Ember Big Band
Saturday 9th September at 8pm
Come and hear the big band sound! This is a fundraising event for the new greenroom, enjoy wonderful music and help fit out the new bar.
The Ember Big Band is a not-for-profit line-up of 23 talented musicians that made its debut in March 2015. It performs at major events throughout Elmbridge (and often way beyond – the Eastbourne Air Show is on the cards for August). Past gigs have included sell-out Christmas concerts, regattas, Thames Heritage days, a Rat Pack dinner dance at Whiteley Village and a special ‘command performance’ for the Mayor of Elmbridge’s nominated charities for 2017.
Our line-up of 23 musicians (plus talented singers) perform numbers in styles and tempos ranging from the Great American Songbook to swing, Latin, funk and rock. The band is conducted by Bill Geldard, one of the UK’s best known trombonists and arrangers. Since turning professional at the age of fifteen he has played with some of Britain`s most famous orchestras and musicians including The Squadronaires, Geraldo, Ted Heath, John Dankworth and Jack Parnell. Ask him about the high spots of his career and there is a modest pause (probably because there are too many to mention). Then he recalls touring with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli and Sammy Davis Jnr; having a solo specially written for him by Sinatra’s arranger, Nelson Riddle; performing with Henry Mancini at “The Pink Panther” premiere in Switzerland; playing on the sound track of the first Bond film, “Dr. No” – and on the signature tune of ITVs hit 70s TV series “Minder”.
Bill says: “Ember is an amateur band – but we take a professional approach to everything we do. There`s a difference between being ‘amateur’ and ‘amateurish’. We’ve got a cracking programme lined up for the Nomad Theatre – and are confident of a great audience.”
