Prom 30: John Wilson Orchestra - Frank Sinatra (7.08.15)

[gurnemanz]

I was wondering who the other male singer who came on was, as he looked familiar, though I didn't catch his name. Anyway, he sang and performed excellently and turns out to be Jamie Parker, the piano-playing, church-going student in 'The History Boys' movie. I hope he reappears in a future John Wilson Prom and that this wasn't a one-off.

We recognised him at once from the Old Vic High Society we saw recently, in which he was very good indeed. It's a great show and still on, so he must have dashed across from performing there earlier in the evening.

[bluestateprommer]

I was wondering who the other male singer who came on was, as he looked familiar, though I didn't catch his name. Anyway, he sang and performed excellently and turns out to be Jamie Parker, the piano-playing, church-going student in 'The History Boys' movie. I hope he reappears in a future John Wilson Prom and that this wasn't a one-off.

JP is one of the scheduled singers for PCM 5, the Sondheim Cabaret at Cadogan Hall. I've not heard him before, but he is a very fine singer indeed. I don't doubt that John Wilson will keep him on the radar for future gigs.

This Prom was pretty good clean fun, the best kind of crossover concert, although there's a risk in listening to so many songs in similar style in succession, of course. You do appreciate Nelson Riddle's skill at using an orchestra, although again, best taken in small doses. By far the biggest smile on the face was from hearing "I've Got You Under My Skin", because it takes me back to when I took ballroom dance classes, which included American-style foxtrot. The Nelson Riddle arrangement of "I've Got You Under My Skin" is, without doubt, the single best American-style foxtrot number to dance to and to listen to, ever written, bar none.

There was also audience applause between each of the Nelson Riddle arrangements of the Gershwin Preludes. To his credit, JW didn't really pause too long to take in the applause, but just kept going.

[ucanseetheend]

The BBC Proms has been"butchered". The increasing number of non classical music concerts has turned it into just some "general Music Festival" it is COMPLETELY false for it to be marketed as the "greatest classical music festival in the world" .dead and buried as that and cue other cities around the world to take up that mantle.

[PJPJ]

The way you get a younger generation interested in Frank Sinatra is to get Seth MacFarlane involved. The late 20s and young 30s who watch BBC Three are hooked on American Dad and Family Guy. And Seth MacFarlane is Going To Be There. In the Alber' Hall!

The late 20s and young 30s and me, though I do watch Family Guy rather more than American Dad. The big musical numbers (by Seth MacF) are extremely entertaining. And I do find it all rather amusing.

I love what Nelson Riddle and Bob Farnon do with the material, but have always had a blind spot (or is it a deaf ear) for Sinatra. John Wilson and his orchestra seem on excellent form. Not heard Riddle's arrangement of the three Preludes before - lovely trombone in the second.......

[Hornspieler]

The way you get a younger generation interested in Frank Sinatra is to get Seth MacFarlane involved. The late 20s and young 30s who watch BBC Three are hooked on American Dad and Family Guy. And Seth MacFarlane is Going To Be There. In the Alber' Hall!

I tuned in to BBC 4 at 2100 and watched an interesting, if somewhat inaccurate account of Sinatra's rise to fame.

Big mistake. Nobody could sing like the example of Sinatra which that documentary gave us.

Then the Prom followed with someone called Seth MacFarlane. Not only was his voice completely different from Old Blue Eyes, but the key that he was singing in(sic) bore no resemblance to the key that JW and his band were playing in.

A dreadful mistake to offer the TV public a direct comparison with the real thing.

I've always enjoyed those lightweight but superbly crafted and performed shows by John Wilson and his pick-up band, but this one only gave me the impression that the audience in the RAH had never heard Frank Sinatra sing those well known numbers.

Bad planning.

HS

[Tony Halstead]

I tuned in to BBC 4 at 2100 and watched an interesting, if somewhat inaccurate account of Sinatra's rise to fame.

Big mistake. Nobody could sing like the example of Sinatra which that documentary gave us.

