Prom 45: Mississippi Goddam: A Homage to Nina Simone - 21.08.19

[LMcD]

I think it was Laurie Taylor (?) who said that anything that is called "an experience" with the exception of the Jimi Hendrix Experinece is, by definition, cr*p.

I'm happy to take his word for it!

[doversoul1]

Upcoming 'attractions' at our local theatre (which we would support if it ever put on anything of interest) include:
Pink Floyd Experience
Guns Or Roses
Left Zep
Roy Orbison & Traveling Wilburys Exp.
Ultimate Buble
The Rod Stewart Story
Arrival: The Hits of Abba
Marshall King and His Band - 'Elvis'
The Jive Aces
Bon Jovi Exp.
Soultown USA
Voice of Orbison
One Moment in Time (Whitney Tribute)
Chicago Blue Bros
Tina Turner Exp.
Johnny Cash Exp.

(To be fair: 27th September - Russian National Ballet: Swan Lake, and I mustn't forget 29th January - 'Sinderella (18+)

From a little experience I have, there is something special about local theatres; friends and families get together and enjoy an evening out, and these concerts look great for the purpose. But for the Proms? It may be like recreating Punch& Judy show for a large screen.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Threads merged.

[gurnemanz]

It was 'crossover' in that non-classical genre moving into the Proms arena. It was a travesty in its poor delivery. I, too, have listened to many female jazz and 'serious easy' singers over the years and so like you know what to make my comparisons.

A new use of the word "crossover" which I shall not be embracing. "Serious easy" sounds ghastly and this is also a not a term I shall be incorporating into my active vocabulary. As long as I can remember, the Proms have regularly included occasional non-classical concerts. Not my cup of tea but I remember Soft Machine late 60s. A lot of them are not interesting to me personally but we did go to the Folk Prom a few years ago with Bella Hardy, Martin Simpson and Bellowhead and enjoyed it greatly apart from the unwelcome spectacle of Controller, Roger Wright, wandering around the Arena in jeans. The Folk Prom was repeated when the excellent Unthanks appeared in 2018. I didn't hear that one but we have seen them elsewhere. The Javanese Gamelan Music Prom with dancers in 1982 was for us a highlight of that season. The John Wilson concerts have become a recurring success. Some of these non-classical events have obviously misfired over the years but I would not ban them as some seem to propose. I think they are quite justified in trying something something different from time to time.

The New Statesman review of the Nina Simone concert draws attention to the refreshingly diverse nature of those queueing up outside RAH, presumably people of inferior taste and discernment because they went on to applaud the "poorly delivered" stuff they were offered with unbounded enthusiasm. Nonetheless, there is hope that at some point some of these deluded fellow citizens might actually see the light and go back to attend a Prom with proper music.

Rather depressing for me that some on here deem it appropriate to attempt to belittle the Nina Simone Prom by putting it on the same level as the tribute bands that populate our local theatres. They may be mediocre but I haven't attended any of them so cannot comment and some people must like them. The only tribute evening we have ever attended was the excellent Barb Jungr at a village hall in Wiltshire. We chatted to her afterwards and she signed a CD for us - this one - in case anyone is interested.

[Quarky]

I listened to this Prom and was not offended by it. Didn't feel the need to reach for the off button. Clearly the level of musicianship far below that on Nina's, but that was only to be expected.

If folks want to be scathing in their condemnation, that's their every right. However I had the misfortune this morning to tune in to Classic FM while setting up my car radio, a smoothie presenter playing an extract from a light-weight orchestral composition. Give me the Proms any time, for all their alleged faults!

[Serial_Apologist]

Nina Simone's version of 'My Way' is, for me, unsurpassed. Amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Bq...index=132&t=0s

The worst song ever?

[cloughie]

A new use of the word "crossover" which I shall not be embracing. "Serious easy" sounds ghastly and this is also a not a term I shall be incorporating into my active vocabulary. As long as I can remember, the Proms have regularly included occasional non-classical concerts. Not my cup of tea but I remember Soft Machine late 60s. A lot of them are not interesting to me personally but we did go to the Folk Prom a few years ago with Bella Hardy, Martin Simpson and Bellowhead and enjoyed it greatly apart from the unwelcome spectacle of Controller, Roger Wright, wandering around the Arena in jeans. The Folk Prom was repeated when the excellent Unthanks appeared in 2018. I didn't hear that one but we have seen them elsewhere. The Javanese Gamelan Music Prom with dancers in 1982 was for us a highlight of that season. The John Wilson concerts have become a recurring success. Some of these non-classical events have obviously misfired over the years but I would not ban them as some seem to propose. I think they are quite justified in trying something something different from time to time.

The New Statesman review of the Nina Simone concert draws attention to the refreshingly diverse nature of those queueing up outside RAH, presumably people of inferior taste and discernment because they went on to applaud the "poorly delivered" stuff they were offered with unbounded enthusiasm. Nonetheless, there is hope that at some point some of these deluded fellow citizens might actually see the light and go back to attend a Prom with proper music.

