Doncaster CAST Theatre – Oct 8th 2026
Whether Dennis Rollins MBE is strutting his stuff with outfits like his vertiginous Velocity Trio or his funky, award-winning Badbone & Co, at venues like Ronnie Scott’s, with grand stars like Maceo Parker or, as tonight, back on home turf in Doncaster with the Straight 8’s Big Band from Sheffield, the multi-award-winning funkman composer and trombonist extraordinaire woos and thrills endlessly with his charming, charismatic stage presence, bright smile, boundless enthusiasm and fabulous virtuosity. Even with the shiny bell of his trombone bent strangely up at a jaunty angle, every note that emerges floats through the air in mellow, rounded, laid-back, glorious beauty.
Rollins’ remarkable career shows how far a youngster can go when talents are properly nurtured. He grew up in the burgeoning heyday of top-quality music services in Doncaster and was part of the mind-blowing, internationally renowned Doncaster Youth Jazz Association, founded by the inimitable John Ellis MBE (delightfully present tonight, though fellow stalwart Ron Ketley, now in his nineties, couldn’t make it). The DYJA organisation has kick-started plenty of other prestigious music careers besides.
Dennis, too, is proud to champion the nurturing of creative sparks in younger generations and as Honorary Fellow at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (just like Dame Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder and countless prestigious others), he worked alongside tonight’s Korg keyboard player and leader of the Straight 8’s Big Band, Chris Noble, whose original arrangements Rollins finds so inspiring.
Twenty players, clad in varied versions of black and white stood with their vast arrays of equipment on a stage bathed in blues, purples and red (a stage Rollins is more than entitled to perform on as he was given the Freedom of the Borough in 2008). Then it was Beatles all the way, all arranged by Chris, and starting with the mighty Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Four saxes, three trombones, three trumpets, three guitars, two percussionists, four female vocalists and Chris on keys (plus flute and flugel as required) rang jazzy changes through a dozen beautifully selected numbers, fine solos emerging from trumpet, sax, keys, vocalists like Liv Muir, guitarist Robbie Chapman and Rollins on trombone, of course.
The vocals were somewhat overwhelmed whenever the band was full-on but came into their own in the ballad section after the interval when players were pruned right back. Sensational Beatles’ melodies brought us Here, There And Everywhere, followed by She’s Leaving Home, featuring keys moving tenderly from delicate to broad and expansive and back again, then came the heart-lifting Blackbird (with fine acoustic guitar) and Strawberry Fields. Vocal harmonies were generally not in a straight, sweeter Beatles style but mined darker, less expected veins, some working well, some less so and, as with other aspects, probably according to taste.
Biggest toe-tapping head-bobber was a glorious arrangement of Gotta Get You Into My Life (whose original also featured brass) while the rousing Day Tripper also became the final reprise. On offer besides were Revolution, Norwegian Wood, Come Together, Let It Be and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, all given expansive, jazzy, funky, syncopated makeovers by Chris Noble and embroidered with solos.
Exuding his love and enjoyment of music, Rollins, as ever, encouraged enthusiastic interactions from players and audience alike, ensuring a great evening of unique entertainment, a fitting tribute on the eve of what would have been John Lennon’s 86th birthday.
Eileen Caiger Gray
