User talk:Dave Pearce and the Dave Pearce Orchestra

The DAVE PEARCE ORCHESTRA (DPO) was originally set up in March 2004 by trombonist and then student of the Royal Northern College of Music, David Pearce, with the intention of re-capturing the music and sound of the by-gone era of the big bands. The Orchestra is a traditional big band, consisting of 16 musicians: 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, 5 saxophones, drums, double-bass and piano. The music played in the orchestra is that mainly of the swing era from Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Ted Heath to Frank Sinatra. The DPO also plays music by Bobby Darrin and Dean Martin - music that has recently been made popular again by Robbie Williams on the "Swing When You're Winning" album. On top of the traditional swing music, the orchestra has a library that consists of music that is lesser known in the big band repertoire and gives scope for each of the fine jazz musicians to take a chorus...or two! The Orchestra consists of young, fresh faced jazz musicians who have received some of the finest tuition in the country, mainly from a Music-Conservatoire. Most of the musicians in the orchestra are currently active on the big band scene, and are versatile musicians in their own right. With this, the musicians in the DPO are respected and recognised highly in the music industry, and what makes the DPO that extra bit special is the young talent that it has in the band. Featured with the Orchestra, is a male and female singer. They have their own unique voice that suits the big band/swing era idiom well. Both are professionally trained vocalists. A close harmony vocal group is also used featuring musicians in the orchestra, to re-create the vocal-group numbers made famous, for example, by "The Modernaires" (Glenn Miller Orchestra)

The leader of the Dave Pearce Orchestra, Dave Pearce has been playing tenor trombone and bass trombone since the age of 13. Dave Pearce took up the instrument in his local secondary school being influenced by bandleader Glenn Miller, after hearing Glenn Miller's big band and music on the radio.

He had trombone lessons at school, and after leaving went on to study at his local sixth-form college under the tuition of Doug Wilkie. In addition to the trombone lessons received from sixth-form College, David has also had tuition from respected band-leaders such as Chris Dean (leader of the fabulous Syd Lawrence Orchestra) and respected musician and bandleader, Don Lusher. He started studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester in 2002 and while there, he was awarded the Stan Barker Memorial Prize for big band playing and jazz improvisation. David has had a lot of guidance from respected musicians in the present big band business, particularly from John Miller who is the nephew to legendary bandleader Glenn Miller and jazz singer Eleanor Keenan - featured vocalist with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra.

For more information, visit the Dave Pearce Orchestra website.