The Big Band Series: The Leeds College of Music Community Cuban Big Band

Wow what a gig - we had to turn people away it was so popular. Lots of dancing!

Flautist and Charanga expert Sue Miller is a one woman campaigner for traditional Cuban Charanga music.  This 30-piece Cuban music big band was created by Sue in February 2001,  meeting initially at Yorkshire College of Music before moving (as the band expanded in size) to Leeds College of Music in 2004. As a performer and bandleader of Charanga del Norte Sue wanted to create an opportunity for both amateur and professional musicians to learn to play the Cuban styles of Mambo, Son, Chachacha, Bolero and Big Band Salsa.

Sue has studied with Cuba’s finest arrangers including Richard Egües from Orquesta Aragón and Jorge Machado, Cuba’s top Charanga record producer for Envidia records. Sue has written music not only for all instruments but specifically for the players in the band and this afternoon's concert features the exuberant trumpet solos of Chapel Allerton’s very own Phil Green, a fine ‘all singing all dancing’ six-piece vocal section, a driving rhythm section led by Acutes drummer Matty Shallcross and some fine trombone playing from Vicki Fryer. As there are 30 musicians in the band it is impossible to name them all but expect sax grooves, violin riffing, and high trumpet solos and sizzling  Mambos - Cuban dance music for the ears and the feet!. Take a look at their preview video clip here.

See extracts of the gig here and read a review here.

The Cuban Music Big Band at Seven Sunday 12th July 1-4pm £4/3 concessions, kids free