KEN PEPLOWSKI AND THE BBC BIG BAND PLAY THE MUSIC OF BENNY GOODMAN. Featuring Louise Cookman (vocalist)
CADOGAN HALL LONDON – 23rd OCTOBER 2011
KEN PEPLOWSKI AND THE BBC BIG BAND PLAY THE MUSIC OF BENNY GOODMAN.
Featuring Louise Cookman (vocalist)
This concert was the second of a tour which began last night at The Hawth Crawley, and continues next week at Leeds, Southampton Newark and Worthing.
The Cadogan Hall, as always provided a magnificent setting for this great concert, a slightly smaller band than usual with 3 trumpets and two trombones plus four saxes, with of course leader Ken Peplowski, who conducted and compered the show with an interesting stream of anecdotes about playing with Benny Goodman in the band he re-formed on coming out of retirement in the early eighties. He had a pleasing and relaxed personality, which set the right tone for a selection of numbers we associate with Benny. Most aptly the concert kicked off with Benny’s signature tune ‘Let’s Dance’ followed by ‘Don’t Be That Way’ with Ken playing clarinet on both, as he did throughout the show
Ken then introduced Louise Cookman, looking charming in green satin, and with a voice admirably suited to the era Her first number was ‘The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’ then ‘When The Sun Comes Out’ and ‘Why Don’t You Do Right’
Lots of solos in the barnstorming ‘King Porter Stomp’ from Rob Fowler on Tenor Sax. Kieran McLeod on Trombone, Colin Skinner and Sammy Mayne Saxes plus Robin Aspland (Piano) Sam Burgess (Bass) Chris Howard (Guitar) and Tom Gordon driving it all along on Drums Oh! And I mustn’t forget Martin Shaw on Trumpet!
After all that the mood quietened and the guys had a rest while Ken played a brilliant and haunting rendition of ‘Poor Butterfly’ accompanied by the rhythm section. The first half closed with a roaring ‘Stealin’ Apples’ and the audience trouped out for a brief interval, I spotted Julia McKenzie among them, I’m sure she was, like us thoroughly enjoying the proceedings.
More great solos were heard from the band in the second half, plus a couple more songs from Louise, my favourite of the evening was an Ella Fitzgerald number, ‘Goodnight My Love’ Ken continued his repartee, and off the cuff banter with one member of the audience who wanted to hear ‘Stomping At The Savoy’. Instead we were treated to a fantastic ‘Sing Sing Sing’ with Andy Greenwood doing the full version of Harry James’ trumpet solo, amid cheers from the audience. As a consolation to the chap who was asking for ‘Stompin’, we got not one encore but two, as Ken said a ballad and a fast number, so we heard ‘Goodbye’ followed by a storming ‘Bugle Call Rag’ to finish! Another wonderful concert, and I wished I could manage to get to another one next week!
Personnel: Trumpets Brian Rankine Andy Greenwood and Martin Shaw. Trombones Gordon Campbell and Kieran Mc Leod. Saxes Rob Fowler Colin Skinner Sammy Mayne and Jay Craig. Rhythm section Robin Aspland Piano, Sam Burgess Bass ,Chris Howard Guitar and Tom Gordon Drums
Here’s to the next time!
Marion Fry
Simple Minds Live – Hampton Court Palace 16th June – Review
I was lucky enough to be asked to record Simple Minds in June and here are what some of the fans thought of it. Many thanks one & all.