Rather depressing for me that some on here deem it appropriate to attempt to belittle the Nina Simone Prom by putting it on the same level as the tribute bands that populate our local theatres. They may be mediocre but I haven't attended any of them so cannot comment and some people must like them. The only tribute evening we have ever attended was the excellent Barb Jungr at a village hall in Wiltshire. We chatted to her afterwards and she signed a CD for us - this one - in case anyone is interested.

My ‘definition’ “serious easy” was rather tongue in cheek - I hate the ‘easy’ tag which is/was used in record stores, but I am conscious of the fact that there are jazz specialists on these threads who would not necessarily consider all such singers as jazz singers. I,too, have seen Barb Jungr (at a village hall in Gloucestershire) and would never, whatever she is singing, call her a tribute act - also may I say she was accompanied by a brilliant pianist! - does her interpretation of Elvis make her an Elvis impersonator - I think not!
For the record I also like the John Wilson Proms, although sometimes the vocalists are a weak link! The Stax Prom was good and the Michael Ball awful.

[Bryn]

A new use of the word "crossover" which I shall not be embracing. "Serious easy" sounds ghastly and this is also a not a term I shall be incorporating into my active vocabulary. As long as I can remember, the Proms have regularly included occasional non-classical concerts. Not my cup of tea but I remember Soft Machine late 60s. . . .

To be found on the more recent versions of Soft Machine Third CD. It was not an exclusive Soft Machine Prom. The first half was given by Intermodulation (Roger Smalley, Tim Souster, et al) and others:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejbj5v.

[Richard Tarleton]

It was also a late prom, starting (I see) at 10 pm - I dimly remember seeing the start of Soft Machine's set in grainy black and white on TV, but it could have been as a news item.

[Braunschlag]

For the record I also like the John Wilson Proms, although sometimes the vocalists are a weak link! The Stax Prom was good and the Michael Ball awful.

I’d go along with that - I’ve found the vocal numbers very weak, almost superfluous and maybe a sop to the perceived audience. I’d much prefer JW to stick to the orchestral repertoire. It doesn’t really help when the singers are so indiscreetly boosted with amplification either, producing a rather false, bloated sound.

[cloughie]

It was also a late prom, starting (I see) at 10 pm - I dimly remember seeing the start of Soft Machine's set in grainy black and white on TV, but it could have been as a news item.

They were good, and not trying to be somebody else!

[Bryn]

It was also a late prom, starting (I see) at 10 pm - I dimly remember seeing the start of Soft Machine's set in grainy black and white on TV, but it could have been as a news item.

Actually, I do not recall it being so. I think that Prom's page may have the start time wrong. Just look at the content. There was surely rather too much for a Late Prom. Unfortunately, I have not kept my programme booklet. That said, http://www.concertprogrammes.org.uk/...etRecord/8117/ also cites it as late-night Prom. Since I was living in Holland Park (the area, not the park itself) I would have had no problem walking home from the event. whatever time it finished. It was at that Prom that I released a few locusts into the Arena while holding up a card (with other locusts tethered to it) quoting the unattributed text of La Monte Young's Piano Piece for David Tudor #3. That was how I came to encounter the American (now Australian) microtonal composer Warren Burt. He immediately recognised it as a reference to the La Monte Young work and introduced himself to me.

[Serial_Apologist]

Actually, I do not recall it being so. I think that Prom's page may have the start time wrong. Just look at the content. There was surely rather too much for a Late Prom.

When I come to think of it, there might well have been some grainy footage of a few seconds of that Soft Machine Proms performance as a TV news item under the rubric of it being the first time "rock music" had been presented at the Proms, or some such.

Unfortunately, I have not kept my programme booklet. That said, http://www.concertprogrammes.org.uk/...etRecord/8117/ also cites it as late-night Prom. Since I was living in Holland Park (the area, not the park itself)

I would have had no problem walking home from the event. whatever time it finished. It was at that Prom that I released a few locusts into the Arena while holding up a card (with other locusts tethered to it) quoting the unattributed text of La Monte Young's Piano Piece for David Tudor #3. That was how I came to encounter the American (now Australian) microtonal composer Warren Burt. He immediately recognised it as a reference to the La Monte Young work and introduced himself to me.

You wouldn't have done that today - the RSPCA would have been down on you like a ton of bricks!

[Bryn]

When I come to think of it, there might well have been some grainy footage of a few seconds of that Soft Machine Proms performance as a TV news item under the rubric of it being the first time "rock music" had been presented at the Proms, or some such.







You wouldn't have done that today - the RSPCA would have been down on you like a ton of bricks!

It was either that, with a fair bit of greenery for them to munch on in the Hall, or off to London Zoo to feed the reptiles there. I used to have the job of breeding them for research. Those surplus to requirements . . .

[Serial_Apologist]

It was either that, with a fair bit of greenery for them to munch on in the Hall, of off to London Zoo to feed the reptiles there. I used to have the job of breeding them for research. Those surplus to requirements . . .

... were not locusts genii???

(Sorry, terrible pun. Must be the heat...)