The Syd Lawrence Orchestra

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra

Founded in 1967 by trumpeter and arranger Syd Lawrence, The fabulous Syd Lawrence Orchestra has been thrilling audiences in Concert Halls, Theatres, TV Shows and Music Festivals all over Great Britain and Continental Europe for over 50 years.

Renowned for it’s exciting blend of high octane Big Band Swing and Classic Dance Music, the Orchestra’s repertoire ranges from the wartime million sellers of the legendary Glenn Miller through the era of the great Count Basie Orchestra to the hit songs of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Count Basie himself described the Syd Lawrence Orchestra as “So good it should be BANNED!”. 

The Orchestra, directed since Syd’s retirement in 1996 by Chris Dean, has a repertoire of  over 2,000 classic Big Band arrangements including;  Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” and “In the Mood”, Tommy Dorsey’s “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” and “Opus One”, Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing”, Artie Shaw’s “Begin The Beguine”, Woody Herman’s “Blues on Parade”, Ray Anthony’s “Mr Anthony’s Boogie” , Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll”, Bert Ambrose’s “Night Ride”, Count Basie’s “April in Paris” and “Splanky”, Charlie Barnet’s “Skyliner”, Stan Kenton’s “Peanut Vendor”, the “Trumpet Blues” of Harry James, “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” of Les Brown, the hits of Billy May and Ted Heath’s “Hot Toddy”.