Steve returned once more to his south coast roots on sunday14th Sept to link up with band he played with on their inaugural 'gig' 25 years ago. Not a brass band, or wind orchestra, but the Taverners Big Band, well known on the south coast and a real audience-pleasing ensemble. Hot-foot from the British Open Brass Band in Birmingham the day before where he conducted The Whitburn Band (who played well, and came a creditable 10th place, with hopefully a better result in London to come !) Steve teamed up with another founding member, the immensely talented trumpet/composer Steve Waterman in a couple of his new pieces written especially for the occasion, 'Changing Course' and 'October Arrival', both of which were very enthusiastically received by the audience.

Changing Course was an extended piece in jazz waltz style and is a trememdous new chart. Bravo Steve Waterman and thanks for the great addition to the rep, and encouraging euphonium players to be able to stand in front of a big band. Steve Mead went on to play the Maynard Ferguson version of 'Chameleon' with the band, in a special arrangement by Pete Meechan, with a great high screaming euphpart ..a la Ferguson! This chart is one of three that Pete has arranged and will appear onthe new CD coming soon with Sound Inn Brass , Austria which features Steve as soloist and conductor. This CD is to be called Strike Up the Band and will be on the Bocchino label.

In the 2nd half Steve played trombone in the band, really turning back the clock some years there !!

It was a great night with lots of reminiscing too, and seeing so many old friends after about 20 years was just magic.

If you were at the concert at the Regent Centre please let us know what you thought, on the guest book on this site!

Hopefully the works for euphonium and big band will be on release soon and we will let you know as soon as they are.

Big thanks to Steve Waterman, Adrian Dwyer, the ladies and gentlemen of the Band and my good old friend Tim Norris.