Glenn Miller Orchestra @ Sage Gateshead - Dec 17

(Review by Russell)

In 1988 Ray McVay visited New York to meet with David Mackay Jr., President, Glenn Miller Productions. McVay's dream was to establish a British based band dedicated to performing the music of the famous American bandleader. McVay's trip was successful, not only could he use the Miller name, he returned with licenses, a trunk full of charts and all the help he needed. 

Thirty years on, here at Sage Gateshead, McVay's Glenn Miller Orchestra gave the audience what it wanted. From Little Brown Jug to St Louis Blues to Minnie the Moocher memories were stirred. With a book comprising in excess of two hundred tunes would the favourites be performed one more time? Of course they would! Assisting MD McVay was a well-drilled band (the collective CV boasting ex BBC Big Band sessions, theatre, recording studio, television and radio engagements, countless jazz club gigs and more), star vocalists Catherine Sykes and Mark Porter, the Uptown Hall Gang, the Moonlight Serenaders and the ever-energetic Swing Time Jivers.

A String of Pearls, American Patrol, In the Mood, Pennsylvania 65000 and, inevitably, Moonlight Serenade rolled back the years in Sage One. It's a fair bet some present were there first time around. Heads nodded, feet tapped, the crowd up for a bit of audience participation...the orchestra: Pennsylvania, the masses: 6-5-0-0-0.   

This Sage Gateshead concert was uncomfortably close to Christmas...would we get a surfeit of seasonal songs? Then some! Catherine Sykes sang a flawless version of The Christmas Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Mark Porter crooned Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and as a duo they agreed Baby, It's Cold Outside. The orchestra donned Santa hats, likewise, singers, dancers and MD McVay himself joined in the festive fun.

The Moonlight Serenaders weren't about to be party poopers as they looked forward to a White Christmas and that was about it. Oh, there was a Sinatra medley (Mark Porter), drummer Bobby Cleall woke anyone who may have been dozing with a thunderous party-piece solo on Sing! Sing! Sing! and the Swing Time Jivers - Maxine, Jemma, Shangomula and Julien - reminded the more senior members of the audience of what they themselves did (or attempted to do!) all those years ago. Ray McVay's Glenn Miller Orchestra signed-off with Adios.              

Russell.

Glenn Miller Orchestra: Ray McVay (MD); Mark Porter (vocals); Catherine Sykes (vocals); Andy Potts, Simon Meredith, Martin Dunsdon, Dan Faulkner, Loren Hignell (saxophones); Dave Ford, Alan Berlyn, Danny Hammerton, John Hinch (trumpets); Dale Gibson Jnr., Ray Wordsworth, Bruce Douglas, Keith Hutton (trombones); Bunny Thompson (piano); Paul Scott (double bass); Bobby Cleall (drums) 

Uptown Hall Gang: Simon Meredith (clarinet), Alan Berlyn (trumpet), Ray Wordsworth (trombone), Bunny Thompson (piano); Paul Scott (double bass); Bobby Cleall (drums)

Moonlight Serenaders: Ray Wordsworth, Catherine Sykes, Alan Berlyn, Dan Faulkner 

Swing Time Jivers: Maxine Green, Jemma Gould, Shangomula Edunjobi, Julien Roussel