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Woodwind teacher Paul Bagshaw is getting into the swing of things in preparation for a school’s upcoming summer ball and is calling on the kingdom’s musicians to blow the cobwebs away and sign up to make music together.
The director of the St Christopher’s Community Big Band, which he established 18 months ago, currently features a line-up of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, keyboards, rhythm and bass guitars, drums and singers … and the group is hoping to expand to meet a growing demand for its musical services.
Paul is eager to strike a chord with budding musicians and is calling on accomplished and enthusiastic players to come join the band as around 15 to 20 musicians are needed for each engagement.
He said: “We have plenty of trumpets, but need more saxophone players, both tenor and alto, and a trombone too. We are also looking for a new drummer … it never stops!
“If people are interested, they should be of a competent standard but don’t have to be the finished article. We have professional level players in the band, but also others who haven’t reached Grade 8 level yet. As long as they are committed to weekly rehearsals and enjoy playing in a big band, we will welcome them.”
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. Big Bands have evolved with the times and continue around the globe to this day … particularly at parties and evening events.
Paul came to Bahrain 12 years ago, and before that he played principal flute for 17 years in South Africa before coming to the Middle East as woodwind tutor to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. He now mainly conducts the St Chris band, although occasionally appears alongside other musicians in concert.
The band started after Paul was encouraged to get it off the ground by his colleagues, who form the basis of the group. He explained: “We felt that there was a gap in this kind of music on the island, and we all enjoy blowing the dust off our instruments!
“We started up as an avenue for local instrumental teachers to do some playing, and then I thought that we should open it up to all staff members and parents, and then it morphed into friends too, which enabled us to get close to the full line-up of a Big Band.
“We are fortunate to have the goodwill of the school, which offers us the venue and has encouraged us with the formation of this group and thus named it the St Christopher’s Community Big Band, operating for the wider community.”
The band was quickly able to snare admirers, being booked for the Queen’s 80th Birthday Bash at the British Embassy last year and numerous other events around the island. They are now gearing up for the St Christopher’s School Summer Ball, which will take place at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain on Friday.
The event is an annual gathering for the school’s students who will be leaving in the summer, and this will be the band’s second performance after entertaining crowds last year.
The performance covers both ends of the musical spectrum, from Glen Miller jazz to light music to pop arrangements. On Friday, the band will perform tunes such as Valerie, Skyfall, Pick Up The Pieces, Copacabana, Ain’t No Mountain and many more big band, swing and pop classics.
He also derives much joy from his day job, and sees a bright future for Bahrain’s music scene. He said: “There are plenty of really talented individuals at the school. We have a huge music programme which has seen fine young players get a platform to learn and grow. I run the school’s big band too, and the better players in that often join the community band.”
St Christopher’s Community Big Band rehearses every Tuesday night at the St Chris Junior School in Saar, between 7pm-9pm. Those interested in joining the band can email paul.bagshaw@staff.st-chris.net for more details.
