Versatila & Compact Big Band
Led by Hove-based trumpeter, pianist, and arranger Chris, this compact 8-piece ensemble brings all the power of a large-scale big band into a suave, versatile lineup.
Backed by 15 years of leadership, Chris brings a stellar group of UK jazz stars to the stage, featuring a powerhouse horn section of Andy Panayi (reeds), Gabriel Garrick (trumpet), and Mike Pilley (trombone), a hard-swinging rhythm section of Peter Cater (drums), Terry Seabrook (piano), and Rhys Lovell (bass), and the exceptional Lucy Pickering on vocals.
The band offers an extensive repertoire of over 150 arrangements, making them equally suited for high-energy dancing, sophisticated background dinner sets, and high-society functions. Alongside classic big band favourites like “Lady Is A Tramp” and “In The Mood”, the ensemble features their definitive “Tribute to the Duke” project.
Several years in the making, their “Tribute to the Duke” project delivers a chronological, informed journey through Duke Ellington’s iconic repertoire—from his early days at the Cotton Club to his popular wartime hits and collaborations with Billy Strayhorn—faithfully transcribed and distilled for the four-horn front line.
Available as a full octet or in smaller combinations to suit specific client needs, the band maintains the highest standards of professionalism, presentation, and flexibility.
Global Reach & High-Profile Clients
International Touring: Toured globally with performances in destinations including Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait, and Thailand.
High-Profile Audiences: Performed for notable figures such as Bill Clinton and King Charles III.
Festival Credentials: Individual band members are regular fixtures at premier UK summer music festivals, including Appleby Jazz and Love Supreme.
Repertoire
Tune List
- A Child Is Born
- A String of Pearls
- All of Me
- Almost Like Being In Love
- Alright, OK, You Win
- Caravan
- Come Fly With Me (male)
- Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
- Dindi (male)
- Every time we say goodbye
- Groove Merchant
- In The Mood
- Jive Samba
- Little Brown Jug
- Lil Darlin
- Little Sunflower
- Mercy mercy mercy
- Moanin
- Mood Indigo
- Moonlight Serenade
- One Note Samba
- Orange Coloured Sky
- Pennsylvania 6500
- Shiny Stockings
- Sophisticated Lady
- That’s Sabotage
- Boy From Ipanema
- Nearness of You
- Pink Panther
- Tuxedo Junction
- Sway
- LOVE
- Lady Is A Tramp
- Things Aint What They Used To Be
- When I fall in love
- Woodchoppers Ball
- Skyliner
- Moon River
- I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
- It Don’t Mean A Thing
- Cottontail
- Sway (male key)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (male)
- Star Eyes
- Sing Sing Sing
- James Bond theme
- Soul Bossa Nova
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
- Something Stupid (duet)
- Isfahan
- Jack The Bear
- Rocking In Rhythm
- Old Man Blues
- The Mooche
- Just A Gigolo (male)
- Pennies From Heaven (male)
- Amore (male)
- Buona Sera (male)
- Me n Mrs Jones (male)
- Fly Me To The Moon (male key)
- Cheek to cheek MALE
- Cheek to Cheek FEMALE
- Sister Cheryl
- All Of Me
- Satin Doll
- Summertime
- Fly Me To The Moon (female key)
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Xmas Medley
- The Christmas Song
- Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
- Come Sunday
- Take The A Train
Additional Tunes on Request
- Nuages- Django Reinhardt
- Struttin’ with Some BBQ- Louis Armstrong
- The In Crowd- Ramsey Lewis
- Ain’t Misbehavin- Fats Waller
- Bye Bye Blackbird- John Coltrane
- On Green Dolphin Street- Miles Davis
- Linus and Lucy- Vince Guaraldi
- Georgia on My Mind- Ray Charles
- Joy Spring- Clifford Brown & Max Roach
- One O’Clock Jump- Count Basie
- Potato Head Blues- Louis Armstrong
- Bumpin’ (On Sunset)- Wes Montgomery
- Feeling Good- Nina Simone
- Misty- Errol Garner
- Moody’s Mood For Love- James Moody
- Stardust- Louis Armstrong
- Yardbird Suite- Charlie Parker
- Diminuendo & Crescendo in Blue- Duke Ellington
- Donna Lee- Charlie Parker
- Water Boy- Don Shirley
- Ornithology- Charlie Parker
- Begin the Beguine- Artie Shaw
