On Friday Ray McVay returns to Sage Gateshead with his official UK Glenn Miller Orchestra. Seats for the matinee performance have been going like hot cakes. McVay’s band boasts an array of jazz and big band musicians out to put on a show. Christmas has been and gone, why not treat yourself to an afternoon of Miller classics such as Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug and In the Mood?
American critic Leonard Feather wrote: Miller had a following among young swing fans comparable with nothing since the first Benny Goodman regime in 1935. After Miller’s untimely disappearance – in December 1944 – the band soldiered-on under the leadership of Jerry Gray and Ray McKinley. In the late fifties a young Englishman obtained the permission of the Miller estate to form a band to play the music of Major Miller. That young man was Ray McVay and he has been touring the world ever since, the keeper of the Miller flame.
Ray McVay’s Glenn Miller Orchestra will be on parade 3:00pm prompt, in Sage One this Friday, 30 December. To book your seats telephone 0191 443 4661.
Russell.
2 comments :
I'm going!! And I'm certainly in the mood!
I've lost count of the number of Miller bands that have been going the rounds (both official and unofficial)over the years. Apart from Gray and McKinley, some of the ones I recall are Tex Beneke (why wasn't he in the film?), Ralph Flanagan, Buddy de Franco (Newcastle City Hall), Larry O'Brien and Herb Miller. Over here, we had Syd Lawrence, Chris Dean and, of course, Ray McVay. I'm sure the fans will love it. I expect all the 'hits' from the pre-war band will be rolled out as opposed to those from the AEF Band when Miller really DID have a band that swung! Ray Mckinley always had the edge on Maurice Purtill! Come to think of it, I saw McKinley at the City Hall too. I think there have been more Miller tribute bands than Beatles' bands!
As it happens - well it is Christmas - The Glenn Miller Story was on TV this afternoon and, for all the inaccuracies, it's still a good film and I'm always close to a tear at the end even though 'Little Brown Jug' was recorded in 1939 and not 1944!
Post a Comment