About Us
Big Band Roulette is a new jazz project based out of the University of Cambridge. Here’s how it works…
Want to Join the Band?
Gig Timeline
Although every gig will be slightly different, this is a rough idea of what the lead up to and day of the gig will look like.
Before the Gig
Roughly 5 weeks before – We announce the gig theme and the date of the event
Roughly 4 weeks before — Musicians register their interest and confirm their availability
Roughly 3 weeks before — We randomly build the band and let musicians know whether they were selected
On The Day
24 hours before gig — Sheet music is released
Evening before — Musicians practice the setlist by themselves
On the day — The band rehearses together with our MDs
Evening — We perform the set, then head to the pub!
Why Another Big Band?
There are already so many amazing big bands in Cambridge, so why create another?
In short, we’re not trying to compete with any existing bands, but instead want to offer a different type of playing experience that supplements joining an existing big band as a full-time member. There are three main reasons we decided to start this new project:
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We wanted to create an opportunity for musicians of all skill levels and stylistic backgrounds to play together.
By restricting all practice, rehearsal and performing to one day per gig, Big Band Roulette is a great way to give jazz a go without committing to a full year. If you have a great time, we’re more than happy to connect musicians with existing big bands that have seats to fill.
The random creation of the band is also perfect for giving less-experienced players the opportunity to play alongside some of the best in Cambridge, learning from them in the process.
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We want to do weird gigs. The sort of the stuff that would be too much hassle for a regular big band to arrange. Whether that is learning novel setlists for a specifically-themed dinners or playing as a backing band for a dance competition, we are up for anything if it sounds fun.
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There is so much amazing big band music out there but, unfortunately, so little time to play it in. My taking a more relaxed approach to learning setlists, we are able to look at far more charts than a typical big band can. If you’re looking for a band that will have polished performances of everything they play, we are likely not for you. But if you want to explore the world of big band music and play some fantastic new pieces, we’ve got you covered.