Cardiff University Jazz Society are pleased to announce that they have selected a new team of students to run the Cardiff University Big Band from January 2013. This follows the news that Jeremy Meddows-Taylor will be returing to Cornwall at Christmas for his PGCE placement, having been Musical Director for two and a half years. The new format will see trumpeter, James Symington take on the main role of Band Leader, whilst being supported by Becky Gardner (Sax), Graham Payne (Piano) and Jack Lewis (Trombone) in running the band.

Commenting on the decision, Jazz Society President, Becky Gardner said: "This new format will be a new challenge but one I'm sure everyone will rise to. Although it is a daunting prospect I am incredibly excited for what is in store. We hope to maintain the high standard of music and cannot wait to develop the band even further!"

2013 already promises to be another exciting year, following the success of 2012. In February the band will be supporting the Senghenydd National Mining Memorial Concert, before March sees the band returing to the stage of the BBC Hoddinott Hall and again making the trip to Sundeland to take part in the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. Tonight, they will be performing in the wonderful, festive surroundings of Brecon Cathedral for their annual Winter Banquet, bringing their 2012 season to a close.

Cardiff University Jazz Society are sad to announce that Jeremy Meddows-Taylor will be standing down as Musical Director of the Cardiff University Big Band at the end on the semester. From January, Jeremy will be taking a teaching placement in Cornwall in order to complete his PGCE, meaning he is unable to continue working with the band. Jeremy said: “I am very sad to be leaving and will really miss Cardiff. The current band is a very talented ensemble of players and I know will continue to improve and impress. I wish everyone involved continued success and enjoyment, both with the band and personally.”

This means that the next few weeks of concerts will be Jeremy's last with the band after leading them for two and a half years. In that time, the band has achieved Gold and Silver Awards at the 2010 National Concert Band Festival, performed at the 2012 Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, and played to a sell-out audience at the internationally renowned Brecon Jazz Festival (August 2012). The band has performed as far afield as Glasgow and Sunderland as well as becoming the first ever big band to perform at the BBC Hoddinott Hall (April 2012).

In the next few weeks the band have a selection of engagements from Cardiff to Brecon, starting with a joint concert at the Students’ Union with the University of Warwick Big Band. This great night of Big Band Jazz will take place in the CF10 Café & Bar from 7.30pm and entry is only £4 or £2 (students/concessions). Following this, the band wll perform at the Society's 'Jazz at Christmas' night on December 4th at Talybont Social, before heading to Brecon Cathedral to perform at their Winter Banquet on December 7th. Please see the Calendar for more details.

An announcement regarding the band’s next leader will be made very soon!

Next month, Cardiff University Jazz Society presents its Jazz Orchestra, along with the Cardiff University Big Band, in a concert with saxophonist, Pete Long.

Pete Long is a jazz saxophone and clarinet player based in London with an enviable CV. He has worked with them all from Jools Holland to Dizzie Gillespie and The Stereophonics! He will be visiting Cardiff on Saturday 10th November and will be hosting an improvisation workshop durinng the day, before rehearsing and performing with the two bands in the evening. For more information about Pete, please click here.

The workshop and concert are each priced at £6 (or £2 for Jazz Society members) and tickets will be available on the door. The concert will open with the Jazz Orchestra, before Cardiff University Big Band takes to the stage in the second half, fresh from their sell out performance at Brecon Jazz in the Summer.

On Sunday 12th August, Cardiff University Big Band performed to a capacity audience of over 200 people at the Brecon Guildhall, as part of the 2012 Brecon Jazz Festival.

First staged in 1984, the world-renowned festival has hosted many leading international jazz musicians and up-and-coming local bands and artists. The Cardiff-based Orchard Events and Media Group Ltd. promoted this year’s festival for the first time. Cardiff University Big Band was presented by the Brecon Jazz Club and led by their Musical Director, Jeremy Meddows-Taylor.

After a long day of travelling and rehearsing, the band took to the stage at 5.30pm for their hour and half slot. They opened their programme with a tribute to the great Welsh big band leader Byron Jones in a performance of Sammy Nestico’s Strike Up The Band. Gordon Goodwin’s vibrant arrangement of It’s All Right With Me followed before guest vocalist, Luke Andrews, wowed the crowd with his rendition of Feeling Good. The first set came to a close with the Count Basie classic, April in Paris.

Members of the band who form the ten-piece group, Giles Room Jazz, came into the spotlight next to perform Cheek to Cheek and Ain’t Misbehavin’, featuring vocalist Lucy Humphries. The full band returned with another Nestico number, Fun Time, before again showcasing Lucy in All of Me. It was the music of the great Leonard Bernstein that provided the central work of the concert, in the form of Bill Reddie’s virtuosic arrangement of West Side Story. Originally for the Buddy Rich Big Band, this challenging, ten-minute work featured the band’s star drummer, Ben Vleminckx.

The audience was then introduced to the music of the Youngblood Brass Band, in a set by Bobby Kaner’s Newblood, which featured the charts Brooklyn and It’s All Over. For their final set, the big band returned with the Don Sebesky classic, Big Mama Cass, and Nestico’s The Blues Machine. To bring the event to a close, Luke Andrews reinvented the Oasis hit Wonderwall in the style of Paul Anka, and the band showcased its full ability in the great Gordon Goodwin swing number, Count Bubba.

Musical Director, Jeremy said: “Sunday was an absolutely unforgettable day for me! It was an incredible opportunity for the band and was a complete success. We all had an amazing time playing to what has to be our best audience to date. The enthusiasm, commitment, cooperation and talent on show from each performer was a real credit to everyone involved. I’d like to give a special mention to Lynne Gornall and Roger Cannon of the Brecon Jazz Club, whose support for us has just been unbelievable. Thank you both so much!”