17-piece Apollo Big Band adds pizazz to jazz

Apollo Big Band
at Sutton Hall, Stockcross
on Friday, January 31

Review by KEVIN DYSON

Apollo played their first gig of 2025 at Stockcross on Friday. Big-band-jazz lovers assembled at Sutton Hall, for a superb night of music from this local 17 piece jazz orchestra.

As usual, Apollo invited a guest vocalist along to personalise the evening’s repertoire and add a little extra ‘pizazz’! Terry Franks, a well known singer and musician who had appeared with Apollo before, was introduced by the band’s musical director Les Bruce, as being one of the very best jazz vocalists in the business!

Les gave the nod to Nick Tipper on drums to set the tempo and count-in the first tune of the evening. Immediately the familiar tones of the classic ‘Take the A Train’ were cast from Apollo’s four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes and the four piece rhythm section. The audience relaxed and settled down to watch, listen and enjoy the evening. The volume was comfortable with instruments in good balance.

Terry Franks appeared for the next number ‘Ain’t That A Kick In The Head’. His very smooth and confident style was very listenable and at times the timbre of his voice reminded me of Tony Bennet. Franks’ other offerings included songs by Sinatra and Bublé, and I felt this genre really suited his intonation.

Opening the second set, the band played pianist Cliff Rowley’s original piece ‘Apollo Blues’ featuring a trombone solo by Jed Roylance.

During the evening several band members were highlighted with solos and of note were Brian Yule’s on ‘Doin’ Basie’s Thing’ and Trevor Hayward’s on ‘Great Scott’.

As always an encore was called for and the version of the Eagles’ ‘Heartache Tonight’ came as a very pleasant surprise with the band really rocking!

Apollo has several more gigs lined up for later this year and details can be found on their website apollobigband.co.uk