BBC Big Band

Building on the strong links with Symphony Hall, the BBC Big Band has become a partner with Performances Birmingham as an Associate Ensemble of Town Hall, Birmingham.

Britain’s finest big band played in six concerts, to be recorded for BBC Radio 2, as well as participating in education and workshop performances, in their first season as Associate Artists from October 2007. The Band also played a prominent part in the Re-opening Festival concert and in its own concert later on in the Festival, featuring Kurt Elling.

The BBC Big Band is probably best known for its regular Monday night show, Big Band Special on BBC Radio 2, as well as on BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Line Up. It also reaches worldwide audiences through the World Service, satellite radio and the internet.

The band has played with stars such as George Benson, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Tony Bennett, George Shearing, Michel Legrand, Cleo Laine, Lalo Schifrin, Michael McDonald and Ray Charles. The band regularly features on the UK festival circuit, and concert tours with major artists have regularly taken the band abroad.

BBC Big Band events