Then the Prom followed with someone called Seth MacFarlane. Not only was his voice completely different from Old Blue Eyes, but the key that he was singing in(sic) bore no resemblance to the key that JW and his band were playing in.

A dreadful mistake to offer the TV public a direct comparison with the real thing.

I've always enjoyed those lightweight but superbly crafted and performed shows by John Wilson and his pick-up band, but this one only gave me the impression that the audience in the RAH had never heard Frank Sinatra sing those well known numbers.

Bad planning.

HS

Yes , yes, totally agreed.
The word 'grotesque' comes to mind as does, sadly, 'incompetent'.
Oh dearie me....

[seabright]

I just heard Petroc T on 'Breakfast' referring to the 'Times' review of the Sinatra concert. Evidently reviewer Geoff Brown didn't think much at all of Seth MacFarlane but raved about Jamie Parker. I haven't yet seen the review itself but have to agree about the young guy from 'The History Boys,' now ten years older, giving superlative performances of songs by Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern that put MacFarlane completely in the shade.

Click the iPlayer link below, avoid like the plague the ghastly intros by C. Burton-Hill and friend, and slide the time-line thing to about 19 minutes in for Jamie Parker's first entrance. Incidentally, I'd have thought that being on so late, there'd have been quite a few empty seats for this concert but as the camera panning reveals, the place was jam-packed from floor to rafters. Anyway, I hope Jamie P reappears in a future John Wilson Prom...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b064jgwv/bbc-proms-2015-season-friday-night-at-the-proms-seth-macfarlane-sings-sinatra

[Stanfordian]

I've just listened to Prom 30 'Sinatra' and as this is propably the world's finest international music festival I feel with these professional often elite perfromers be should be candid and expert an elevated standard of performance. In truth Seth MacFarlane felt like a moderate Sinatra tribute act no better than the type I used to hear in a working men's club a couple of decades ago. Claire Martin did ok and in my view John Wilson isn’t a good enough talker to make introductions. The orchestrations however were superb. A new name to me Jamie Parker was excellent, had the best voice full of character and stole the show. Sadly as presenter Clemency Burton-Hill looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. I'm not sure what the point was of that guy next to her; a cheerleader or bodyguard maybe.

[cloughie]

I've just listened to Prom 30 'Sinatra'. Seth MacFarlane felt like a moderate Sinatra tribute act. Claire Martin did ok and John Wilson isn’t a good enough talker to make introductions. The orchestrations were superb. A new name to me Jamie Parker was excellent and stole the show. Sadly C. Burton-Hill looked like a rabbit in the headlights.

Thought I'd try to catch up - not available on iplayer - is this permanent or not yet?

[Stanfordian]

Hiya Cloughie,

Yes it is. I've just watched it. Please follow seabright's link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b064jgwv/bbc-proms-2015-season-friday-night-at-the-proms-seth-macfarlane-sings-sinatra

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thought I'd try to catch up - not available on iplayer - is this permanent or not yet?

There's the telly version:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064jgwv

... or, to avoid the pictures:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0644ft6

(The radio i-Player/Proms-finding thing is a beggur to navigate - they could have fooled Jason by hiding the golden fleece there!

[Beef Oven!]

I watched this late last night on BBC4 TV (I think). I have to be honest, I was disappointed. Perhaps my expectations were too high?

To be fair, being there at the actual concert is going to be better than watching on TV - so much is missed.

[cloughie]

There's the telly version:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064jgwv

... or, to avoid the pictures:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0644ft6

(The radio i-Player/Proms-finding thing is a beggur to navigate - they could have fooled Jason by hiding the golden fleece there!

Interesting, ferney that it is available on your link for radio but not on iplayer radio app on iPad.
Had a listen - JW orchestra excellent - vocals disappointing and on occasions not really on the note!

[Hornspieler]

.
.....Had a listen - JW orchestra excellent - vocals disappointing and on occasions not really on the note

A masterpiece of understatement!

HS

[Serial_Apologist]

A masterpiece of understatement!

HS

Still preferable to Jamie Colander's nail scraped across blackboard tone; (he should have stuck to joanna, imo).