Barry Forgie (MD);
Tom Dennis, Andy Greenwood, Damian Bell, Steve Fishwick (trumpets); Alistair
White, Rob Harvey, Gordon Campbell, John Higginbotham (trombones); Sammy
Mayne, Rob Buckland (alto sax, flute, clarinet); Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor sax,
flute, clarinet); Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax, flute, clarinet); Andy Hunter
(baritone sax, flute, clarinet); Robin Aspland (piano); Malcolm MacFarlane
(guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Tom Gordon (drums); Emer McPartland
(vocals)
The Sound of Cinema. The BBC Big Band's conductor, Barry Forgie, arranged and curated a concert progamme drawing on some of the many great movie soundtracks from the last eighty years. Perm eighteen from a pool of top class musicians (a pool probably into three figures) and you've got yourself a fabulous big band. This evening's line-up differed markedly from the orchestra's most recent visit to the region (Gateshead's Glasshouse, December) with something like eight changes in personnel.
Popcorn at the ready, as professional as they come, the BBC Big Band was ready to go at the advertised starting time (7:30pm). Conductor Barry Forgie ambled onto stage at Darlington's Hippodrome, counted the band in and we were off. Theme from Shaft (Isaac Hayes, 1971). Ah, the power of a big band! This being Isaac Hayes' score, guitarist Malcolm MacFarlane made full use of his wah-wah pedal. Iconic soundtracks filled the auditorium: The Odd Couple, Henry Mancini's Moon River (from Breakfast at Tiffany's) and The Pink Panther, if non-jazz fans were in the audience they couldn't fail to be enjoying themselves.
Vocalist Emer McPartland joined the band at intervals: a Judy Garland medley - altogether now: Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high...If anyone was singing along, it's all but certain they weren't in Ms. McPartland's league! St Louis Blues, then Doris Day, McPartland singing - what else? - Secret Love. Marvellous.
The name is Bond, James Bond. If ever a film score was made for a big band, the 007 theme must be near the top. The BBC Big Band's screaming horns, simply fabulous. And, of course, Shirley Bassey's big hit, Goldfinger. Barry Forgie knows his stuff (movie buff standard), that's for sure. No stranger to the world of Hollywood film scores, the BBC Big Band's guiding light spoke with authority and no little love of his subject.
Tremendous solos were heard across the band - the tenors of Konrad Wiszniewski and Nadim Teimoori*, Sammy Mayne (alto) tearing it up, Alistair White in the 'bones, Tom Dennis blowing scintillating trumpet, the aforementioned Malcolm MacFarlane (guitar) and others. Two hours flew by, let's hope the BBC Big Band returns before too long.
* Nadim Teimoori returns to the region on Sunday, March 30 as a member of Jamil Sheriff's top class band at Queen's Hall, Hexham (3:00pm) and Newcastle Jazz Co-op HQ (8:00pm). Russell
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