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| © Stephen Beecroft |
Michael Lamb (MD/trumpet); Dave Hignett, Dick Stacey, Billy Bradshaw, Tom Rushton (trumpets); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby,
Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie
Toms, Matthew Forster, Sue Ferris (reeds); Graham Don (piano); Pawel
Jedrzejewski (guitar, banjo); Michael Whent (bass guitar); David McKeague
(drums); Matt Ford, Alice Grace, Sanaz Lavasani (vocals); Stuart McLean-Fowler (arrangements & transcriptions).Northern Orchestra: Bradley Creswick (Leader, violin)
This was something different! When is a SSBB gig not something different? Every concert is unique always a new theme. Admittedly Xmas isn't exactly new - it's been around for a while - and, in the case of SSBB, last night was its 15th Xmas concert and the first with the added strings and French horns of Bradley Creswick's Northern Orchestra.
There were many 'stars' in both ensembles but the one who stood tallest was surely Stuart McLean-Fowler. His arrangements and meticulous transcriptions were no less than amazing!
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
Christmas Overture. If there was a snippet of a seasonal song missing I couldn't name it. The band rattled through the complexities as if it was nothing - believe you me it was something else and, for good measure, it was enhanced by a good old tenor slugfest twixt Forster and Toms.
Sammy Nestico's Magic Flea swung nicely. Sue Ferris booting her bari sax along to great effect.
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
Alice Grace, looking resplendent as ever, opened up with I've Got Beginner's Luck and a pin-dropping Moon River before issuing a surprisingly low key invitation to Matt Ford to duet with her on Fancy Meeting You Here. Matt then dug into the Crosby/Roy Rogers archives for Don't Fence me in.
Nelson Riddle penned Two Hearts Wild and It's so Peaceful in the Country which gave the strings a chance to shine and shine they did. Their leader, Bradley Creswick, came down front for Love is Here to Stay and impressed with a hot, hot, hot, solo.
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
It was round about now that we had a bit of hokum with the two ensembles throwing snowballs at each other whilst Sir Thomas Beecham turned over in his grave!
This, I think brought us to the interval where the knowing coves were of the opinion that it was very pleasant but the Earth had yet to move - yet...
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
The second set opened with a Latin number that featured all five trumpets including leader Lamb who'd left the rostrum to blow with the brass. The Earth was beginning to tremble. Alice returned for a jaunty Sleigh Ride and a reflective Time After Time which had some fine sliding and some supersonic trumpet.
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
The strings would have done Mantovani proud on, I think, The Christmas Waltz. Matt Ford returned for an emotional I'll be Home For Christmas and Silver Bells then at last it erupted with Frosty the Snowman played à la Woody Herman's Four Brothers (and a sister!). This was the biz. All of the saxes giving it one. As Frosty the Snowman is a direct copy of One Sunday Morning Frosty deserved it.
Matt and Alice singing White Christmas, Sanaz Lavasani (and the audience) joining in for Last Christmas, Winter Wonderland and finally Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
Overall, a good night out. The contrast offered by both groups mean't there was something for every one and chapeaux to Michael Lamb who was the perfect maestro - all that was missing were the tails and the long hair! See ya next Xmas. Lance
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