(Preview by Russell)
The Strictly Smokin' Big Band will present something just a little bit different on Saturday evening (April 20) at Gosforth Civic Theatre. Michael Lamb's magnificent big band will take you on a sepia-tinted journey back in time when New York was - it still is! - the jazz capital of the world.
One morning in August 1958 dozens of jazz musicians - many of them household names - assembled on the steps of a Harlem brownstone to be immortalised in a photograph taken by budding freelancer Art Kane. Some prominent names would have been out of town touring, unable to make the shoot, perhaps some were still sleeping after a NYC gig the night before. Red Allen, Buck Clayton, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Gigi Gryce, Hank Jones, Marian McPartland, legendary names all, they made it, as did Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Mingus and many others.
At Gosforth Civic Theatre the SSBB will present an amazing audio-visual experience with the band playing music associated with the artists of the day alongside digital projection - a feast for the eyes. Just imagine...Buck and Dizzy, Little Giant and Benny Golson, they're all there in the Strictly Smokin' sections. Look, there, on the screen! That's Alice, Graham, Pete and Laurie! Art Kane requests your attendance, 7:30pm sharp. Tickets at £15.00. (concs available) are available from the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's all singing and dancing website: www.strictly-smokin.co.uk
Russell
NB Metro journeys from south of the Tyne to Newcastle terminate at Gateshead Stadium all weekend (Fri 19 - Mon 22 inc.). A replacement bus service will be in operation, Metros will run from Central Station to Regent Centre Gosforth (Gosforth Civic Theatre is one minutes' walk).
3 comments :
The 27 Crusader runs [sic] from South Shields to Newcastle and you can pick up your sometimes friendly Metro from Monument - just tell the driver to 'Drop me off at Harlem'- 126th St. Or maybe ask him to 'Let me off Uptown'. If he isn't hip to the jive then settle for Regent Centre bearing in mind you may have to change trains at South Gosforth.
Marian McPartland, in Paul de Barros' biography of Marian - "Shall We Play That One Together?"* is quoted as saying that, when she urged her husband, trumpet legend Jimmy McPartland, to come to the photo shoot that morning, he replied, "That's too fuckin' early," turned over, and went back to sleep.
*Paul De Barros: Shall We Play That One Together? 2012 - St. Martin's Press, New York
Ha feckin' ha, Lance - that's a good one to see!
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