The SJO Big Band, a swing/jazz orchestra lead by Worplesdon based music industry veteran Mike Wilcox.

Mike started work in the early 1950s and went to Big Band concerts each week with a friend from work and fell in love with the clarinet.

He bought a second hand clarinet and had about 6 lessons. Soon after he went into the RAF for his 2 years National Service and joined the Fighter Command Concert Band on clarinet and later used one of the band's saxophones.

After completeing his National Service he joined a Rehearsal Band run by Freddie Staff and Aubrey Franks, 2 top players at that time.

This is where he learned to play Big Band Music. Mike was asked to join a band led by Chris Dean, who now runs the old Syd Lawrence Band, which at that time had Freddie Staff on lead trumpet.

In the Band there were many top players such as Henry Lowther on trumpet and Martin Drew on drums. Martin later played in the Oscar Peterson Trio. Mike joined the Peter Coe Big Band on lead alto in 1975 when they won numerous Big Band BBC competitions and also broadcast on the BBC programme "Band Parade".

Peter used to play with Georgie Fame and played the tenor sax solo on "Yeah Yeah" which was a big hit in the 1960s. Some of the players that played with the Band on occasion were, Kathy Stobart, Henry McKenzie, Ronnie Hughes, Tommy Whittle, Harry Klein, Tommy Watt and Martin Drew, amongst others.

Mike took over leadership of the SJO Big Band in 1997 and as he reaches his 80th birthday in 2017 will be celebrating 20 years of running the band.

You can hear Mike and the SJO Big Band at their Xmas Concert at the Jacob Wells Village Hall on December 20th 2016 – as per most years entrance is FREE for this concert.

This long established swing band will be playing a variety of swing versions of your favourite Christmas tunes including Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, Santa Baby, Hark the Herald and of course a favourite Christmas song; Chestnuts Roasting.

Featuring two vocalists the SJO Big Band will provide a lively evening of great music and entertain in the style of many of the big band greats including Count Basie, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington as well as more modern styles such as Gordon Goodwin.

This Christmas Concert starts at 8pm on December 20th 2016 at Jacob's Well Village Hall, Jacobs Well Road, Guildford, GU4 7PD. More information re the SJO Big Band can be found at www.surreyjazzorchestra.com or by calling Pete Deane on 07770 882855.

Based on information supplied by Peter Deane.