjoyable big band album. Willcox keeps the virtues of swing and sweetness but deploys them in a contemporary context with consistently interesting rhythms and arrangements in an admirably diverse and well programmed set.
This is a band that should be well worth seeing live...”
Ian Mann - The Jazzmann
“All in all a classy album... There are plenty of highlights... Probably my favourite cut is 'Worth the Wait' (based on Psalm 40,ed.) with some cool laid back singing from Nette Robinson.”
Tony Cummings - Cross Rhythms
In July 2012 they appeared as part of the Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Festival with a line-up of five saxes, four trumpets, three trombones, rhythm section and two singers.
“The big band evening was a great success… an excellent performance.”
Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Festival review.
The band's first CD, Band Substance, was launched at The Bulls Head, Barnes in March 2008. A new album 'Go For It!' will be released in autumn 2012.
Players featured have included:
- Gabriel Garrick
- Andy Gibson
- Pablo Mendelssohn
- Kelvin Christiane
- Tim Whitehead
- Chris Biscoe
- Tony Woods
- David Frankel
- Olly Hayhurst
- Gary Willcox.
The Scott Willcox Big Band is available for performance in the South of England. Please get in touch with us if you would like to discover more about what we do or if you would like to book a concert.
The band's music director, Scott Willcox, is featured on Cross Rhythms radio, along with some of their music. See his artist's page on their web site. You can also buy Scott's albums from Cross Rhythms.