A unique quirk of fate 24½ years ago in Christchurch, Dorset, brought together a potentially explosive mix to rival that of the ‘big bang’ experiments underneath the Swiss Alps on Sunday.

25th Anniversary

Nature has, to-date, never been able to explain why, like oil and water, Big Bands and Brass Bands never mix, so it took a unique experiment, initiated by the Taverners Big Band on the celebration of their 25th Anniversary, to prove whether or not there is any common matter between the musical genres.

Leading experiment

Leading the experiment, a world first, was Steve Waterman, one of the founding members of the Taverners Big Band, and described by the late Humphrey Lyttleton as one of the UK’s greatest jazz trumpeters.

At the opposite edge of the Regent Centre stage was Steve Mead, again one of the original musicians that became the Taverners Big Band, and now the undisputed greatest exponent of the euphonium in the world.

At the opposite edge of the Regent Centre stage was Steve Mead, again one of the original musicians that became the Taverners Big Band, and now the undisputed greatest exponent of the euphonium in the world4BR

First collision

But what came out of the world's first orchestrated collision between a euphonium and Big Band jazz trumpet was not, as some doom mongers had predicted, a ‘black hole’, but warm harmonies as yet unheard by the musical world, the mellow tone of the Euphonium contrasting and complimenting the improvised sounds from Steve Waterman on jazz trumpet, an outcome that surprised the most sceptical of musician.

Thrilling

"It was thrilling to be playing with all those screaming trumpets battling for supremacy", said Elaine Andrews who was one of several former members invited to join the band for the second set.

It was a memorable evening for The Taverners Big Band who, in 25 years have performed in four countries including inside ‘The Rock’ of Gibraltar, raising money for various charities.

Fantastic concert

"A fantastic concert. It brought back some wonderful memories, and how lovely that they found time to come back for a reunion," said Julie Sephton, a supporter of the band since its inception.

The experiment at the Regent Centre isn’t the Taverners only connection with Switzerland, as one of the original members, Liz Jochum (née Kibble), originally from Bournemouth, is now Head Teacher of a school in Lucerne, one of many previous members of the band to join in the celebration.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, said Liz.

Experiment

The experiment at Christchurch’s Regent Centre on Sunday failed to detect the Boson Higgs particle, the CERN researchers are spending billions of dollars trying to find, but the Taverners Big Band experiment, costing somewhat less, did prove that with the lyrical composition from Steve Waterman and the superb playing of the euphonium by Steve Mead, there is a musical place for euphonium and Big Band.