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!
7 comments :
The old Squadronaires remind me of their pianist(well they may have had more than one) whose surname was Dale, he was a York chap I believe. Was their signature tune "There's Something in the Air?"
Ronnie Aldrich was probably their best known pianist. If local boy Laurie Brown, who played with the Squads towards the end of their existance, reads this I will ask him about Dale.
This reminds me of when I was in the RAF (the last of the few) we had a corporal called Dale, an ex WWII veteran. He used to say to me, "The only persons I hate more than Japs and Germans are musicians."
Presumably a different Dale!
Liz, Lawrie remembered Syd Dale well in fact they roomed together. Syd, Lawrie recalls, had a big house in Bromley and also worked on TV in the "Oh Boy" show which was one of the early pop shows on TV
Oh brilliant, I was right then. I knew Syd's brother Geoff Dale, he was my age & we all went around together in courting days. He often told me that his bro Syd lived in some style down South..Geoff was very proud of him too. Thanks Lance/Lawrie for that.
Liz Hi yes spoke to Lance about many happy memories with the Squads and Syd Dale. Had a room in his house on Petts Lane in Bromley. After a world cruise with Geraldos Navy in 1963 on my return Syd got me the drum chair with the Cyril Stapleton Orchestra. Didnt like the London scene any more so came home to join the Bill Sowerby Band at the Majestic and later the BBC Radio Newcastle Big Band.Hey I could go on all day! Maybe I should write a book !!!!!!!!
Laurie, how nice to have your input into Syd Dale's career.I knew Geoff( his bro)really well, he was the nicest person, and came to my wedding. He was always the most studious of the lads we hung around with. I never really knew Syd as I think he was older than Geoff. You certainly have a great pedigree in your music career. The band shows on a Sunday night at York Rialto gave us the opportunity to hear all the greats, inc. Nat "King" Cole.
Kindest regards, yours in music
Liz
Nice comments guys, I am Ian Dale son of Syd who grew up in Petts Wood.
see www.syddale.co.uk
Post a Comment