There aren’t too many musical experiences around these days that are truly unique but this is one of them.  The combination of a jazz/funk trombonist with a full steel orchestra has never been done before so get ready for a mind-bending meeting of metal and musical styles.

 

Acclaimed musician, composer and educator, Dennis Rollins is well-known on the British and international jazz scene and is celebrated for his professionalism, versatility and unique approach to the underrated trombone.  Recently hailed by Jazzwise as ‘the most exciting British trombonist in decades’, Dennis is inspiring a new generation of musicians and audiences – demonstrating how the underrated trombone can be an exciting front-line instrument.  Dennis Rollins has recorded two critically acclaimed albums to date with his funk/jazz band, Dennis Rollins’ Badbone & Co.  Born in Birmingham, England in 1964 of Jamaican parents Dennis cut his teeth at the age of 14 studying and performing with The Doncaster Youth Jazz Association.  After years of concentrated study Dennis relocated to London where his unique approach to the instrument was immediately and appreciatively recognised resulting in numerous offers of work.  In the ensuing years Dennis further honed his formidable talent performing with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and the legendary all-black jazz big band, The Jazz Warriors.  Dennis Rollins has established a reputation as an artist of excellence, comfortable performing many styles of music, has resulted in his working with some of this country’s and, indeed, the world’s top jazz and pop personalities such as Jamiroquai, US3, Blur and Courtney Pine.  

 

North Stars Steel Orchestra is one of Europe’s oldest and best-established steel bands.  Founded in Huddersfield in 1975, North Stars set out with grand ambitions: to reveal to the British people the true spirit, virtuosity and power of the authentic steel pan art form as it is practiced in its birthplace of Trinidad.  In 30 years, the orchestra has constantly striven to expand the scope and scale of both the music and its audience through performance, education, competition and collaboration.  During that time North Stars have performed throughout the UK as well as in Germany, France and the Caribbean.  Highlights include performing at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Jubilee Festival, at the Old Vic for the 100th birthday celebrations of the Labour Party, at the Royal Festival Hall and Shakespeare’s Globe, and live on BBC’s Blue Peter.  In 2002 it was crowned British Champions of Steel at the Steelband Panorama in Notting Hill.

TOUR DATES

 

Saturday, 25 June, 8.00pm

Bradford Festival, Centenary Square, Bradford
 

Sunday, 17 July, 3.15pm
Royal Parks Summer Programme, Regent's Park Bandstand, London
 

Saturday, 23 July, 4.00pm

Harbourside Festival, Bristol

 

Saturday, 13 August, 6.30pm

Brecon Jazz Festival, Wales

 

Sunday, 14 August

World Music Day, Shrewsbury

 

Saturday, 10 September
Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Cumbria
 

Saturday, 8 October

Marsden Jazz Festival, West Yorkshire
 

Saturday, 15 October
The Playhouse, Norwich

 

Sunday, 23 October
Musicport 2005 Festival, Whitby, North Yorkshire
 

Saturday, 12 November
Sallis Benny Theatre, Brighton