Exactly 25 years ago a group of musicians from the Bournemouth area got together for the inaugural concert of what has become known as the Taverners Big Band — with a trombone playing Steven Mead as one of its members.

Now it is established as one of the UK"s leading Jazz Big Bands, the Taverners Big Band play a unique blend of popular and contemporary big band jazz.

25th anniversary

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group, a reunion concert with some of the original members is planned for September, back in its hometown of Christchurch, and a special piece is being composed especially for the occasion by Steve Waterman, featuring the jazz group and the euphonium talents of that budding George Chisholm, Steven Mead.

The theme of the piece is confluence, the confluence of two successful musicians form different musical genres4BR

Variety

Steve Waterman is renowned as one of the top British jazz trumpet players and in a remarkable recording career has worked with a great variety of jazz and cabaret artists worldwide. He is currently professor of Jazz Trumpet at The Royal Academy Of Music and Trinity College of Music in London.

The theme of the piece is confluence, the confluence of two successful musicians form different musical genres. And what’s more, Christchurch is built on the confluence of two rivers, The Avon and Stour, the rivers coming together to form Christchurch Harbour.

Concept

In addition Steve and the Band going to make the anniversary piece available to other bands using Software applications.

Band leader Adrian Dwyer is hoping is that both big bands and brass bands will download it. He told 4BR: "I don't know whether the concept of bringing Euphonium and jazz trumpet together is actually unique, but we're certainly billing it as that!"