Saxophonist Mark Buckingham runs a big Band of professional players in South West London. A newly-formed iteration of the band, “Mark Buckingham’s Thad Jones Legacy Orchestra”, will be marking the Thad Jones Centenary with a concert on 26 March (the actual centenary is on 28 March), and will be performing more of this repertoire during the centenary year and beyond….
The blurb for the gig says: “the band will revisit Thad Jones’s contribution to the Count Basie Orchestra, his own compositions within the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra and the Danish Radio Big Band as well as tributes written in memory of the master by other celebrated composers. From “Shiny stockings” to “Big Dipper” and “A child is born”, expect to hear all the classics as well as some obscure gems!”.
And Pianist James Hayes has been in touch, and tells LJN: “We have a varied collection of 70+ charts of all styles from his Basie days to his Denmark Radio BB and his legendary Village Vanguard big band with Mel Lewis. The music is challenging and we have the right band to play it, including some fierce 4-flutes passages on “61st and rich it” and clarinets on “Dedication”! The set also includes show-stoppers like “Groove merchant”, “Quietude” and “Shiny Stockings” plus some obscure gems like “Crackdown” and “5 ½ weeks”.
DETAILS/ BOOKINGS: Hampton Hub Club. 3 Ashley Road TW12. Doors 6pm. Music 7pm.
