Prom 35: Story of Swing (11.08.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Live at the BBC Proms: Clare Teal, the Guy Barker and Winston Rollins Big Bands with a programme including tributes to Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.


Clare Teal (vocalist / presenter)
Jamie Davis (vocalist)
Elaine Delmar (vocalist)
Guy Barker Big Band
Guy Barker conductor
Winston Rollins Big Band
Winston Rollins conductor

After the success of last year's Battle of the Bands Prom, Clare Teal returns with a line-up of musicians to showcase the very best of the current UK jazz and big band scene. She's joined by Guy Barker and Winston Rollins to tell the story of the birth of swing, including tributes to 'King of Swing' Benny Goodman and the great trombonist and bandleader Tommy Dorsey.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Two bands sharing a platform. It happens often. Would a forumite "in the know" be able to explain the reasoning behind this?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A terrible error by the Booking Agent given wonderful "spin" by Publicity?



(I'm not "in the know"! )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A terrible error by the Booking Agent given wonderful "spin" by Publicity?

It could just be a matter of the stamina required for this music.

[Serial_Apologist]

Guy Barker's getting a name for himself with this kind of thing, namely the unmemorable re-created. I'm surprised at Winstone Rollins's getting involved, known for his association with pretty hardcore Funk as he always has been. The singer Elaine Delmar's been around on the jazz scene, associated with Ronnie Scott's most particularly, since the 1960s; but is she alone enough to being in jazz supporters? Not in my case, I'm afraid. And I can't see this sort of extravaganza attracting any yoof element R3 may be interested in.

[french frank]

And I can't see this sort of extravaganza attracting any yoof element R3 may be interested in.

This is the Radio 2 Prom in all but name, isn't it? It's the only other radio station that hasn't yet had a Prom.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This is the Radio 2 Prom in all but name, isn't it? It's the only other radio station that hasn't yet had a Prom.

I thought the Frank Sinatra Prom was a Radio 2 one.

[french frank]

I thought the Frank Sinatra Prom was a Radio 2 one.

The Controller of Radio 2 is also the Director of 'Music', so maybe he gets two goes (three counting 6 Music, which he also runs).

[doversoul1]

This is about to start.
(Equal opportunity…)

[Sir Velo]

This is about to start.

Enjoy!

[doversoul1]

I am trying to….

Seriously, I am being reminded of how Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey had something inextricable that made them what they were.

Now a chorus has come in. Oh dear…. I don’t think I can stick to it much longer.

[Quarky]

A brave attempt to encapsulate the whole of the Swing era in single concert, with examples of all the major contributors. It deserved to succeed, but was occasionally let down by some desperate singing - Marie? Sinatra must have turned in his grave.

[Barbirollians]

Feeble and bland - an embarrassment the part I heard.

[french frank]

The following review, written by a jazz musician, was reposted on our Facebook page:

"I've been watching some of The Proms on the telly tonight. Two "big bands" full of estimable musicians trying to recreate the "Swing Era" - something of which they know nothing, and care less. The singers, with the honourable exception of Elaine Delmar, are intent on "improving" the composer's melodies with their college/pop song tricks, resulting in no swing whatever. The Paul Whiteman "Living in The Sunlight" was a travesty - ricky-ticked and corned up to the point that the Pasadena Roof Orchestra could have played it more authentically. The Goodman Quartet "Handful of Keys" saw even the great Alan Barnes struggling to play in tune (get a shorter barrel, Alan!), after which he seemed to go to pieces a bit in the next tune, which I have mercifully forgotten. The Artie Shaw "What is this This Called Love?" had a vocal group that sang in tune together, but, unfortunately, not in tune with the band......... At this point I had to leave the room. Speaking as a Jazz musician, I mention all the above without even touching on why the Proms - that last bastion of quality classical music now that Radio 3 has succumbed to populism - should even be wasting a precious evening concert on this poorly performed, ill-researched drivel. I'm off now to play some proper swing records now to try and take the taste of tonight's farrago away......................."

He sounds cross. I suspect the answer is that this was 'Swing' for a 'Radio 2 audience' (which seldom covers serious jazz - jazz for jazz fans) rather than a 'Radio 3 jazz audience'.

[gradus]

Well here's a contrary opinion for the sake of balance - what I saw of it - around 40 mins - was enjoyable and a swing band concert that gets the audience dancing gets my vote. I seem to have watched a different concert to the jazz musician quoted above. Swing was fundamentally great dance music with a jazz inflection played by extraordinarily gifted musicians and that's what they delivered imv and the audience reaction confirmed it. Not jazz for the Radio 3 jazz audience perhaps but who cares, it was never intended to be. I'm sure Mr Barnes is grateful for the advice on his playing.