Prom 57 - 27.08.17: Swing No End

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

15:00 Sunday 27 August 2017 ON TV
Royal Albert Hall


Clare Teal singer/presenter
Hiromi piano
Guy Barker Big Band Big Band
Guy Barker bandleader
Winston Rollins Big Band Big Band
Winston Rollins bandleader

From stomps and shuffles to boogie-woogie and blues, from bebop to Latin, this Sunday matinee Prom presents a slice of musical action from the 1930s and 1940s. Two roaring big bands battle against each other, joined by special guests and led by Guy Barker and Winston Rollins.
Singer and broadcaster Clare Teal is our guide on a journey that celebrates the triumphs of big band greats, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmie Lunceford, Boyd Raeburn, Machito, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman.
Tribute is also paid to a highly respected but unassuming giant of the big band world - pianist, arranger and composer Mary Lou Williams.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I know this is common in the jazz world, but what exactly does it mean when bands "battle" against one other?

[Serial_Apologist]

I know this is common in the jazz world, but what exactly does it mean when bands "battle" against one other?

Search me Alpie: it's not a term familiar to me, and I've been a jazz aficionado for over 55 years. There have been what are know as cutting contests, often at jams where two players would try in the spirit of American macho competitiveness to outdo each other in terms of energy expenditure and the number of choruses improvised on eg C Jam Blues, or 'drum battles' as in the case of the one that is reputed to have taken place between Buddy Rich and Ginger Baker. Maybe they think jazz is gladiatorial in some way only understood by the primitive species of people likely to be attracted to this concert?

[Stanfordian]

15:00 Sunday 27 August 2017 ON TV
Royal Albert Hall


Clare Teal singer/presenter
Hiromi piano
Guy Barker Big Band Big Band
Guy Barker bandleader
Winston Rollins Big Band Big Band
Winston Rollins bandleader

From stomps and shuffles to boogie-woogie and blues, from bebop to Latin, this Sunday matinee Prom presents a slice of musical action from the 1930s and 1940s. Two roaring big bands battle against each other, joined by special guests and led by Guy Barker and Winston Rollins.
Singer and broadcaster Clare Teal is our guide on a journey that celebrates the triumphs of big band greats, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmie Lunceford, Boyd Raeburn, Machito, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman.
Tribute is also paid to a highly respected but unassuming giant of the big band world - pianist, arranger and composer Mary Lou Williams.

Clare Teal - What a fine jazz singer she is! I do wish she would stick to singing. On her Radio 2 show her endless, inane wittering makes listening an torturous ordeal.

[Serial_Apologist]

Clare Teal - What a fine jazz singer she is! I do wish she would stick to singing. On her Radio 2 show her endless, inane wittering makes listening an torturous ordeal.

If it were up to be she'd be out for a duck!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If it were up to be she'd be out for a duck!

Yes, mallard.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, mallard.

That's swan I hadn't thought of...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Search me Alpie: it's not a term familiar to me, and I've been a jazz aficionado for over 55 years. There have been what are know as cutting contests, often at jams where two players would try in the spirit of American macho competitiveness to outdo each other in terms of energy expenditure and the number of choruses improvised on eg C Jam Blues, or 'drum battles' as in the case of the one that is reputed to have taken place between Buddy Rich and Ginger Baker. Maybe they think jazz is gladiatorial in some way only understood by the primitive species of people likely to be attracted to this concert?

Doesn't the term originate in Rock - particularly in pubs & clubs where the local(-ish) emerging bands are encouraged to make as much noize playing at the same time to win the approval of the audience?

That Buddy Rich/Ginger Baker battle is available on youTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJh9W3Gcpmo

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

That Buddy Rich/Ginger Baker battle is available on youTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?=VJh9W3Gcpmo

... also available with subtitles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmfg0W-BhUQ

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... and, in memoriam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=141o_jwG7cA

[Stunsworth]

Doesn't the term originate in Rock - particularly in pubs & clubs where the local(-ish) emerging bands are encouraged to make as much noize playing at the same time to win the approval of the audience?

That Buddy Rich/Ginger Baker battle is available on youTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJh9W3Gcpmo

I think it originated in the US in the 1920s. I've certainly heard of it with reference to jazz big bands.

[bluestateprommer]

I know this is common in the jazz world, but what exactly does it mean when bands "battle" against one other?

There's an explanation archived on BBC Radio 2's page on the 2014 "Battle of the Bands" Prom (emphasis mine):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04c06h2

'The Remo, Minton's Playhouse, Anderson's Annex, the Roseland, the Cotton Club - these were the ballrooms of Harlem, Manhattan in the 1930s. But by far the most glamorous and luxurious was the Savoy Ballroom at 596 Lenox Avenue. Opened in 1926 by a man named Moe Gale who could count Al Capone amongst his friends it occupied the second floor of a block that ran between 140th and 141st streets and featured a large sprung dance floor, marble staircase, carpeted lounges, mirrored walls and cut glass chandeliers. This was quite a step up from the secret, dingy, smoky cellar bars and joints of previous years. For just 30 cents you could dance the night away. It was a regular venue for both black and white Americans - there was no segregation at the Savoy unlike the whites only Cotton Club....

You can't have dance, of course, without music and the Savoy's resident band leader was Chick Webb whose lead vocalist just happened to be a young girl called Ella Fitzgerald. Another new-fangled addition at the Savoy was a double bandstand - two separate performance spaces so that as one band finished another could commence - so the evening had continuous music - no breaks. The two bandstands became famous for another usage - the Battle of the Bands. The first battles commenced in 1927. Two bands would go into musical combat and the winners would be chosen by the dancers. One of the most famous stand offs took place in 1937 when Benny Goodman challenged Chick Webb to a battle - a contest won by Chick. Later that year Chick was defeated in battle by Duke Ellington and his band - the Duke had been Chick's mentor over the years. But his crown was restored the following year when Count Basie threw down the gauntlet - and yet again Chick Webb and his band were crowned the kings of swing.'

[Tony Halstead]

That's swan I hadn't thought of...

When bands 'battle' I guess eider one can win?

[Braunschlag]

If anyone fleetingly saw my post here it is again - that delete button was too close whilst I edited shome schpellinges.
Did anyone watch the TV broadcast? I might save you time by saying it was all a bit mundane in view of what was promised.
Claire Teal effused too much, got in the way and sang rather averagely. The other vocalists didn't fare much better either, they sounded as though they were at an audition at Batley Variety Club on a bad night and the featured pianist (Hiromo) was diabolical in a frenzied, unsubtle and gimmicky/gurning rendition of I (ain't) Got (much) Rhythm.
One of those that promised much and delivered little.
Couldn't wait for it to end so I could turn over to Professor T on More 4, an altogether better form of entertainment.
Apologies for the negative vibes but it didn't really do what it said on the tin.

[Pianorak]

Did anyone watch the TV broadcast? I might save you time by saying it was all a bit mundane in view of what was promised. . .

Hadn't watched it – but perverse as I can be your negative vibes sent me hurrying to the iPlayer. No expert and can't comment on the performances, but with a few exceptions the first half sounded a bit low-key with the bands looking rather glum (and playing by numbers?). Clare Teal seemed pleasant enough, although her enthusiasm initially failed to inspire the bands (and the audience? “C'mon, you're allowed to clap”. ) Hiromo did liven things up – a tad OTT - the Lang Lang of Big Bands? - I can't say I disliked the programme altogether, and it was nice to see some youngsters were given a chance to strut their stuff.