BRISTOL WIND BANDS

WESTERLY SHOWBAND: KINGSWOOD WINDS: THE BEGINNERS' GROUPS

WESTERLY SHOWBAND

Westerly Showband is a wind orchestra which can convert to a jazz wind orchestra. It does this, often mid concert, by adding: additional saxophones a jazz rhythm section and a sprinkling of jazz soloists. To this heady mixture are then added specialist jazz scorings. These are sometime purchased but, more often than not, they are provided by the Musical Director, Chris Harris.

This "crossover" routine has proved popular with both audiences and musicians and was well demonstrated at the recent concert entitled "An Evening with George Gershwin". It enables the performance of orchestral and light pieces, including film and show music to be starkly contrasted with jazz and swing classics.

It is a go-ahead band, determined to play the best music, provide the best entertainment and attract the best players. Its aim is to bring quality music to the West Country

The Conductor

Chris Harris is a very experienced and well qualified conductor and has a background of performing in a wide range of bands, cabaret groups and orchestras. Besides conducting he arranges music for the band; his forte being accompaniments for vocalists. He also plays a leading role in the bands organisation and works hard to provide a happy and rewarding atmosphere within the band.

The Music

The repertoire is chosen to cover an extremely wide range of genres. Our specialities are "Classical Music", Viennese Music" and "Big-Band Swing", all of which can be played very well by wind orchestras.

The Members

The Band membership is a mixture ex-professionals, music teachers and well qualified players as well as a number of proficient amateur musicians. What they all have in common is a wish to enjoy being a Band member and to good make music together.

The Engagements

The band promotes its own two-concert Grand Concert Series every year. Usually one is in the Spring and one and at Christmas. These often feature guest artistes. It also performs, when requested, at a variety of community and charity functions.

The Training Bands

Westerly Showband is the parent to a set of training bands. Their purpose is, initially, to teach people to play. However , Kingswood Winds also plays an important role in welcoming people who have not played for a considerable time. It hopes, eventually,to get a good number of its players up to the standard of a premier band. Follow the links for more information.

More Details?

Click the relevant Band tab and follow the links! Don't forget, telephone enquiries are always welcome!

The Rest

- Come and see for yourself! All visitors welcome!

Seriously, you owe it to yourself to come and see what we do!

Chris Harris: Musical Director