Try www.myspace.com/petecater Sort of like stuff I used to hear in the 70s. Not on a major, no reviews or airplay that I know of yet but doing nicely on amazon.co.uk for an unknown niche artist.

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Most contemporary jazz sounds like a zoo on fire, and that's coming from a jazzhead!

Ideal for Parky's Sunday show on R2.

Thanks for that......may I quote you?

I don't know the band at all and have never seen them, but I must say that hearing a big band play live is an incredible experience. Someone clever can probably tell me why, but amplified and recorded music does not prepare you for the stunning wall of sound you get from a big band blowing.

Re: not being signed to a major. Don't make me laugh, this is jazz music. You'll be expecting majors to sign folk groups next. Jazz exists in its own rarefied bubble, for better or for worse. The better is that they can play whatever the **** they want. The worse is that (particularly in the case of a big band), they can only play a limited number of shows a year. Imagine the rider for a group this size, plus the coach, etc. So they are condemned to playing a few festivals.

There are a number of big bands in Europe that are less traditional than this one. I'm thinking of El Tatoo de Tigre and Ceux Qui Marchent Debout ("those that walk standing up" - a promising name in itself).

If a band is good (and this lot sound excellent though not my type) it's down to the industry to set up a profitable model to record, release, do festivals and gigs AND make decent profits so everyone is happy.
The fans, band members, media...
It's not hard to do (especially with this new technology) so why do so few executives do it?
Treat each musical talent as individual, craft a model that is totally designed for them and voila...

Mr Cater has a winning formula that's ready to go.....apparently . A zillion times better than the "Pop idol" big band effort.

JK2006, your words of support and downright COMMON SENSE are like a breath of fresh air and sincerely appreciated!