The Hertfordshire Big Band is an award-winning jazz orchestra formed in 2003, appearing regularly across the South East as well as in European tours. The band performs a hugely varied jazz repertoire, from classics to contemporary pieces, and is recognised as a successful semi-professional band whose key principles are to challenge themselves, enjoy new repertoire, and improve technically.

Gig highlights include appearances at the Watford Jazz Junction Festival, the Kings Langley Jazz Club, Googlies Jazz Club in Enfield, the St Albans Maltings and Roman Open Air Theatres, as well as at Southern Maltings Arts Centre in Ware. The band has won gold and platinum awards at the National Concert Band Festival, in addition to holding workshops and concerts with top UK jazz professionals including Mike Lovatt and Pete Long.

For their performance at BJazz under the direction of MD and trumpeter Matt Ward, they will be joined by their stellar vocalist, Lauren Bush, renowned Canadian-born singer and winner of the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Alongside usual repertoire favourites by the likes of Count Basie, Buddy Rich, and Woody Herman, the band will be performing some unique arrangements of works originally made famous by Miles Davis and John Coltrane, with the year 2026 being 100 years since the birth of both jazz greats. The band’s vocal numbers are equally as diverse, including the songs of Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Peggy Lee, Diane Schuur, Nancy Wilson and Patti Austin.

Tickets online upto 17:00 on the evening of the concert. They will be available on the door at opening, 19:15.