Oxford University Big Band
Encyclopedia
The Oxford University Big Band or OUBB is the oldest big band
at the University of Oxford
, England
. The ensemble is part of the Oxford University Music Society and was founded in 1961, by Peter Hartley and Bill Ashton
OBE who later founded and was the first musical director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
, NYJO. The Oxford University Big Band is one of the three official big bands of the University of Oxford, alongside the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra
and Donut Kings.
OBE, during which time the band's efforts were focused on rehearsing and performing within Oxford. After a time, the band began to take part in local and national competitions throughout the UK.
After spending many years dormant, in 2005 the OUBB was reformed by students of Oxford University who felt there was a need for a new top-flight jazz ensemble to accommodate the large pool of talented jazz musicians at the university. It was not long before the band was performing, recording and going on tour. After a year back in business it became the first ever big band to perform in Oxford's most famous concert hall, the Sheldonian Theatre
.
Since 2005 the band has gone on numerous tours. In 2006 it toured to Barcelona, Spain, in 2007 the band performed in Delhi and Mumbai, India.
In 2008 the band travelled to perform at the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland (2008), and most recently, the band has collaborated with trumpeter and composer Mark Armstrong. He wrote a four part suite describing the summer solstice and the changing of the seasons for the exclusive performance of OUBB. The piece was first performed and recorded at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford before being taken on tour to the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland (2009). In the same year the band also performed at the world famous Bull's Head in Barnes.
In December 2009 OUBB performed a selection of popular big band charts at the Jacqueline du Pré
auditorium at St Hilda's College
Oxford
. In February 2010 the ensemble performed with guest soloist Dave O'Higgins at the Magdalen College Auditorium.
In July 2010 OUBB travelled to China to perform at multiple venues as part of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The ensemble is part of the Oxford University Music Society and was founded in 1961, by Peter Hartley and Bill Ashton
Bill Ashton (jazz musician)
William Michael Allingham Ashton OBE is a British saxophonist and composer, best known for co-founding the London Schools’ Orchestra, now the National Youth Jazz Orchestra , of which he is Musical Director....
OBE who later founded and was the first musical director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
National Youth Jazz Orchestra
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a British jazz orchestra founded in 1963 by Bill Ashton.Based in Westminster, London, NYJO started life as the London Schools' Jazz Orchestra and evolved into becoming the national orchestra...
, NYJO. The Oxford University Big Band is one of the three official big bands of the University of Oxford, alongside the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra
Oxford University Jazz Orchestra
Oxford University Jazz Orchestra or OUJO is an award-winning jazz orchestra based in the University of Oxford, England. OUJO is one of the three official intercollegiate jazz ensembles of Oxford, alongside the Oxford University Big Band and...
and Donut Kings.
History
The band was founded in 1961 by Peter Hartley and Bill AshtonBill Ashton (jazz musician)
William Michael Allingham Ashton OBE is a British saxophonist and composer, best known for co-founding the London Schools’ Orchestra, now the National Youth Jazz Orchestra , of which he is Musical Director....
OBE, during which time the band's efforts were focused on rehearsing and performing within Oxford. After a time, the band began to take part in local and national competitions throughout the UK.
After spending many years dormant, in 2005 the OUBB was reformed by students of Oxford University who felt there was a need for a new top-flight jazz ensemble to accommodate the large pool of talented jazz musicians at the university. It was not long before the band was performing, recording and going on tour. After a year back in business it became the first ever big band to perform in Oxford's most famous concert hall, the Sheldonian Theatre
Sheldonian Theatre
The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1668 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, chancellor of the university at the time and the project's main financial backer...
.
Since 2005 the band has gone on numerous tours. In 2006 it toured to Barcelona, Spain, in 2007 the band performed in Delhi and Mumbai, India.
In 2008 the band travelled to perform at the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland (2008), and most recently, the band has collaborated with trumpeter and composer Mark Armstrong. He wrote a four part suite describing the summer solstice and the changing of the seasons for the exclusive performance of OUBB. The piece was first performed and recorded at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford before being taken on tour to the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland (2009). In the same year the band also performed at the world famous Bull's Head in Barnes.
In December 2009 OUBB performed a selection of popular big band charts at the Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline Mary du Pré OBE was a British cellist. She is particularly associated with Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor; her interpretation has been described as "definitive" and "legendary." Her career was cut short by multiple sclerosis, which forced her to stop performing at 28 and led to her...
auditorium at St Hilda's College
St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hilda's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.The college was founded in 1893 as a hall for women, and remained an all-women's college until 2006....
Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. In February 2010 the ensemble performed with guest soloist Dave O'Higgins at the Magdalen College Auditorium.
In July 2010 OUBB travelled to China to perform at multiple venues as part of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.