The Beats & Pieces Big Band was formed at the beginning of 2008 as a 14-piece ensemble for the performance of distinctive contemporary jazz. The band have recently released their debut EP on Efpi Records, an independent label run by three of the band members.  

The musicians featured are all Manchester-based players who have previously performed with each other in a variety of different contexts, and who share a need and a desire for such an ensemble in order to focus their large-ensemble playing in a way which embraces their broad musical influences. In addition to the jazz canon, these also include the music of groups such as Polar Bear, Acoustic Ladyland and Led Bib; of groundbreaking larger ensembles such as Colin Townsʼ Mask Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Orchestra and the Matthew Herbert Big Band; and of revolutionary popular artists such as the Beatles, Radiohead and Björk. 

The format of the band is an adaptation of the traditional big band line-up, consisting of 3 saxophones/reeds, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, piano/Rhodes, guitar, bass and drums, as well as a laptop musician manipulating the sound of the band live in real time. All charts are originals by musical director Ben Cottrell, specially composed and arranged with the unique characteristics of each musician in the band in mind. 

The band were invited to open the Manchester Jazz Festival in the summer of 2008, and later in that year were shortlisted for the Peter Whittingham Award for new and innovative work in jazz, a prize previously won by some of the brightest talents in UK jazz.