Prom 71: Wednesday 7th September at 10.15 p.m. (Tribute to Stan Kenton)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the Cuban Fire Suite by Johnny Richards should be of interest {i think Chas T referenced Mahler rather than Wagner ....]

the chat at half time in the Holst prom quite put me off 71 .... will listen and comment later ...

[Strong Scotch]

This was a joy from Start to Finish, with the possible exception of Jiggs Whigham's gushing stage announcements. The BBC Big Band equitted themselves beautifully. The are a national treasure and its such a pity that Aunty beeb can't see its way clear to give them more of a regular presence on the air, beyond their Radio 2 show (which seems more and more like a feature for guest singers and not the band.) I'm not Kenton's biggest fan, but this music came alive in a way that it seldom does on the original recordings. And Claire Martin... what a class act. They all were. Terrific stuff.

[cavatina]

This was a joy from Start to Finish, with the possible exception of Jiggs Whigham's gushing stage announcements. The BBC Big Band equitted themselves beautifully. The are a national treasure and its such a pity that Aunty beeb can't see its way clear to give them more of a regular presence on the air, beyond their Radio 2 show (which seems more and more like a feature for guest singers and not the band.) I'm not Kenton's biggest fan, but this music came alive in a way that it seldom does on the original recordings. And Claire Martin... what a class act. They all were. Terrific stuff.

Yes indeed. I was directly in front of the bongos and timpani with a good view of the piano-- magical stuff! Claire Martin was in great voice and totally in command, creating the illusion that we were all in an intimate Manhattan jazz club...what a stage presence!

For some reason, I kept wishing I could hear the band play some Kenyon Hopkins instead (go figure!), but they really breathed new life into old standards. Yet another concert I wished lasted all night. Five stars!

[barber olly]

This was a joy from Start to Finish, with the possible exception of Jiggs Whigham's gushing stage announcements. The BBC Big Band equitted themselves beautifully. The are a national treasure and its such a pity that Aunty beeb can't see its way clear to give them more of a regular presence on the air, beyond their Radio 2 show (which seems more and more like a feature for guest singers and not the band.) I'm not Kenton's biggest fan, but this music came alive in a way that it seldom does on the original recordings. And Claire Martin... what a class act. They all were. Terrific stuff.

Great stuff, I agree with all you said SS.