BAND LEADER

Brian Newton

SAX SECTION

Jon Field     Allan Dampier   John Bewick  Charlie Wright   Dave Stokes

TROMBONE SECTION

Byron Wedgewood   Mel Jones  Greg Jones  Fred Devereux

TRUMPET SECTION

Arthur Brown  Ian Hattersley Trevor Darby  Karl Steadman  Jim Marchant

RHYTHM SECTION

Brian Hadley  John Kent   Tom Farnell

 Brian Newton

 

Brian Newton started playing trombone at the age of 17. Brian played with many dance bands around Birmingham and was a member of the Mike Burney Sextet. He has also played in Symphony Orchestras in and around Birmingham.

In 1955 he became interested in big bands and followed the Ted Heath band when he could. His record collection includes many Kenton recordings and, naturally, he modelled his trombone playing on the music in the Kenton bands.

Favourite Trombonists: Frank Rosolino; Carl Fontana; Bob Burgess; J.J. Johnson.

Brian Newton formed his own band for rehearsal purposes only, consisting of six brass, five saxes and three rhythm, gradually increasing the brass section to the present ten.

The Bands sound has many influences, Stan Kenton; Count Basie; Woody Herman; Buddy Rich; Oliver Nelson and Maynard Ferguson,. also Brian Hadley has written some original compositions for the band.

The Orchestra is, in the main, a rehearsal outfit and the musicians have various occupations – Business Executives, Engineers, etc. – and appear for what is little more than travelling expenses. The enthusiasm and enjoyment which they obviously feel radiates itself to enthusiastic gatherings of listeners from all over the Midlands.

The Brian Newton Big Band perform almost every month at the Bulls Head in Kings Norton, please check the Gig Dates page for more info.

 

Karl Steadman

I started playing Trumpet when I was about 7 years old, my first instrument was a B&M Champion which I still have although it's been modified a little since then, it now sports a Gillespie bell and is lacquered black.

My instrument is a 1957 Conn Constellation 38B, but also have a Z model Bobby Shew and a converted 6335 Yamaha that has 4 valves and 2 bells, more commonly know as a Shewhorn.

I joined the band around 5 years ago, although I'd done dep work for the band when they needed helping out on rehearsal and gigs.

I play purely for relaxation and enjoyment, but have done some teaching for Sandwell Music service at Charlemont Music Centre, helping to encourage younger musicians to play Big Band Music

Most of my playing centres around the The Brian Newton Big Band, but I did run my own band called The Ground Zero Big Band, but due to running my work commitments this has sort of ceased to exist.

Tom Farnell

I was about 17 when I joined a local Jazz band which I played with for a couple of years before landing a professional job at the Tower Ballroom with the resident Trio.

I joined the Bobby Johnson Big Band a little while later and spent a few years with his band and learnt a lot.

Since then I've worked with many different bands and worked on the cruise ships, including the old QE2 and the Canberra.

I worked with Fairport - Convocation and the Savoy Brown Blues Band touring the USA.

I spent the last 10 years  mainly teaching and gigging locally with different bands and more recently I joined the Brian Newton Big Band and am really enjoying the experience of working with a Big Band again.

Arthur Brown

I started playing trumpet at the age of 13. I soon realised that Dixieland Jazz was the Music I enjoyed the most and at the age of 17 I formed my first jazzband while doing my apprenticeship at the Austin Motor Company, and I still lead the Arthur Brown Jazzband, 50 years on.

My Band has played at all ports of Europe, UK Channel Islands and the USA, where I was made Honorary Citizen of New Orleans.

Although playing mainly Dixieland Jazz, I have always been involved in many of the Midland big bands which I find very challenging and musically rewarding.

Thankfully Brian never forgot the days of 30 years ago when I was with the BNBB, and asked me if I would like to play with the band again, working with first class musicians and playing the original arrangements of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Woody Herman, etc in a swinging big band that always strives to play correctly, so the answer was a definate YES!

Dave Stokes
 

I was born in Bristol in 1933, and at the age of 18, I joined the RAF Fighter Command Band. When I was Demobbed, I spent  a lot of my time working Palais bands in Leeds, Manchester, Plymouth, Hull etc. as well as doing many summer seasons in seaside resorts all over the country.

In 1961 I came to Birmingham to join the resident band at the West End Ballroom, so brought a house just outside of the city so that I could continue working around the Midland Ballrooms.

After a spell in London with the Andy Ross band, I returned to Birmingham and carried working with local bands and doing theatre work.

Whilst working at the ballrooms and theatre gigs, I also worked for Sandwell Education Department as a part time woodwind teacher.

During my time with Sandwell Education I became a founder member of the Sandwell Youth Big Band  introducing many of the younger players in the Sandwell area to the big band scene today.

I hold the Baritone Sax chair with the BNBB, and have been with the band for many years.

Brian Hadley

I started studying music and piano at 9 years of age, and still at it 61 years later.
I was reared in the classical tradition (which I still love) but have always had a leaning towards jazz and its performance.

Composing and arranging also gives me great pleasure and my writing covers various music genres, such as, big band, light orchestral and chambers works.

My wife manages and conducts a local choir. So, with our musical activities,
plus 8 grandchildren, you can well imagine that we find time flies by - very enjoyably.

Greg Jones

I stepped into the shoes of long time former band member, trombonist Brian Johnson in 2009.  I have played for a number of midlands jazz and function bands but was won over by big bands whilst in youth jazz orchestras.  

Playing in the Brian Newton Big Band is a real treat, to pick up this terrific pad and open a chart from Stan Kenton’s own library, and read Frank Rosolino’s hand written annotations is quite special.

This band is full of fabulous musicians and soloists and it’s a real has power and swing. If I could emulate just some of the melodic improvisation of trombonists JJ Johnson, and the tone and technique of Carl Fontana when i’m playing in the band, I would be really happy.

Fred Devereux

John Kent

Charlie Wright

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