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The
Band's History
The first incarnation of the Bryan Williamson
Band formed in 2004, but the band didn't really
start to make progress until 2006. It was a
classic Catch 22 situation - it was very hard
to find good musicians who would come along
just for rehearsals without regular gigs, and
even for the most tightly rehearsed big band
work can be hard to find. However, by 2006 regular
gigs started to come in, and the band started
to get a solid core of regular musicians.
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By
2008 we had started to get quite a few gigs at
jazz clubs and dance halls, and the band started
to build up a profile, especially for ballroom
dancing music. Unfortunately in late 2008 the
band's founder Bryan Williamson became unwell,
and after a short illness sadly passed away. The
members of the band were obviously devastated,
but it was agreed that the band should continue
and Eddie Claydon agreed to take over the running
of the band. Eddie promised the Williamson family
that as Bryan had always wanted a big band the
band would keep the name The Bryan Williamson
Big Band in his memory.
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During
2009 the band continued to go from strength to
strength - the name of the Bryan Williamson Big
Band was getting well known, and lots of work
started to come in with gigs through the year
including a concert at a jazz club, several ballroom
dancing evenings, a 60th birthday party, a Golden
Wedding anniversary, a charity evening, a wedding
reception, and concerts in a Southend church and
in the Priory Park Bandstand in Southend. A quick
glance at our diary page shows that 2009 is going
to be easily surpassed and that 2010 is going
to be an amazing year for the band.
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The
band consist of 17 permanent members, plus occasionally
a compere/conductor, and female and male singers
when required. Our instrumental lineup is five
saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, guitar,
bass and drums.
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are very lucky to have an incredibly talented
lineup of musicians, resulting in a first class
sound. We have two ladies in the band who are
both music teachers, two members of the band work
in broadcasting bands and television, and our
drummer has worked with top stars in America.
The youngest member is a teenager who is a very
talented pianist; I am afraid I am not at liberty
to discuss who the oldest member is!
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If
you'd like to have us come and play for you,
please get in touch.
You
can call Eddie Claydon on: 01277 372973 or 07810
605292
or
email: info@bryanwilliamson.co.uk
©
copyright 2010 Bryan Williamson Big Band
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