The chairman, Jim Burgess, said “Considering the relatively short time that we have been running I think we are doing really well.  Most of our members have little or no musical background before they join the band and that puts them on a steep learning curve, but everyone in the band is helpful and we pull together to help each other out and make the learning fun. “

We are developing our own musical style and encourage our players to contribute their ideas to the music.

“Our audiences often comment that we are a very colourful band and again this reflects our desire not to look too regimented.  We like our players to have the chance to express their own creativity and feelings for style in the way that best represents themselves. “

Audiences have also noticed that we have more than one leader.  We currently have five, and often change leader six or seven times during a performance.  This keeps things more interesting.  We encourage our players to try different instruments as well as leading the band.

We are a non profit making organisation and any income we generate is reinvested in the band, mainly to pay for our rehearsal space at Gosbeck Village Hall (Gosbeck has been really supportive, right from the beginning), and then to buy all our instruments and associated equipment.

“It has been a brilliant first two years, hard work, but a lot of fun.  We are looking to expand the band slightly for the next season and would welcome applications from potential new players.  They do not need to have any musical experience, they just have to be keen, enthusiastic, and at least 18. We will teach them the rest. "

We would like to develop a brass section, as that is a skill we do not have in the band at present, so if you are already a brass player and at a loose end, we might be able to offer you a chance to play.

”It is our aim to remain a community based Samba Band for local people in Suffolk.”