Steve Parry and the
Big Band From Hell
Steve Parry and the Big Band From Hell
Steve formed the Big Band From Hell whilst still a student at Leeds College of Music in the early/mid 90s as a vehicle for him to play drums in a big band. (Being a trumpet player, he didn’t get to play drums that often!) The band lasted until the end of 1996 whereupon Steve’s first Blues Brothers tour started.
Then in 2003 Steve got a phone call from his friend and ex-lead trumpet with the band, Bryan Davis, who suggested reforming the band for a gig at The Wardrobe in Leeds. And so it was that Steve Parry and the Big Band From Hell arrived back on the scene with Steve writing more charts than ever before.
The band’s sound is that not of a swing era big band but more aggressive and with a very colourful harmonic content, much like a cross between the bands of Buddy Rich and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis. In fact, the repertoire of the band consists of some arrangements as played by the Buddy Rich band but mainly compositions and/or arrangements by Steve himself written in that style.
Collective personnel
Trumpets:
Bryan Davis, Tom Tait, Sean Hollis, Simon Nixon, Gareth Smith, Andrew Colman
Trombones:
Kevin Holborough, Simon Pugsley, Lee Hallam, Dave Little, Chris Hibbard
Saxophones:
Joel Purnell, Jim Corry, Mark Ellis, Rod Mason, Tom Leaper, Tony Burkill, Paul Corry, Si Kaylor
Piano:
Rob Barron, Joe Tatton
Bass:
Adrian Knowles, Jack Stevens, Matt Owens
Drums/Leader:
Steve Parry
