The Coventry Consortium Big Band

The Consortium Big Band is a large jazz orchestra based in Coventry in the West Midlands. The band has a full compliment of 19 or 20 players - 5 saxophones, 4/5 trumpets, 5 trombones, a four piece rhythm section of piano, guitar, bass and drums and a female vocalist 'Susan Starr'. The players themselves are from all walks of musical life from full and ex-professionals and semi-professionals to competent amateurs, all fine players.

Primarily a rehearsal band, The Consortium Big Band's aim is practice and performance of big band jazz and swing repertoire for the education and entertainment of its members. However it does make public appearances throughout the year, having recently taken part in Coventry City Council's "Band in the Parks" programme and has given concerts in Leamington and Coventry area. It is available for hire for concerts or other jazz events.

The Consortium Big Band's repertoire consists of many tunes and arrangements of great big band jazz masters such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton and others. Though mainly concentrating on big band jazz the band's library does contain swing music, such as the well known arrangements of the music of Glenn Miller, and even some of the finer songs of the Beatles.

The band meets currently once per week at the Unicorn Club, Holbrooks.

Derrick Parker

Derrick, born in Doncaster on 24th February 1945, is an amateur trombonist living in the Rugby area of the United Kingdom. He was taught by the Salvation Army, as many other fine brass players, but received no formal college level musical education. Now retired, by profession he was an engineer, having a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Tribology, the study of friction, wear and lubrication - apt perhaps for a trombone player. Occasionally he can be found in the Warwick Music office where he is a Faccia-tutto - he makes a mean cup of instant coffee!

In the early 1960's Derrick was invited to become a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and in the three years of membership he toured to Poland and Switzerland and many parts of Britain. He was also a member of Hanwell Band during its heyday, appearing on radio and television and on the Peter Skellern recording of "You're a Lady". (The bottom of his slide was just visible on Top of the Pops!) Wherever he has lived he has always been, and still is, involved with many good amateur orchestras and big bands.

During an 11 year sojourn in the Italian Tyrol he became a member of the Burgerkapelle Bruneck, the local town band, lederhosen and all, and a highlight was a tour to France undertaken as Kapellmeister "an Englishman leading a German speaking Italian band in France" very European. He also was a member of the show band Alpenecho.

His interest in trombone ensemble music began with The British Trombone Society and an enthusiastic group of trombonist in Glasgow, Scotland. He is a founder member of the Bourton Trombone Choir which meets regularly in his home village and for whom most of his arrangements and adaptations were originally conceived. He has played trombone with the Consortium Big Band for many years now and thanks to his connections with 'the local trombone scene' the band usually has a full complement of trombones. Derrick is a great organiser as well as musical director and he keeps the band running smoothly.

SUSAN STARR

The promise shown during Susan Starr's early years that were spent singing in cabaret and clubs came to fruition when she won a talent competition at Butlins. Today Susan is a popular Coventry artiste whose bookings cover a wide musical spectrum and she is in great demand both as a big band vocalist and solo performer.

Currently she sings with the 18 piece Consortium Big Band and has also appeared with The Avon Big Band, Bunny Roberts Big Band, Tuxedo Junction and the Hal Roberts Big Band, one of her highlights was opening the Coventry Jazz Festival in 2005 and for the past few years Susan has also led her own five-piece band - the quality of their performances are second to none. Her popularity has encouraged several musicians to write special arrangements for her.

Without doubt Susan Starr is one of the midland's top vocalists and anyone looking for a singer, for whatever function, can rely on her to provide a professional and memorable performance.