This year, Durham BRASS! festival is expanding its range of events to include a three-day summer school for intermediate and advanced players, led by legendary American trombonist Jiggs Whigham and members of the BBC Big Band. The Summer School will provide emerging and semi-professional musicians the opportunity to work with director and trombonist Jiggs Whigham, lead trumpet Martin Shaw plus the rhythm section of Robin Aspland (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass) and Tom Gordon (drums).
Jiggs Whigham is a world renowned trombonist and band leader, who has played with all the greats, including Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Gil Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Jerry Lewis, Judy Garland and Dizzy Gillespie himself. Originally from Ohio, Jiggs began playing professionally at 17 when he joined the Glenn Miller/Ray McKinley orchestra. He is currently the director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra and is a visiting tutor with Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Royal Northern College.
This intensive three-day course will focus on the music of the great big band leaders, giving participants a chance to learn from some of today’s leading performers, and to meet other liked-minded players, during a festival when the whole city becomes immersed in brass music. Participants will be invited to play in a final concert, as well as having the chance to join members of the BBC Big Band in a jam session.
Applications are welcome from any musicians at Grade 6 or above, who play trumpet, trombone, saxophone (alto, tenor or baritone), piano, bass, guitar or drums. There will be three bands running: youth (aged 17-22), intermediate and advanced.
The course costs (non-residential) are £150 for the youth band, and £250 for intermediate or advanced. Accommodation in Chapel Heights is available for the intermediate and advanced band (total price £385).
