*
banner

4BR Wednesday Interview with Kevin Holdgate

The respected trombonist and arranger talks about his role in the new JSVB Legacy Band which will feature 78 of his arrangements.

Holdgate
  Kevin Holdgate has arranged nearly 80 works for the new releases

Can't see the audio player below? Visit soundcloud.com/4barsrest

4BR talks to Kevin Holdgate about the artistic and musical legacy of the James Shepherd Versatile Brass ensemble as well as his involvement in the new JSVB Legacy Band.

Kevin talks about his first connection with the band, what it takes to successfully write swing music for a brass ensemble, and how a chance e-mail struck up a musical relationship with the great Sammy Nestico, the in-house arranger for the iconic Count Basie.

New arrangements

Kevin is responsible for making nearly 80 new arrangements of existing and new repertoire that have formed the basis for no less than seven new CDs of recordings from the JSVB Legacy Band directed by David Thornton.

The first — 'Saluting the Kings of Swing' is released on Friday 25th June on a new downplay platform by Brasspass.tv

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Five Lakes

Results: 2026 North American National Championships

April 13 • Five Lakes Silver reclaims the National honours with section awards to Georgia, Cherry Blossom, Fountain City United, Watson Brass, Triangle Youth and St Louis Youth in Fort Wayne.


ConsTest

Report & Result: 2026 ConsTest Birmingham Open

April 11 • Derwent Brass claim the honours in the heart of Birmingham with a show of future ambition.


New Zealand

Report & Results: 2026 New Zealand National Championships

April 11 • North Shore Brass breaks the Wellington stranglehold on the A Grade honours as there are section wins for St Kilda Brass, Rolleston Brass, Brass Whanganui Concert Brass and Tonga Collge Brass


Eikanger-Bjørsvik celebrating

World Rankings: April 2026

April 9 • Eikanger-Bjørsvik return to the top of the rankings following their recent victory at the Norwegian Championships in Bergen.


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 1 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 3 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - FiveBy5 Trumpet Quintet

Tuesday 5 May • Charlton House and Gardens. Charlton Road, . London. . SE7 8RE


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 8 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Wardle Anderson Brass Band - Wardle Junior Blast

Friday 8 May • Milnrow Parish Church, 16 Westward Ho, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3JX


Hathern Band

April 13 • Euphonium required - position negotiable. . Hathern Band has an immediate vacancy for a Euphonium player to complete their First Section line-up. We rehearse from 7.15 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday & Sunday evenings..


St John's Band (Mossley)

April 12 • BBb BASS player required following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


St John's Band (Mossley)

April 12 • SOLO CORNET players required (position negotiable) following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


Ian Porthouse


Cornet soloist, clinician, conductor and adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd