About Us

“As a lifelong follower of big bands, it was a joy to be up close and personal with the Len Phillips band” Len Goodman

“The best band in the country” is how Channel Radio’s Roger Jeffrey described top-40 chart toppers, the LP Swing Orchestra. Over the last thirty-five years this 16-piece big band has grown to become the most popular of its kind in Britain. In its ranks are players who between them have worked with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini and Shirley Bassey to name but a few. Formerly the Len Phillips Big Band, in 2021, with backing from Arts Council England, the band rebranded and updated to become the LP Swing Orchestra.

“What these fantastic musicians brought to our celebration was swing, sophistication and sass. The ultimate orchestra with an unrivalled sound.” Dame Joan Collins

Through the Covid-19 pandemic, the band’s livestreamed concerts were world-leading in both their quantity and quality. With over 100,000 views for concerts, broadcasting from locations as varied as a field in Surrey to London’s Abbey Road Studios, the programme was a triumph unlike anything seen from any other orchestra in the World.

The band is heard regularly on BBC Radio 2 and Jazz FM and can be seen live at concert halls and theatres around the country. Sky Arts commissioned two television specials (from London’s Cadogan Hall and a Christmas concert with Mica Paris) In recent years this amazing orchestra has performed in London at the Canary Wharf Festival plus regular appearances at the Ritz Hotel. In 2017, they travelled to Moscow to play for the enormous Russian Debutante Ball.

“One of the greatest British bands” - Guitar legend, Bert Weedon

The LPSO library contains the best big band music from both sides of the Atlantic. It is drawn from Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, The Rat Pack, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Ted Heath and Benny Goodman as well as more contemporary artists like Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr.

“A marvellous orchestra masterfully directed by Joe Pettitt” - Broadcaster, David Jacobs CBE

Bandleader Joe Pettitt loves the diversity of personnel in the band - “We are very fortunate to have some of the most established musicians around playing next to young lions of the British jazz scene and top session players. This brings a wealth of experience plus all the energy and drive to keep this great music sounding very much alive and full of excitement.”

In recent years, the band has appeared and recorded with the Puppini Sisters, Clare Teal, Joe Stilgoe, Gary Wilmot, Len Goodman, Paul Jones and many more big names from the entertainment business. It is fast becoming the go-to provider of live music for international dance events and is the house orchestra for The UK Open, The International at the Royal Albert Hall, The BDF Star Ball and The Open Worlds at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.