- Ceora- Lee Morgan
- Sophisticated Lady- Duke Ellington
- Sugar- Stanley Turrentine
- Footprints- Wayne Shorter
- Four on Six- Wes Montgomery
- Take Five- Dave Brubeck
- So What- Miles Davis
- Take The A Train- Duke Ellington
- Round Midnight- Thelonious Monk
- My Favorite Things- John Coltrane
- A Love Supreme (Acknowledgment)- John Coltrane
- All Blues- Miles Davis
- Birdland- Weather Report
- The Girl From Ipanema- Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto
- Sing, Sing, Sing- Benny Goodman
- Strange Fruit- Billie Holiday
- A Night in Tunisia- Dizzy Gillespie
- Giant Steps- John Coltrane
- Blue Rondo a la Turk- Dave Brubeck
- Goodbye Pork Pie Hat- Charles Mingus
- Stolen Moment- Oliver Nelson
- West End Blues- Louis Armstrong
- God Bless The Child- Billie Holiday
- Cantaloupe Island- Herbie Hancock
- My Funny Valentine- Chet Baker
- Body And Soul- Coleman Hawkins
- Song For My Father- Horace Silver
- Spain- Chick Corea
- Blue In Green- Miles Davis
- Naima- John Coltrane
- Flamenco Sketches- Miles Davis
- Waltz For Debby- Bill Evans
- Autumn Leaves- Cannonball Adderley
- St. Thomas- Sonny Rollins
- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy- Cannonball Adderley
- What A Wonderful World- Louis Armstrong
- Lush Life- John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman
- Blue Train- John Coltrane
- Poinciana- Ahmad Jamal
- In a Sentimental Mood- Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
- Freddie Freeloader- Miles Davis
- Summertime- Ella Fitzgerald
- Watermelon Man- Herbie Hancock
- Salt Peanuts- Dizzy Gillespie
- Moanin’- Art Blakey
- Straight, No Chaser- Thelonious Monk
- Good Morning Heartache- Billie Holiday
- Mack the Knife- Ella Fitzgerald
- In the Mood- Glenn Miller
- Desafinado- Stan Getz
- Cast Your Fate To The Wind- Vince Guaraldi
- Rhapsody in Blue- George Gershwin
- Blue Monk- Thelonious Monk
- Caravan- Duke Ellington
- Sidewinder- Lee Morgan
- Django- Modern Jazz Quartet
- Compared To What- Les McCann
- Red Clay- Freddie Hubbard
- Ruby, My Dear- Thelonious Monk
- April in Paris- Count Basie
- Bitches Brew- Miles Davis
- Twisted- Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
- Maiden Voyage- Herbie Hancock
- Mood Indigo- Duke Ellington
- St. Louis Blues- Louis Armstrong
- Manteca- Dizzy Gillespie
- How High The Moon- Ella Fitzgerald
- At Last- Etta James
- Fever- Peggy Lee
- Satin Doll- Duke Ellington
- Someday My Prince Will Come- Miles Davis
- Autumn in New York – Billie Holiday
- Epistrophy- Thelonious Monk
- I Love You Porgy- Nina Simone
- It Don’t Mean A Thing- Duke Ellington
- Koko- Charlie Parker
- Milestone- Miles Davis
- Misterioso- Thelonious Monk
Testimonials
We had Chris and his band play for a large party held in Brighton. What can I say? Absolutely fantastic – really professional, well turned out and bloody marvellous music! Where do you get these musicians from?! We were dancing all night long to the sounds of some proper big band stuff – loved it!
Ben Scales
BrightonGetting married, I decided to hire the CCBB for the drinks reception and then the first dance later on. They tailored the music to my requirements, including some rather unusual requests for the first dance! (ABBA meets Frank Sinatra?!) I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a really great band
Shiona Nightingale
PortsmouthIf you are looking for professional entertainers, chilled-out jazz and flawless service, Chris Coull is the obvious choice. We have worked with Chris on several occasions and will continue to do so whenever our guests are looking for an unforgettable evening of pure sophistication. Play it again Chris.
Peter Engels
Director of Operations at Prime Mena, DubaiChris and his bands consistently provide highly talented musicians to us for a wide range of events. We are constantly complimented on the quality of music we have at all our events (from Graduation ceremonies to private parties) – and that is solely down to the fact that we work with Chris Coull and his fabulous network.
Emily Ruth Wilson
Manager of Community Relations at Northwestern University, QatarMFL848
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