The Band of the RAF Regiment Small Ensembles
The Saxophone Quartet
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The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment boasts one of the finest saxophone quartets in RAF Music Services. The group, led by Cpl Tony Giles, is in constant demand to provide musical support for a wide variety of functions, including state visits, guest nights, luncheons, recruitment drives and fund raising events all around the globe.
The Saxophone quartet plays a diverse and interesting selection of music to suit almost every occasion and taste. Classical music from composers such as Bach, Rossini and Debussy, through to lyrical ragtime numbers and popular military marches.
The group also features music from artists such as George Gershwin, Freddie Mercury, Lennon and McCartney and Rogers and Hart and uses great arrangements from Lennie Niehaus, Bill Holcombe and Sammy Nestico, to name but a few.
With unfailing dedication, reliability and professionalism and a stylish, appealing range of music, the Saxophone Quartet regularly performs on band concerts and receives high praise from every audience.
The Woodwind Quintet
The Woodwind Quintet of the Band of the RAF Regiment is primarily used to support receptions and mess functions throughout the United Kingdom and abroad. The Ensemble, boasting a Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, French Horn and Bassoon, can perform music of all genres and styles to suit all types of engagements. Given the diverse nature of our engagements the Quintet has recently performed for the British Embassy in Sarajevo and for a live broadcast on Bosnian National TV, all of which are far removed from the normal routine jobs. In order to advance and improve musicianship, the Quintet is especially keen to explore and perform the vast classical repertoire at all opportunities.
The Jazz Ensemble
The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment Jazz Group consists of trumpet, alto saxophone, piano, bass guitar and drums. The group was founded two years ago at RAF Cranwell. The improvisational nature of the group means that during a performance the pace, mood and interpretation of the music changes constantly. Each of the musicians has a selection of favourites from our extensive catalogue of music, which includes classic up-tempo jazz, bossa novas and instrumental versions of well known vocal numbers. In addition to this, the members of the group have arranged numbers to suite different occasions. The versatility of each musician means no two performances are ever the same.
The ever expanding repertoire of the group has seen them play at a variety of functions all over the country, including dining in nights at various officers’ messes and performing at the Waddington Air Show in 2007. The group has also enjoyed a visit to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform a Battle of Brittan ceremony for the Ministry of Defence Saudi Arabian Project team, one of our more formal events in which there was a sunset ceremony included.
The Brass Quintet
The Band of the RAF Regiment Brass Quintet is a long established ensemble which combines a versatility of repertoire to suit any occasion.
Consisting of two Trumpets, French horn, Trombone and Tuba the Quintet can perform a wide spectrum of musical styles from Renaissance through Classical, Romantic, to arrangements of Modern Popular Music and even light Jazz Classics.
They are required to provide a Music Support Role for an equally wide variety of engagements. From mess nights or reception background music to music for funeral services, school concerts and RAF Conference’s throughout the UK and overseas.
The ensemble have been featured at high profile events over the last twelve months, such as providing music support for the annual RAF Reception in Washington DC and look forward to continuing to develop as an ensemble within RAF Music Services.