The band has had a weekend away at Ridley Hall since we  started up in 2012.

It gives us a great opportunity so spend some quality time rehearsing new numbers with an eye on the Sunderland Big Band Festival pieces.

Some of the pieces we have chosen for Sunderland are quite challenging for the band so were lucky to be able to persuade local percussion legend Jack Ruddick to sit in on Kit for the weekend.

Saturday night saw the annual Tyne Valley Big Band ‘World Snooker Championship’   Modesty almost forbids one to mention the eventual winners but needless to say the dream team of Dave’ Interesting’ Hignett and Johnny ‘Hurricane’ Knappers came to the fore, once again winning the event on a fair and square basis.

An evening listening to some of the world best Trumpeters led to a late night ‘I’m Maynard Ferguson’ Jam session by some of the more overexcited band members.

Thanks as always to our sponsors Wylam Brewery for providing some excellent liquid refreshment

A snowy Sunday morning saw us pack up and head home to recover.

Here we see MD and vocalist  Dave and Barbara Hignett relaxing after a lovely romantic walk. (Spot the lead trumpet player)

We were delighted too host a joint pre Christmas concert with our Junior Jazz Ensemble and Youth Big bands before our Christmas break.

Here we see the very first ever public performance of the Tyne Valley Junior Jazz Ensemble who amazed the crowd with their confidence and great playing skills for such a young ensemble.

Keen eyed viewers might notice one or two older players in the guise of Niall Armstrong and Peter Drake who help out in the band with Conor Hignett helping his dad out playing Bass.

The middle set saw the Tyne Valley Youth Big Band take over proceedings with an exciting and vibrant performance.

Tyne Valley Big Band closed the concert with a joint massed Big Band number involving any players left standing.

We are of course grateful as ever to the Phoenix Club who provide a  room for rehearsals  and our regular end of term concerts.

There are still places available in the Junior and Youth Big Bands who rehearse regularly on Friday evenings at Core Music in Hexham.

Contact Core or Dave Hignett if you are interested in learning to play Big Band Jazz under the directorship one of the best big band musicians around.

Our friends at Core music in Hexham have put together a bid to try and acquire Jamie Cullums grand piano so best of luck to all concerned.

Watch this link right to the end as it features some familiar faces including Ben, Rachel and our illustrious MD Dave Hignett.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5p-nu1xyxo

We have a few Gigs coming up before Xmas starting with a combined Phoenix concert with our Junior and Youth Big bands on the 11th December, a Gig at Hexhams Xmas skating event the following evening and a pre Xmas jolly to Eldon Square in the big city on the 18th December, so come and see us.

See calendar for details.

We are just about to start rehearsals again having had a nice summer break.

Many thanks to the Tyne Valley Youth Big Band who joined us for our final Gig of the Summer playing a joint concert with TVBB at our rehearsal venue, the Phoenix Club Hexham.

This newly formed youth big band have already progressed greatly under MD Dave Hignetts leadership. If there are any younger Jazz players out there who would like to join please get in touch as there are still some chairs open.

The second half of the gig saw an impressive set of solos from our Trombone section, here we see Nick Brodin and Dave Bradford in action

The night of course ended with the inevitable Curry in the palatial colonial setting of the Diwan e Am.

MD Dave Hignett receiving an end of term liquid gift from the band

See you in September

Keen eyed viewers may have noticed that our slot at Haydon Bridge Beer Festival has been moved to an earlier time of 5.30-7.30.

This should hopefully allow our expert tuggers to take part in the Tug O’ War and take on the might of Tynedales agricultural tugging elite.

We had a great night entertaining the sponsors and guests of Tynedale Beer Festival held at Corbridge Rugby Club on Thursday.

Here we see the band with Mike our Bass player making rabbit shadow puppet shapes on the back wall. It’s a lifelong hobby of his and a dying art.

Well lubricated, some more than others, by samples from the many fine beers and ciders on offer the band played a couple of exciting sets and got the first night of the festival off to a cracking start

‘Beesting’ was a particular favourite with certain band members

Rhythm

Pete on Kit

Rather than risk calling off for the forecasted rain we huddled together and played on the portico of Gibside’s historic Chapel for the recent Music in the Park Event one of a series of concerts held throughout the Summer.

Spot the Big Band

Here we see our fantastic vocalist Barbara ‘no relation’ Hignett trying out a new arrangement of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ on the crowd.

Later technical problems with the PA interrupted ‘Mack the Knife’ and led to Barbara gamely continuing to sing ‘Unplugged’ to complete the number, a true professional.

Hi de Hi de Hi de Hi etc

Sir Markus of Bolderson on kit

Mr Barnes

Mr Hignett

We are very lucky to be supported by Wylam Brewery for another year of sponsorship.

We have been able to kit the band out with some very natty jackets to protect us from the cold and rain when we are out and about playing at summer gigs.

Here we se our illustrious MD Dave Hignett with John Boyle of Wylam Brewery trying on the jackets for size.

Thanks again John.

Tyne Valley Big Band entertained the crowds an a lovely sunny afternoon at this years prestigious Northumberland County Show on Bank Holiday Monday.

The previous two days of torrential rain made access tricky with many vehicles getting stuck in the mud early in the day. Luckily the majority of farmers in Northumberland, some with very large tractors indeed, were on site to pull everyone out.

We were situated between the funfair and the Cumberland & Westmoreland Wrestling ring on a small oasis of dry ground surrounded by mud, and the weather held fair for the day.

The Pink Panther himself, MD Dave Hignett conducted proceedings  interspersed by much witty banter and the odd solo just to show how its done. Trombone envy from a certain trumpeter. Andrea DeVere, top tenor Sax solo.  Trumpets with Guest Fintan helping out. Mr Barnes making a welcome appearance in the tromboners. Barbara ‘no relation’ Hignett on top vocal form Saxes featuring Andrea again, with a welcome guest appearance by Matthew ‘Choppy’ Lamb filling in for our favourite antipodean Alto Sax player Kelly Rose (otherwise engaged).  Becky Ben Rhythm Section, closest to the sponsors contribution cunningly hidden between the piano and the Kit, and by a strange coincidence right next to Mark. Mark on solo triangle.

Many thanks to Gaynor Shotton secretary of Tynedale Agricultural Society for inviting us back this year, we had a great day in the sun. Thanks also to our sponsors ‘Wylam Brewery’  for providing us with some welcome liquid refreshment during the afternoon.

We were delighted to be invited to play at this years Darlington Jazz festival by organiser Shaune Eland.

Jazz in My Pants played a great set outside the Head of Steam Museum before warming up the crowd in the marquee with a final number before TVBBs’ lunchtime slot.

Resplendent in our newly sponsored Wylam Brewery Jackets  TVBB took the stage to an appreciative audience.

Heres what BeBop Spoken here had to say about us. (Review by Russell (AKA Tolstoy).