Yorkshire's Premier Big Band - Manhattan Sound

MSBB features seventeen musicians plus a star vocalist performing all your favourite big band standards as well as Musical-Director Bill Charleson's unique take on a whole range of favourites, from jazz classics to Stevie Wonder, The Beatles - and even Van Halen!

Whatever your special occasion, a concert performance from MSBB will make a great night unique.

History

Manhattan Sound Big Band was formed by a group of dance band and big-band enthusiasts in 1972. Although based in or around Huddersfield ever since, MSBB always had strong connections over the Pennines, especially the area of Saddleworth - then in The West Riding of Yorkshire, now in Greater Manchester. This is still true over thirty years later.

Notable names from the early days were saxophonists Joe Castle and Phil Pollard and trumpeters Colin Denby and Ronnie Sykes. The band's later line-ups included well known Huddersfield names such as Lewis Hill and Vernon Heap.

In its early years, the philosophy of the band very much included developing younger big-band enthusiasts and the current line-up includes two members from the very first weeks of the band's life, Toby Livings and John Barraclough. Ronnie Sykes holds the honour of longest serving member - he was there right at the outset!

Guest vocalist Nicki Allan is featured on many MSBB gigs, including our monthly date at Cleckheaton Ex-Servicemen's Club where she performs arrangements penned especially for her by MD Bill Charleson. Her recent performance with the band at Cheadle's British Legion Club was described as "jaw dropping". For more information on Nicki, visit her website - www.nickiallan.com.

MSBB rehearses every Tuesday (except the first one of the month), at Golcar Liberal Club, about five miles from Huddersfield.

The band can be seen in concert on the first Tuesday of each month at Cleckheaton United Ex-Servicemen's Club, just off of the M62 at junction 26 (please see the Gigs page for details).