Sage Gateshead

Michael Lamb’s Strictly Smokin’ Big Band return to Sage Two, this time featuring trombonist Dennis Rollins.

“…one of the UK’s most effortlessly fluent big bands” – Jazz Alert, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band

“Rollins has a remarkable facility on Trombone. He is a master of its different styles and techniques and covers its full dynamic and emotional range” – Jazz Mann, Dennis Rollins

A passionate performer and educator, Dennis Rollins (MBE) has established a reputation as an artist of excellence, and has lent his unique and stylish talents to some of this country’s, and indeed the world’s top jazz and pop personalities such as Courtney Pine, Maceo Parker, Jamiroquai, US3, The Brand New Heavies, Blur, Monty Alexander, Pee Wee Ellis and Jean Toussaint, amongst others.

In 2006 his jazz/funk outfit Badbone & Co won a prestigious BBC Jazz Award in the Best Band category. In the following year he picked up both Trombonist of the Year at the British Jazz Awards and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Awards.  Dennis was nominated twice in the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for Jazz Musician of the Year and for Jazz Education; he won the latter.

As a recording artist he’s currently recorded 5 critically acclaimed albums. Three with his award-winning band Badbone & Co, and two with his progressive jazz organ-trio, Velocity Trio who were featured at Newcastle Jazz Festival in 2021. The regular Strictly Smokin’ team will be performing, including vocalist Alice Grace.