Prom 62 - 28.08.13: A Celebration of Charlie Parker

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Greatly enjoyed this, the vagueries of the i-Player this afternoon notwithstanding - I was a bit concerned that the opening item was a little cautious, but everything soon fell into place (some superb, ear-tickling cross-metres and slithery harmonies). They didn't "just" play the originals (as per the Kenton event) but responded to them in lively and creative ways - and I thought Bates' commentaries were perfectly tuned. I particularly warmed to the Hamlet skulls comment; I'd've followed them anywhere after that - especially to the Bank of Jazz.

[Quarky]

Meanwhile, I've listened to the first half of the concert and the audience seems to me very well behaved by any standard. Nice "Laura", by the way.

Yes a good audience, and excellent music.

A big admirer of Django's piano trio work, which does require as much mental application as Schoenberg's serial stuff in order to appreciate it. Don't know anything about Django's big band Loose Tubes, and not really a big band fan apart from the great ones of yester years (Duke, Count, Dizzie) but this is the first big band I have really enjoyed since Mingus's Big Band.

I assume the arrangements were not solely Django, but a combined effort. But they were complex, intricate, totally unexpected and innovative. Hardly any cliches on view. The colourings of the big band made the music much less hard work to appreciate than his piano trio stuff.

Hope there's nothing boorish to be found in the above comments - I think this thread has had more than enough of that.

[eighthobstruction]

Very good all round....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

nifty little gig .... very fine .... more please