The Music
At the beginning of 2024, it was looking likely that Sax Bandits were going to get booked to perform at CarFest in the summer. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances the opportunity didn’t materialise, but it did shape our set list for 2024. I selected the songs in our set list around the theme of cars and transport, which ended up paying off when we were offered the opportunity to perform at Fawley Hill Steam & Vintage Festival (more about that later).
I arranged Cars by Gary Numan first; it seemed like an obvious thematic choice and the iconic riff was perfect for a large ensemble to rock out to. For many years band members have requested to play music by Madness. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to arrange a Madness Medley consisting of Driving In My Car and House Of Fun, which soon became my favourite song in the set! Next was Stop by Spice Girls (traffic signals count!); this one translated really well as it was essentially a Motown groove without the ‘rapping’ that features in other classic Spice Girls songs. Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne was an ambitious undertaking, expanding upon the pop-punk repertoire we had attempted in previous years (eg. All The Small Things by Blink-182). The repetitive driving rhythms create a physical endurance challenge, rather than being bamboozled by reading difficult notes and rhythms. Even more ambitious was arranging Song 2 by Blur, this was spontaneously added to the set in the spring after a comment from a band member that “there isn’t as much rocky stuff this year”. Challenge ACCEPTED!
(FYI, each of these songs are represented by a patch or badge on my band jacket, as pictured below.)
In September, I started working on a new Christmas arrangement (eek) and decided upon a version of Winter Wonderland by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, which is the opening track on my favourite Christmas album (aptly called Christmas Album). With it’s beautiful choral intro, energetic tempo, and interweaving melodic lines, this seemed the perfect version to adapt for the band. I was really pleased with how this arrangement turned out and I think it captures the spirit of the original song that I love so much. I’m glad that I can now share my love of this Christmas album with others!
Workshop
Our first event of 2024 was an improvisation workshop with Hannah Horton. She is not only an impressive and talented baritone saxophonist and jazz improviser, but she was really friendly and encouraging to our room of nervous participants. The workshop was well received by all and participants left with big smiles and heads full of helpful advice and restored confidence.
Battle Of The Bands
In the absence of a summer gig and after pondering what kind of social event we should host, we decided upon our very first Battle of the Bands event. The six local bands came together for an afternoon to compete in a fun and friendly musical showdown, offering band members a chance to showcase their musical achievements to a closed audience of family and friends. The event was a huge success with everybody getting the opportunity to play their sax, catch up with friends, and enjoy some food and live music!
Christmas Gig
The band continued their tradition of an annual ‘Christmas Busking Bash’, this time appearing for the first time as part of the Windsor & Eton Living Advent Calendar. The band treated an unsuspecting audience to a surprise set of Christmas songs, set against the majestic backdrop of Windsor Castle. Despite losing around a dozen members to illness at the last minute the band still made a thunderous sound with 90+ saxophonists! This was a truly special and memorable backdrop to play in front of!
Next Steps
I’m looking forward to arranging and performing a set of new songs in 2025 and continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible with this all-saxophone ensemble. It’s so rewarding to see how many people enjoy playing music together and share a passion for the band and the music we play! Thank you for your support and making Sax Bandits possible.
great summary of a super fun year!
Brilliant blog post Rob. So interesting to get your insights and an understanding of why and how you arrange the music. You’re a genius in my eyes. Can’t wait to see what 2025 brings Sax Bandits x