BBC Big Band

The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band run under the auspices of the BBC. It consists of professional jazz musicians and is directed by a number of conductors. These include arranger and composer Barry Forgie, who has been conducting the band on a regular basis since 1977, American jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham and guest musical directors. Widely regarded as the UK's leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, the band broadcasts on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long running series Big Band Special.

The band has played with jazz stars such as Van Morrison, Michael Bubl?, Tony Bennett, George Shearing, Michel Legrand, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Lalo Schifrin, Dr. John, Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Kurt Elling, Mark Murphy, Jack Bruce, Ed Thigpen, Monty Alexander, Norma Winstone, Clark Terry, Amy Winehouse, Koop, Claire Martin, Ian Shaw, Lea Delaria, Manhattan Transfer, Buddy Greco, Phil Woods and New York Voices. The band regularly features on the UK jazz festival circuit, and concert tours with major artists have taken the band all over the world in addition to its regular concert recordings throughout the UK for BBC Radio. It also links, from time to time, with the BBC Concert Orchestra, for concerts and broadcasts.

The band has also been conducted by such luminaries of the big band and jazz world as Billy May, Robert Farnon, Les Brown, Tommy Watt, Angela Morley, Stan Tracey, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Russo, Gerald Wilson, Roy Hargrove, Thad Jones, John Clayton, Brian Fahey, Steve Gray, Bob Florence, Sammy Nestico, Jiggs Whigham, Mark Nightingale and Steve Sidwell.[3] The band is also directed on occasions by its longstanding baritone saxophonist Jay Craig.

Since 2007, the BBC Big Band has been an Associate Ensemble at Birmingham Town Hall, performing regularly in concert and participating in community and education projects. The BBC Big Band has been voted the best Big Band in the British Jazz Awards in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2007.