The Don Lusher Big Band
The Don Lusher Big Band, formed in 1980, to play the occasional theatre date, had a line-up of 4 saxes, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones and 6 rhythm, drawn from some of the finest players in the session field. Their first album on the Chandos label has now been re-issued as a CD. Chandos 4512.
By 1984 the band was playing concert dates the length and breadth of the Uk with the rhythm section reduced to three,an extra sax and trombone making 8 brass, 5 saxes and 3 rhythm. Sheila Southern began to sing with the band on a regular basis in 1993. In recent years, prestige engagments have included Alan Dell's memorial concert at the Barbican, London with George Shearing and the memorial service for Sir David English at St. Martins in the Fields.On October 19th, 2002, Don was delighted that the Don Lusher Big Band was asked to play at the National Brass Band's Championship Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. This was the first time that a Big Band had been asked to play at the Gala Concert. Tony Fisher, the virtuoso trumpet player, who is the lead trumpet in Don's band, played two solo pieces accompanied by the big band to tremendous applause.
The Don Lusher Big Band was undoubtedly one of the finest bands to be found anywhere in the world. Hardly surprising considering the vast experience of its leader who began his professional career as a sidesman with Joe Daniels and His Hot Shots, followed by 18 months spent on the lead trombone chair with Lou Praeger at Hammersmith Palais where he met and married the band's vocalist, Eileen Orchard. A move into high society with Maurice Winnick's Orchestra at Ciro's Club lasted a mere four weeks but the big break was just around the corner. A chance to join the Squadronaires, sitting in the trombone section alongside George Chisholm and the experience gained over the next three years was to prove invaluable. Don was the first member of the Squadronaires not to have served in the Royal Air Force.
Theatre work with Jack Parnell's newly formed band at the Prince of Wales Theatre with Pat Kirkwood and Tommy Trinder came next but when Jack Parnell decided to take his band on the road, Don, wanting to stay in town, accepted an offer to join Geraldo. This meant regular broadcasts and it wasn't long before Geraldo's arch rival, Ted Heath, was looking to poach the young trombonist everyone was talking about
Happy with Geraldo, Don thought long and carefully before deciding to accept Ted Heath's offer to join his band on lead trombone. It was a move that was to make his name.
During the nine years spent with Ted Heath, Don Lusher learnt the art of leading a successful band and his boss was well aware that it was highly likely his lead trombone would one day leave to form his own band. He even offered to help, by forming another band to be fronted by Don. But rock 'n' roll and the Beatles were beginning to take their toll of the band business and the idea was shelved. Some 20 years would pass before the dream became reality.
As one of the most sought after session players in the country, Don worked with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Henry Mancini, Michele Legrand and Nelson Riddle who said," Don Lusher is a consummate craftsman. He approaches the trombone with the same thoughtful attention to detail I remember in Tommy Dorsey".Nelson at one time was a trombone player in the Dorsey band.
The personnel of the band July 2003 was as follows:
SAXES
· Roy Willox Lead alto
· Ray Swinfield - Alto/clarinet
· Tommy Whittle - Tenor
· Bob Sydor - tenor
· Eddie Mordue - Baritone
TROMBONES
· Colin Sheen - Lead
· Tracy Holloway
· Bill Geldard
· Colin Hill
RHYTHM
·
PIANO - John Horler
· BASS - Paul Morgan
· DRUMS - Terry Jenkins
In 1986, the band recorded the first in a series of CDs called
"TRIBUTE TO THE BIG BANDS".Unfortunately, these are now unavailable,
but they have come out again in various compilations, the best in our opinion
called "the Best of the Don Lusher Big Band" HNRCS 8002.
News of other bands and recordings see and hear Sheila Tracy on Prime Time Radio Swing Time Sundays 3-5pm and Malcolm Laycock on BBC Radio 2 Sundays 10pm Mainly About Bands, Big Band Buddies and Big Bands International, Big Band World , Crescendo & Jazz Music, Big Band Jazz, John Brennan, Ron Simmonds, Tuxedo Junction. The sounds of the big bands, the Swing Era, from the 1930's right through today!
For enquiries for personal appearances, television and radio The Don Lusher Big Band is represented by Jack L. Higgins, Pear Tree Cottage, Weymarks, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex CM10 7JB, UK Phone: +44 (0)1621 776463 FAX: +44 (0)1621 776672 e-mail: higgins@jazzbookings.com web site: and DEREK BOULTON, Derek Boulton Management, 40 Anchor Court, 2 Carey Pla ce, London SW1V 2RT Phone: 020 7828 6533 Fax: 020 7828 1271
