The Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra - the University’s flagship big band - teams up with award-winning trombonist Dennis Rollins MBE for a performance that promises to be a highlight of this year’s Cambridge Jazz Festival.
more about Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra
Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra (CUJO) is Cambridge's premier vehicle for promoting and performing jazz in the University and beyond.
more about Cambridge Jazz Festival
Since 2014 CJF have celebrated Jazz in all its genres, bringing international masters, national treasures, local talent & audiences together as a vibrant community.
The festival is a celebration of the huge variety of music that jazz encompasses, from gypsy jazz to funk, from jazz poetry and spoken word to hip-hop, from solo artists to big bands and to open jazz up to new audiences, particularly young people, and to give them the chance to get involved as well as come and listen.
more about Dennis Rollins
Dennis Rollins MBE is well-known on the British and international jazz scene and is celebrated for his versatility and muscular approach to playing the trombone. Born in 1964 to Jamaican parents, Dennis cut his teeth at the age of 14, studying in brass bands and an extended spell under tutorship at the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association. After studying he moved to London where he joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and legendary all-black jazz big band, The Jazz Warriors.
Over the years he has established a reputation as an artist of excellence and has lent his unique and stylish talents to some of the world's top jazz and pop personalities including Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis, Courtney Pine, Baba Maal, Jamiroquai, US3, Brand New Heavies, and Blur.
In 2006 his jazz/funk ensemble, Badbone & Co won the prestigious BBC Jazz Award for Best Band and later picked up Trombonist of the Year at both the British Jazz Awards, and the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Awards.
Dennis was nominated twice in the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for Jazz Musician of the Year and the Jazz Education Award; he won the latter.
In February 2008, Dennis was given Honorary Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his successful musical career and for his role as an inspiration to Doncaster's (UK) musical youth.
As part of Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2018, Dennis was honoured with an MBE for services to music.