Mike James and his Orchestra are set to bring the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman to life in their toe tapping production, The Last of the Big Bands.

With a career spanning 40 years including stints on the QE2, Blackpools famous Tower Ballroom and dozens of concerts and televisions broadcast all over the world Mike James has built an impressive career.

He said: “The band has always been a young band and its always evolving. “I’ve been doing this professionally since 1978, and we have some guys who go back a long way, but I like to keep it fresh, getting the best young musicians from music colleges across the country.” As musical director on the QE2, Mike would spend months at sea, and says his son practically grew up on board travelling the Caribbean. It was here Mike first started working with big name guest stars, everyone from Petula Clark to Vera Lynn, Vic Damone, Bob Hope and the great English jazz pianist legend George Shearing. He said: “I can remember one time when Chris De Burgh landed by helicopter onto the ship. “We used to get all the big stars.

“We still feature guest singers, last year we worked with Gloria Gaynor, who was fantastic”.

The show, tracing the history of the big band from the 1940s to the present day, is a night not to be missed pays homage to classic songs from the swing era to the most popular tunes of today.

Tickets are available from the Epsom Playhouse Box Office on 01372 742555 or online where you can choose your own seats at epsomplayhouse.co.uk The Last of the Big Bands; Epsom Playhouse; November 11; Ashley Road; 7.45pm; £17