The Current Band.
Saxes
Nick (Du Fromage) Beston Lead Alto Sax/Soprano Sax.
2000(circa)-present (9 Years)
Nick started playing the Sax at …years of age, He has played with many bands over the Years and currently teaches the Saxophone in Sevenoaks.
Nick Likes the cheesy tunes in the pad and complains vociferously when NC takes out the duffers. Nick runs a website (www.recordedtime.com) selling CDs for uk Jazz artists and runs his own function band. Nick also likes Motor homes.
Lucy Palmer ( 2nd Alto Sax).
2000-present (9 Years)
The Lovely Lucy has been playing with the BBB fro some time now. She started playing the sax at .. years old. Lucy currently works for ‘The Beeb” making programmes for the needy. In years gone by Lucy’s was infamous for ‘going for a fag’ in the middle of tunes. Thankfully, she has turned over a new leaf now and and is just abusive when she needs a cigerette. But we love having her there as she bring glamour and youth an ageing Trombone section
Adam Talbot (1st Tenor Sax).1989-present (19 Years -A Lifer!)
Adam has been in the band since year dot. Adam started on Clarinet at school then onto Sax a couple of years later and couldn’t improvise a note of Jazz until after he left school.
He plays in a Jazz Quintet with Pete Cooper playing Blue Note standards.
Can’t stand playing cheesy tunes which is unfortunate in this band!
Nigel Crane (Bandleader/ 2nd Tenor Sax).
1989-present (19 Years)
Nigel started playing the sax at 12. He started learning at the now infamous Kingsdale school mainly to get out if maths. When he left the school he went out as a pro muso for a couple of years. He played on with various function bands and travelled with them all over the world.
Nigel has been running the BBB since it started in 1989. A point worth noting is. There is no glory in running the band as it mostly means you end up plugging in wires and making panic phone calls to organize last minute cancellations.
Nigel’s definition of moaning is .. anyone disagreeing with him on a bad tune choice (which is frequent!)
Nicky Hutchins (Baritone Sax).
2003-present (6 Years)
Nicky has been playing with the band on and off for a number of years now. She originally started playing when she was … Years old. Nicky Teaches Music for a living in schools in and around ….
Trumpets
Rob Sneddon (Lead Trumpet).
1997-present (10 Years)
Rob has been with the band for quite a few years now. He originally played trumpet for the army band, since he left has now his own successful company Printing Music for Big Composers.
Miles LeVogeur (2nd Trumpet/Dep Lead).
1992-present (16 Years -A Lifer)
Miles has played with the band nearly from the beginning(on and off).He Originally started out in the Marines/Army Band. When He left he joined the police force… so don’t do anything wrong around him or he’ll do yer. Miles’ warm ups are legendary… It has been said that you can hear him warm up as far away as the curtain at the back of the stage in the Brief; even if he is warming up in the Green Dragon.
Peter Cooper (2nd Trumpet/Jazz).
1989-present (19 Years)
Pete Started playing the Trumpet at about the same time as he met both Nigel and Adam at school when we were 11. When he left school he worked in the print industry and took on professional engagements in his spare time on the trumpet. He was even the resident trumpeter for the Pasadenas(pop group) when they were around. Pete also worked with some notable function bands, The internationally renowned Nick Ross Orchestra and Singers being the most recognisable. He now runs a successful print company in Borough.
In his time Pete has also attained some building qualifications most notably he is a plasterer that is corgi registered.
Pat Price (3rd Trumpet).1995-present (14 Years)
Pat is a local boy and has played Trumpet in the band nearly since the beginning, Pat is kind of inside the local Musos Mafia. We know this because he fixes all the Amateur Dramatic shows in the area. In fact if somebody tries to muscle in, they might just jolly well find themselves with concrete boots on being thrown in the Croydon Canal. Pat currently (for a day job when he’s not mixing concrete) is a Designer and runs his own successful Design Company called Quiver Design.
Chris Hickox (4th Trumpet).
1996-present (11 Years)
Chris Has played with the band for a number of years and currently works for Toyota.
Chris Hickox is often mistaken for our former superstar tennis (nearly) hero Tim Henman.
Although Chris looks like a mild mannered accountant by day, looks can be deceiving because at night this Jeckyl and Hyde character changes and can often be found wearing Shorts and a string vest. Armed with nothing more than an iron bar and an aggressive tattoo taking on the local constabulary, saying things like “lets ‘Ave it C’Mon’.
Trombones
Reg Broooks
Reg Brooks (1st Lead Trombone).
1989 B.C.-present (3997 Years- a couple of lifers)
Reg is one day older than God but probably still the fittest man in the Band. Has Played with All sorts of Bands back in the seventies.
John Matthews (2nd Trombone).
200?-present (n Years)
John Matthews was born shortly after Uncle Reg. But is still considerably old. He was in the band for a number of years early on. Went away for a few years.. survived then decided to come back recently.
Alison Henry (3rd Trombone).1990-present (18 Years a Lifer)
Alison was actually one of our original players.
Alastair Warren (4h Bass Trombone).
2002-present (5 Years)
Alastair has been with the band quite some time now.
Rhythm Section
John Beaumont (Piano)..split chair.
1990-present (18 Years -A Lifer)
John has been with the band virtually from year dot. He is currently serving a double life sentences in the army. John Also plays Tuba, an obvious double.
Jim Treweek (Piano) Split chair.
2004-present (4 Years)
Jim joined the banned a couple of years ago and now splits the char with Johnny Beaumont. Jim Runs his own website flogging royalty free music(www.smartassmusic.com). Jim must have his own ordinary Piano indoors. We know this because when he does the band he tries to get every freekin’ noise out of it his mobile piano.
Pete Ringrose (Bass Guitar/Double Bass/Piano/Trumpet/Ocharina/Flipper).2000-present (9 Years)
Pete has been our longest serving Bass player. Pete Currently works for the “Beeb” in there studios recording plays for radio 4 and such. But Pete has a dark secret in that he used to play Piano for Martin Bunces Brass Farthing function band. Pete doesn’t like to admit to it, and sometimes twitches uncontrollably if you mention it. After playing for Martins band he we to rehab for a couple of months and has made a full recovery. But if you let him near a piano he might just relapse back into 58 choruses of “I just called to say I love you” .
Chris Higgins (Drum kit).
1995-present (14 Years)
Chris has been with the band for what seems like an eternity. He used to run a youth Big Band in Kingston called the Kingston Youth Concert Band. We are grateful for that because Chris has been the harbinger of many last minute deps over the years. Chris in his full time career works as a Swe’ey Tech’ey for an events company down in Crawley. It is just a shame that his pony tail has bitten the dust and the pictures of it melted to dust as there is still a lot of piss taking could be done.
Lewis Turner (Guitar).2009-present (A Bit of A Year)
Lewis has recently joined band. In that time he has made several Attempts to leave the Band that have failed. Guitar in the BBB is a fairly chequered affair. In fact we have only ever had 3.