THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN jazz band comprises some the most sought-after and successful musicians on the jazz scene today. Performing a wide range of jazz styles through well crafted arrangements, this band of versatile musicians successfully blends music from every jazz genre into an exciting and approachable package.
Calling on their experience of performing with Europe’s most influential jazz bands of the last sixty years, the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN combines a wealth of experience with youthful exuberance. Paying homage to the great jazz masters of the early jazz period as well as keeping alive the sounds of the swing era, the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN’s repertoire also celebrates the jazz revival of the 1950’s, tipping their hat to the great bands of Barber, Ball and Bilk.
This band takes no prisoners!
The MAGNIFICENT SEVEN play a varied repertoire, with compositions and arrangements by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Louis Prima, Errol Garner, Fats Waller, Chucho Valdez, Paquito D’Rivera and many more.
How about inviting Robert Vaughn along to a gig, Richard?
Stay glued to Jazz&Jazz for news about their future concerts.
The MAGNIFICENT SEVEN are currently featured artists on http://www.bookajazzband.com
Contact: [email protected]
Different band – same faces…
Mind you, we all do it. Sign of the times. The logical conclusion is that one day there will be 10 one (person) bands, all with the the same person. Must get on with my trumpet practise!!
A wonderful refreshing sound. Well done to Amy and the chaps.
The band features musicians from the Barber, Ball and Bilk bands…. So there are a limited amount of faces to use. Fortunately we’ve managed to find the best and most versatile musicians on the scene today, capable of playing original and complicated arrangements with freedom and excitement. Hope to see you at one of our concerts, Jim.
There you have it, Jim. Hopefully Richard will announce some of the concerts on Jazz&Jazz or Jazzers so you’ll be able to get along.
I have listened, and I must say it is a wonderful sound. FRESH!! I have my band soon in Germany: Denny Ilett (Tony Pitt All Stars, Graeme Hewitt High Society Jazz Band, George Tidiman All Stars, etc), Baby Jools (Richard Bennett Band, and playing all over the place), Jim Swinnerton (LOADS of bands), Adrian Cox (in demand everywhere), Karl Hird (in demand everywhere) etc etc.
The problem is there ain’t enough gigs for each (pro) muso to make enough money playing in just one band. The only ‘regular’ bands are those that do it for fun or hobby…
Same in Germany. One minute I’m a Hedgehog Stomper and the next minute I am a solo act act in a clock shop!
Time for another dark beer!!
Cheers
Jim
A great sound, and very tight!!
High praise indeed from Jim, Richard. And yet a good appraisal of the jazz scene. Perhaps Mag 7 can break the mould.
In reality Peter, no band can ‘break the mould’ – unless of course, it can work 5 times a week, every week of the year, say, averaging £1200 per gig. After expenses (hotels, fuel etc) that would come down to about £700 a gig, leaving just over a £100 per gig per person (EXCLUDING sound engineer expenses, etc). So, we are talking about a possible maximum of £500 (before tax) per muso per week. Then of course, as any pro muso will tell you, it ain’t exactly cheap living on the road.
So, to sum up: 260 gigs per year • average fee per gig £1200…? Just about possible to make a living. Then, of course, this has to be repeated every year (not taking into account inflation, rising fuel prices etc), also trying to regenerate our ever diminishing audience, which, of course, will require even more effort in, say, 10 years time. I am 72 years old and tomorrow I have an interview with the Deutsch Post…
Sorry; I completely overlooked CDs. But for every CD sold, endless copies are produced anyway.
You are a year ahead of me, Jim.
It’s that old conundrum “How to make a million out of jazz …………!” These days I’m realising more about what it means. Not that I’m trying to make a million, or lose a million for that matter. But I’m finding it costly to keep up with the pace as requests come in for me to help promote this or that gig, club, festival etc – especially when it involves travel costs, ticket prices et al. And a trouble shared is a trouble halved doesn’t work either because who wants half!
More seriously, Amy told me recently she hates the thought that in five years time there will be far fewer fans than ever to play for. She’s got friends in her own age group along to her gigs but not to return because of all the grey domes. Even balding domes I suppose. Yet you and I know the youngsters are out there and playing our kind of jazz. So how do we bridge the dichotomy?
Pass on that one. But there are so many good young players out there. Maybe musical education could help the cause a bit. I’m sure that if every school had a jazz band, this would stimulate some sort of interest. Look at Enkhuizen in Holland. One school, god knows how many jazz bands, and loads of young fans to boot! Thanks to Hans Peter Pluim, music teacher extraordinaire. Also, at Abersoch Jazz Festival a couple of years back, I noticed that the Oriental Jazz Band (young mob from Enkhuizen) pulled in quite a few youngsters…Maybe jazz evening classes, some of us oldies taking time to help out?
The Ken Colyer Trust had a “jazz in schools programme” of sorts before it concluded business with the publication of the book. Trevor Stent is doing a great job in Brittany. So how do we summon up a jazz genie in the UK?
Unfortunately he lives in Germany!
Great response!
Great band richard and amy see ya soon mark