JC - the "Man from Galilee" or was it Galway? - has reminded me that the 11 piece Toon Big Band play Newport tonight. A gig possibly set up by George Wein when he was last over here at Blaydon Jazz Club.
Stomping off at 5:30pm, their international line up will play 2 x 45 minute sets with video cameras at the ready to spot any wrong notes - including accidentals.
It is hoped, but not expected, that the band will repeat their 1946 Newport gig when they played 13 storming numbers, 6 of them featuring Len Shackleton, 4 by Charlie Wayman, 2 by Roy Bentley and 1 by Jackie Milburn. Surprisingly, Milburn was the only one to be honoured with a statue outside of the open air concert hall which never saw anything like it again until the Rolling Stones played there on their way to Wembley in 1982.
Will the Toon Big Band make it to Wembley this year?
Lance
2 comments :
And I recall the Milburn statue made a surprise but rather short appearance on Northumberland Street? Until some ungrateful toe rag tried to steel the ball - probably a Mackem visitor to the Toon!
Unfortunately we now have an actual statue 'playing' at No.9 for the team.
JC
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