The Cutting Edge Big Band has a stylish and exciting sound: beautiful melodies and joyously toe-tapping rhythms from serious musicians who love playing.

Whether wistful ballads or stomping dance numbers, this is classy entertainment in a variety of settings, with a set list tailored to every event.

The repertoire is rooted in the classic swing era of the ‘30s and ‘40s. Those days of romance: glamour, moonshine and tuxedos, the excitement of Harlem and invention of wild, new dance crazes. Think wartime tunes made famous by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Glenn Miller.

Then there are the mid-century classics that everyone knows - Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Dean Martin; and even the occasional tune from Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Billy Joel, or the achingly cool Astrud Gilberto. Great melodies that have been sung by everyone from Rod Stewart to Michael Buble to Robbie Williams …

The Cutting Edge Big Band has been performing around Oxford since 1982 and is now led by Chris Macklow, a man of easy vintage charm and smooth sophistication. His apparently laid-back style hides a ruthless attention to detail.

It's a 17-piece line-up, consisting of 5 saxes, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, piano, guitar, string bass and drums - with vocals from Kim Osmond, or special guests, available for added swing.

The Cutting Edge Big Band have performed at all times of day and night, whether for charity, corporate, private or civic events. Weddings, dinner-dances, birthday parties, golf clubs, church hall dances, shopping centre openings, riverside pub gardens on a balmy summer afternoon.... We also headline our own events, often with a Lindy Hop or swing dance theme.

NEXT UP:

24th February 2024: private birthday cabaret

22nd June 2024: (private event) Wedding, Shipston-on-Stour

12th October 2024: Black tie fundraiser at Cholsey Great Hall

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! If you're looking for a big band it would be great to see you at any of our events - hit the CONTACT NOW button at the top of this page for further information.

Selection of past engagements:

Saturday 3rd February 2024: (Private event) 40th Birthday party, Didcot

Thursday 7th December 2023: (Private event) Oxford University Christmas party, St Hilda's College, Oxford

Wednesday 4th October 2023: The Cutting Edge Big Band at Tap Social Movement, Oxford

SOLD OUT! Saturday 11th November 2023: Mason's Arms, Headington, Oxford

Friday 24th February 2023: Oxford Swing Dance Festival, The Great Hall @ Oxford Town Hall

Thursday 16th February 2023: Big Band Double Header at Oxford Golf Club

Wednesday 7th December 2022: The Cutting Edge Big Band at TAP Social Movement, Oxford OX2 0LX

Saturday 24th September 2022: (Private event) official opening of the new boathouse at Falcon Boat Club, Oxford

Saturday 4th June 2022: Wedding (private event), Titchfield, Portsmouth

Wednesday 4th May 2022: The Cutting Edge Big Band at TAP Social Movement, Oxford

Thursday 21st April 2022: Big Band Double Header at Oxford Golf Club

SOLD OUT: Wednesday 1st December 2021 The Cutting Edge Big Band at Tap Social Movement, Oxford

SOLD OUT Saturday 28th August 2021 - Little Milton Unlocked. A village party to celebrate the end of lockdown, with a pig roast and family entertainment.

July 2021 - Big Band Double Header at Oxford Golf Club

Tap Swing Night, at Oxford's legendary Tap Social Movement. Back here for the second time this year, bringing live big band swing to Tap Social, with a Lindy Hop dance workshop and Italian street food (November 2019)

Big Band Double Header at Oxford Golf Club (bonus night!) (October 2019)

SOLD OUT! A Night with the Cutting Edge Big Band. Swing night at Great Milton Neighbours' Hall - music for listening and dancing, with Indian street food (October 2019)

Jazz Night in Murcott. A fund-raising dinner dance in Murcott Village Hall (September 2019)

Big Band Double Header at Oxford Golf Club, with the Velvet Tones. A varied programme with featured vocalist Sarah Payne - a few dance numbers, some dreamy ballads, several old favourites and a couple of new tunes to ring the changes (March 2019)

SOLD OUT! A Night with the Cutting Edge Big Band with a Lindy Hop dance workshop. Tap Social, Oxford (February 2019)

Witney Wonderland Party from 6.30pm onwards, providing lively swing music for professional dance troupe Swing Patrol (of Dragons’ Den fame), and sharing the bill with Pam Ayres, The Daggers and The Military Wives Choir. In aid of children’s cancer support charity Joss Searchlight (November 2018)

SOLD OUT! An Evening With The Cutting Edge Big Band: a night of swing music and dancing in Great Milton Neighbours' Hall, Oxfordshire (October 2018)

SummerFest: a school PTA Fundraiser under canvas in one of Oxford's green fields (June 2018)

Oxford Golf Club: double-header concert with The Velvet Tones (March 2018)

Armistice Day: City of Oxford’s celebration of the opening of Leiden Square in the fabulous new Westgate shopping centre (November 2017)

Witney Music Festival: “Royal Knees-up” - celebration of The Queen’s 90th Birthday with a pig roast and dancing

The Trout at Lechlade: pub garden jazz festival

Kidlington private event: Wedding

Wolfson College, Oxford: private party

Bus Museum: atmospheric entertainment

Oxford Spires Hotel: Charity Gala for Breast Cancer

Frilford Heath: Fundraising Dance in aid of Rosie’s respite care

Primary School: PTA dinner dance

Oxford Golf Club: a double-header concert with another of Oxford's great big bands, the Velvet Tones.

Aylesbury Limelight Theatre: concert (headliners)