Since its inception in 2013, Swingtime Big Band has forged its reputation as the finest of its type in the North of England. Packed with the North West's finest players, the band swings its way through the libraries of well-known band leaders such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman and Ted Heath, as well as featuring other lesser-known arrangements from the likes of the Buddy Bregman and Terry Gibbs Big Bands. Built on a solid and swinging rhythm section, the band's tight ensemble and section playing are complimented by superb soloists.
Swingtime has performed alongside the cream of the UK's jazz scene, including Clare Teal, Matt Ford, Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw, Guy Barker, Joe Stilgoe, and Andy Prior. The band regularly plays to sell-out crowds wherever it performs.
Along with the finest instrumentalists around, the band features a superb vocalist in Emma Holcroft. Emma is a music teacher and performer, having her own jazz quintet and starring as a guest with other bands, although by her own admission, she is most at home fronting this powerhouse of a big band. She gives brilliant interpretations of well-known vocal arrangements from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Nancy Wilson, and Anita O'Day. She also performs several new arrangements of standards that have been written by the brilliant Callum Au.
A very special guest for Buxton is Matt Ford, one of the UK’s most experienced and in-demand Swing Era vocalist. A veteran of over 2000 Big Band concerts, with the likes of The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, BBC Big Band, Len Philips Swing Orchestra and John Wilson Orchestra, Matt’s career spans four decades, and shows no sign of slowing down.
Matt has featured in four BBC Proms concerts (2011, 2013, 2016 & 2019), with live broadcasts of these on BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Radio 3. Other TV and radio credits include; Friday Night is Music Night (tributes to Irving Berlin, The Gershwins, Alan J Lerner & Gene Kelly), BBC Big Band Special (30th Anniversary Special), SKY Arts 1 & 2 (Cole Porter in Hollywood & 100 Years of Big Bands.)
2023 saw Matt perform again with The Halle (Music of Bond), travel to Dubai (Vienna Ball with LPSO), to Portugal (Glenn Miller Orchestra UK), and make his debut with Opera North. In March Matt once again paid tribute to Frank Sinatra, with the Manchester Concert Orchestra, in Simply Sinatra at The Bridgewater Hall, and recently travelled to the US to team up with celebrated Broadway supremo Larry Blank, to perform the songs of Frank Sinatra with the Pullman’s Pops Orchestra in Atlanta, Georgia. Matt toured the UK with John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London, performing in the UK’s Major concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
2024 has seen Matt launch his new, intimate, Cole Porter Songbook show, (performing in theatres and Arts Centres throughout the UK), appear once again with the Halle and RTE CO (Movies & Musicals), return to the US (Broadway Sings! with the OPAS Symphony Orchestra) and become a regular performer at Annabel’s in Mayfair. Matt continues to be in-demand for Big Band appearances, and will be performing Nationwide throughout the year.
You may also like the following events from BIF Jazz:
- Next month, 18th July, 08:00 pm, Latin for Lovers, Clare Teal, Denny Ilett, Lizzie Ball, Musicians of Opera North in Buxton
- Next month, 19th July, 03:00 pm, Lady Nade in Buxton
- Next month, 22nd July, 08:00 pm, Liza Pulman sings Streisand in Buxton
Also check out other
Entertainment events in Buxton,
Music events in Buxton,
Performances in Buxton.
