The New Squadronaires. Customs House South Shields

I wasn't expecting any groundbreaking inovations and I didn't get any! What I, and the rest of the audience, did get was an entertaining evening of nostalgia by a well drilled big band that went through the old warhorses with precision and ease. Although the soloists tended to stick to the original choruses it didn't detract from the enjoyment. Krupa's "Leave Us Leap" was particularly impressive.

The front man, Mark Porter; a fine singer in the Bennett/Sinatra mould kept things moving along nicely; he sang an excellent version of "The Nearness of You" and told a few gags.

Although the band appeared to use only one mike, they could be heard okay which says something for the power of the ensemble. One person who was undermiked was singer Lynn Kennedy. She looked like a young Doris Day and did share vocal similarities with the former Ms Kapelhoff. A bit more volume would have helped her cause.

To give you an idea of the audience, when Mark Porter said they were about to play a Glenn Miller number loud applause followed. He later announced a Duke Ellington feature; result? Silence! Ah well it were ever so.

Nevertheless, a pleasant evening even if the band still have a long way to go to catch the "Old" Squadronaires!