Continuing the JBGB Events tradition of large ensembles on Sunday at Dean Street, we begin our extensive 2025 series with a unique and distinctive sound from the talented composer, arranger, and imaginative trombone ace Callum Au.
Four of the UK’s busiest trombonists, join forces under Callum’s arrangements in this brand new, all singing, all sliding jazz and vocal extravaganza.
The band will take you on a whistle stop tour through the great American Songbook, inspired by some of the world’s most populate jazz musicians including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Tommy Dorsey.
Featuring the sublime vocals of Louise Balkwill, and the four trombonists, presenting close harmony singing, reminiscent of the legendary Four Freshman Quartet from a while back, the Callum Au TrombaFonics Band promises a unique, nostalgic, and uproarious lunch time in Soho.
TrombaFonics Octet line up
Callum Au – Trombone and vocals
Felix Fardell - Trombone and vocals
Tom Dunnett - Trombone and vocals
Matthew Lewis - Trombone and vocals
Sam Watts - Piano
Chris Hill - Double bass
Matt Skelton - Drums
Louise Balkwill - Vocals
Callum Au is a British composer, arranger, orchestrator, and trombonist. He writes music across a wide range of genres, with a particular passion for big band and large jazz ensemble music. He is highly regarded for his stylistic awareness and versatility and has worked with some of the world’s biggest artists including Raye and Dua Lipa.
Born in London to a Scottish mother and a Chinese father, Callum spent most of his formative years in Blackpool before moving to London, where he now lives and works.
Over the past fifteen years, Callum has established himself as one of the busiest arrangers and orchestrators in Europe. He has had the privilege of writing music for many international artists, including Quincy Jones, Jamie Cullum, Randy Brecker, and ensembles including the SWR Big Band, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Britten Sinfonia. In 2019, he was commissioned to arrange the big band songs in the Hollywood movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cats’. More recently, he had the pleasure of writing two new arrangements for Michael Bublé’s album ‘Higher’, and conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra in a special episode of ‘Sunday Night Is Music Night’ for BBC Radio 2.
Callum is increasingly in demand as a composer for classical ensembles, with his flair for arresting melodies and lush complex harmony proving popular with audiences and musicians alike.
As a taste of what’s in store for the audience, here’s Callum’s arrangement for the Four trombones in
Doors 12pm
Music at 1pm
Tickets £28