Beats & Pieces Big Band

Beats & Pieces Big Band are a British big band who are directed by conductor and composer Ben Cottrell, and based in Manchester. ^{[1] [2]} They have cited Acoustic Ladyland and Radiohead as big influences ^[3] , while Jazzwise wrote "they can truly claim to be a successor to Loose Tubes". ^[4] In 2014 they won Jazz Ensemble of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. ^[5]

Personnel

As of 2024 ^[update] the band's touring lineup consists of: ^[6]

• Ben Cottrell: director
• Anthony Brown, Emily Burkhardt, Oliver Dover: saxophones
• Owen Bryce, Graham South, Nick Walters: trumpet
• Simon Lodge, Rich Mcveigh, Phil O'Malley: trombone
• Anton Hunter: guitar
• Richard Jones: piano/Rhodes
• Stewart Wilson: bass
• Finlay Panter: drums

Awards

• 2011: European Young Artists' Jazz Award, Burghausen, Germany ^{[7] [8]}
• 2014: Jazz Ensemble of the Year, Parliamentary Jazz Awards, London ^[5]

Discography

Albums

• Big Ideas (Efpi, 2012) ^{[9] [10]}
• All In (Efpi, 2015) ^{[11] [12]}
• Ten (Efpi, 2018) ^{[13] [14]}
• Good Days (Efpi, 2023) ^{[15] [16]}

EPs

• Beats & Pieces (2010)

References

1. Fordham, John (27 June 2016). "Beats & Pieces review – a thrilling display of Manchester's jazz verve". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
2. Fordham, John (23 January 2011). "Get the Blessing/Beats and Pieces - review". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
3. Harris, Selwyn (2015). "Beats & Pieces - Master Blasters". Jazzwise. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
4. Graham, Stephen (2012). "Jazz breaking news: Big is beautiful as Beats & Pieces breathe new life into big band jazz". Jazzwise. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
5. "Parliamentary Jazz awards 2014 announced". The Telegraph. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
6. "about". Beats & Pieces Big Band. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
7. ljazzn (25 March 2011). "Congratulations Beats & Pieces – Winners 2011 Burghausen European Young Artists Jazz Award". London Jazz News. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
8. "Beats and Pieces Big Band: British Music Abroad". PRS for Music Foundation. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
9. "Beats And Pieces Big Band: Big Ideas album review". All About Jazz. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
10. "Beats & Pieces Big Band: Big Ideas". Jazzwise. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
11. Hobart, Mike (26 June 2015). "Beats and Pieces Big Band: All In — review". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
12. Fordham, John (4 June 2015). "Beats & Pieces: All In review – energetic, hard-rocking big band ride again". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
13. Bungey, John (9 August 2018). "Jazz review: Beats & Pieces Big Band: Ten". The Times . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
14. "Beats and Pieces Big Band: Ten album review". All About Jazz. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
15. "Beats & Pieces Big Band: Good Days". Jazzwise. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
16. Farbey, Roger (1 March 2023). "Beats & Pieces Big Band: Good Days". Jazz Journal. Retrieved 19 November 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Beats & Pieces Big Band discography at Discogs