The Urban Big Band

Come and see us in December! See the gigs page for details.

The Urban Big Band is a 17-piece band based in North London, formed in 1998 to allow like-minded musicians to play great big band music.

Regular rehearsals allow the band to maintain a high standard of playing, with a strong ensemble sound and capable soloists in all sections. It performs concerts and pub gigs in London and the vicinity, and has appeared at jazz festivals, corporate engagements, and a number of prestigious jazz venues.

The band has a large library, built on a solid foundation of music originally performed by the great big bands of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and, of course, the legendary Count Basie. Add to this a variety of modern arrangements branching out into funk (e.g. Earth Wind and Fire's 'Fantasy'), fusion (e.g. Weather Report's 'Birdland'), and the complex rhythms of Latin America, and they have a mix that is received with great applause from audiences.

Use the links on the left to listen to sample recordings or to get details of upcoming gigs.