Musical Vision
It has always been the essence of the Donut Kings to mix business with pleasure. The social aspect of the band is quite possibly as important as the musical side, as all the members of the band have become great friends. It therefore falls to us, the Musical Directors, to ensure that the band is always focused on the musical side of things, that rehearsals are enjoyable, and that the repertoire is fun to play, as well as fun to listen to. The band has recorded two CDs in the last three years with another planned for later this year, and the selection of music presented therein captures our musical focus well - challenging, yet enjoyable pieces, for band and audience alike.
Repertoire
The selection of charts we play have always been comprised of a diverse mixture of musical styles, always jazz, though sometimes perhaps not what one might expect from a conventional Big Band. Will has written several original pieces for the band (six at the last count, with more in the pipeline), all of which we have recorded, and continue to perform regularly. The style of these pieces range from Bebop Swing, right through to straight-up Funk, and include one that we’re still all at a loss to fully define (Badgering the Camel). Other pieces include examples from the repertoire of many of the most popular Big Bands of recent times, including Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, as well as those bands from a more classic era, such as Count Basie’s Orchestra. The musical ambition of the band continues to grow, and we are always looking to play pieces to stretch the musicians; the most rewarding aspect of our job is being able to see individual musicians improve in tandem with the band itself sounding better and better.
Musicians
The Donut Kings themselves come from many different, perhaps unexpected, subject and musical backgrounds. Actual music students have always been a rarity in the band (having two out of twenty-five at the moment is an all-time high), indeed scientists have always dominated the make-up of the band. There’s probably some biological reason for this, but most of the scientists tend to be physicists so it’s never been fully investigated. It may well be that this relative absence of full-time musicians gives the band its always relaxed atmosphere, in which students are escaping their work for a time, allowing us to be a part of a Big Band quite unlike any other we’ve been involved with before – one that is always fun, yet always musically impressive.
Musical directors
Very much in keeping with the composition of the rest of the band, both of us are non-musicians by subject. Our combined experience with university big bands stretches to more than eight years, during which time we’ve played with all of the notable bands in Oxford, including four years each with the Donut Kings. The new committee structure of the band enables us to enjoy the freedom of musical decision without the burden of administrative responsibility, another facet of what makes the Donut Kings a unique musical body in Oxford.
Will Heathcote is a DPhil physicist who played the piano so much he had to do a fourth year. Will believes that where one note will do, eight notes are better and slow playing is for wimps.
Tom Parsons is a first year DPhil chemist who played trumpet so much he had to do a DPhil. Tom believes Maynard is a god, Arturo is a saint and on the stave is for wimps.
