The Beats & Pieces Big Band is a 14 piece contemporary jazz ensemble based in Manchester. The band released their debut EP in December 2009 on Efpi Records, an independent label run by three of the band members, and have performed across the UK to consistent acclaim. In March 2011, Beats & Pieces were named as the winners of the European Young Artists’ Jazz Award, part of the Burghausen International Jazz Festival in Germany. Winning the competition ahead of 4 other finalists from across Europe led to a gala concert alongside Chick Corea and Gary Burton, which was recorded for broadcast on German national TV and radio.

“They couple gale-force collective energy and confidence to startlingly original material (most of it by its rising-star leader Ben Cottrell) that acknowledges big-band traditions while radically modernising them.” John Fordham, The Guardian

“Their performance would have reassured anyone who wonders whether the big band tradition can connect with a twentysomething audience that knows its Radiohead but thinks that Stan Kenton is probably a window-cleaner in Coronation Street” Clive Davis, The Times

“Beats & Pieces is to the big band tradition what Polar Bear is to the saxophone led quartet” London Jazz Festival

“If ever there was a big band that sounded perfect for the 21st century young person, Beats & Pieces is it” Peter Bacon, thejazzbreakfast

Growing from an initial meeting in early 2008, the band were invited to open the Manchester Jazz Festival later that year on the strength of a two track demo recorded at that very first rehearsal. In the autumn following their first gigs, the band were shortlisted for the Peter Whittingham Award for new and innovative work in jazz, a prize previously won by some of the brightest talents in the UK. Since then, the band have performed across the UK, notably on two highly successful tours in Summer 2010 and November 2010, and made their debut at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Club in London in January 2011 in a sold out gig that received glowing 4-star reviews in both the Guardian and the Times. The Beats & Pieces EP has been listed in the monthly charts in Jazzwise magazine on several occasions, and tracks from the EP have been played nationwide on BBC Jazz on 3 and Jazz FM.

The members of the group are drawn from some of the most exciting and in demand young musicians active in the UK today. Most have played together in a variety of different contexts for many years, and came together from a shared need and desire to perform contemporary large ensemble repertoire which fully embraces their broad musical influences. In addition to the jazz canon, these also include the music of groups such as Polar Bear, Led Bib and Troyka; of groundbreaking larger ensembles such as Loose Tubes, Colin Towns? Mask Orchestra and the Matthew Herbert Big Band; and of revolutionary popular artists such as the Beatles, Radiohead and Björk.

The format of the band is an adaptation of the traditional big band line-up, consisting of 3 saxophones/reeds, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, piano/Rhodes, guitar, bass and drums, as well as a laptop musician manipulating the sound of the band live in real time. All charts are originals by musical director Ben Cottrell, specially composed and arranged with the unique characteristics of each musician in the band in mind.

The band’s founder and musical director, Ben Cottrell, was chosen as one of 8 young creative musicians from across the UK to participate in the 2010/11 edition of the prestigious Take Five professional development scheme. The scheme is produced by Serious and funded by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, the PRS for Music Foundation, Arts Council England and the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, and its alumni includes musicians at the forefront of contemporary British jazz.

The Beats & Pieces Big Band is grateful to the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund for its support for their recent trip to Germany through an Ensembles and Groups Award.

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