Sax and the City: In conversation with student gig organisers from Bristol Uni’s big band society

The University of Bristol Big Band Society held their first big gig of the academic year last week “Sax and the City” at the Fleece. I joined them for a night of jazz (in the city), speaking to the student organisers of the event to understand the work behind the scenes.

They played a variety of jazz, funk and soul tunes including a jazzy cover of American Boy and Somebody Else’s Guy by Jocelyn Brown.

Their concert at the Fleece had its inaugural year last winter, with hopes to continue for years to come.

The society has two bands; the larger non-auditioned band The Bristol University Jazz Orchestra (BUJO) and the auditioned, smaller 20-person band The Bristol Hornstars.

Credit: Howie Photos

Both bands join together after rehearsals on Friday to catch up in the SU’s Balloon Bar.

Ali the society’s president told me: “We’ve got 70 or 80 people this year, which is crazy.”

He went on to explain how gigs are one of the society’s core activities, adding: “This is kind of one of our main gigs of the year.”

With organising big events like Sax in the City, “there’s a lot of work that goes into it.” Adding: “We have relationships with the venues, we played this last year which was a new gig for us.”

Credit: Howie Photos

The Bristol Hornstars (UOBs jazz BNOCs) also perform professional gigs, with their next being a corporate Christmas party next week.

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Vice President and gig organiser Zac also told me about the intricacies that go into the planning process. Telling me: “The first thing is getting the crowd together.” Adding: “A lot of students at the university love listening to this type of music, like jazz. So the first step is really getting to know the audience and promoting the band.”

Bristol is a city that loves Jazz, with the likes of Nubaya Garcia, Ezra Collective and Berlioz putting on gigs across the city this last year.

Having friendly contact with the venue is essential with Zac telling us: “Obviously, you have to go to the venue itself, and contact the promoter, be like, this is what we’re putting on.” Adding: “We’re hiring the venue for a really good night of jazz”

The next step is assembling a crew, hiring a lighting director, sound engineer and most importantly “good bar staff.” With Hornstars conductor Oli telling the crowd: “The drunker you get the better we sound!”

However, one did not need to be under the influence to appreciate the level of work and dedication that birthed the show.

Image credits to Howie Photos