“Rain keeps falling down, down”
by J Patten | 23-06-2011
Hampton Court Music Festival, June 16, 2011 It had been raining off and on all day in East Molesy, threatening to ruin a planned Simple Minds concert and pre-concert picnic at Hampton Court, the castle and home of Henry VIII. In the hours before the show, the sky cleared enough to allow picnickers to dine on the lawn. At 7:30, just as Jim Kerr and Simple Minds took the stage, the skies let loose and the rain poured heavily down for a good twenty minutes, thoroughly soaking the audience in what Kerr announced was a typical Scottish summer day: “Get used to it. We are.” Surrounded by the historic brick walls of Henry’s home, Kerr led the audience through the comparitively shorter history of Simple Minds, plucking songs from older albums like Sons and Fascination and New Gold Dream and, of course, drawing heavily from the Once Upon A Time album. While the bulk of the concert was made up of both obscure and famous oldies (Moscow Underground and Stagefright being the only modern songs performed), I never got the feeling that this was an oldies package tour of aging rockers. Kerr’s amazingly energetic performance, plus some heavily reworked and rearranged older songs, made it clear that we were seeing a major arena rock band still in control and still at the height of their creative powers (this in sharp contrast to a rather tired sounding and lame performance of Don McLean, who had played at the Hampton Court Music Festival on the prior evening). And Henry’s home, the majestic Hampton Court Palace, whose walls surrounded the band and the crowd that had come to see them? Even Kerr was noticably awed, acknowledging that the Scots had come a long way since Henry’s time: “I can’t believe they let a bunch of Scotsmen in here” were the first words out of Kerr’s mouth as he took the stage and looked up and around, marveling at the historic structure. Henry’s house returned the favor in a strange way. Kerr’s voice, both at the show and in the recording, is gently echoed by the surrounding brick walls, adding a richness and depth to the sound that would be missing in a more open venue, while, strangely, the band’s sound is echoed much less, ever so slightly in fact, thus avoiding a potentially cacophenous sound while adding a richness and depth to the recording in a subtle way that is only noticable when you listen for it. As a result, this is a gorgeous sounding recording, one of the best live recordings the band has made, of a memorable and historic performance. Whoever the engineer on the evening this recording was made (uncredited in the sadly non-existent liner notes), kudos to you on an utterly brilliant job. As for Simple Minds, if this performance is any indication, they still have a successful and long rock n roll ride ahead of them. Now if only they would wander over to the U.S. once every decade or so, I wouldn’t have to travel all the way from America to the U.K. just to see them again.
and
Hampton Court Concert
by Gary Charman Review | 17-06-2011
One of the best concerts I have seen from them, the rest period from touring has done them the world of good as concert was full of energy. Jim Kerr vocals was superb and is one the few lead vocalists who interacts with the crowd throughout. The song’s rolled off one after another and were as clear and crisp as ever, would quite happily stand in the poring rain again to see them. Ive got a copy of this cd already and it’s superb quality.
Big thanks to Pete Austin and his mighty Ethos Audio truck.
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Forthcoming big band dates
The Syd Lawrence orchestra
17th April – 7:30PM
Theatre Royal Windsor
http://www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/event.php?id=351
21st April
Theaterhaus (am Pragsattel)
Siemenstr. 11
70469
Stuttgart,
Germany
Multi-award winning Syd Lawrence Orchestra & the SWR Big Band.
Two televised concerts featuring these two great bands celebrating the 60th anniversary of the SWR band.
Mon 25 Porthcawl Grand Pavilion (Festival) 01656 815995 TBC www.grandpavilion.co.uk
MAY
Sun 01 7.30 Weston-Super-Mare The Playhouse 01934 645544 www.theplayhouse.co.uk
Tues 10 7.30 Eastbourne Sussex Congress Theatre 01323 412000
BBC Big Band
PATTI AUSTIN and the BBC BIG BAND
Birmingham Town Hall
Friday 13 May 7:30pm at Town Hall
Legendary jazz and soul singer Patti Austin joins the BBC Big Band for an exclusive UK concert appearance. Together they perform the music from her Grammy winning album ‘Avant Gershwin’, including ‘I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise’, ‘Love Walked In’, ‘Funny Face’, ‘Swanee’ and ‘Lady be Good’.
Tickets available: Call the box office on 0121 780 3333 or visit the Birmingham Town Hall website.
Great Swing Battles: The BBC Big Band meet the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra
Friday 17 Jun 7:30pm at Town Hall
The BBC Big Band joins forces with the acclaimed Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra. Together they will recreate all the excitement of the great musical battles of the swing era.
Join them as they feature classic scores from the great bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Chick Webb, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton and Woody Herman.
Tickets available: Call the box office on 0121 780 3333 or visit the Birmingham Town Hall website
Vanessa Turner – Hypnotherapist
In January we started a series of recordings with Hypnotherapist Vanessa Turner. Here’s some information about her.
Vanessa Turner
Vanessa’s passion for helping others is evident in her work, her ability to connect with people and her bespoke approach in therapy has had a life changing impact on the many clients that have worked with her therapeutically over the years. Her gentle nature and calming voice puts you at ease immediately and opens your mind to the possibility of change. Her practice is full time and is based in Reading, Berkshire and she specialises in working with Anxiety, Panic and Phobias, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Raising Confidence and Self Esteem, and the use of hypnosis for labour and childbirth. She also has a range of hypnotic CD’s/downloads available.
Vanessa’s zest for life began at an early age when she became seriously ill. Her determination to be healthy blazed through even at such a young age and following final treatment at age 11 she was given the all clear and she continues to embrace life fully.
Her belief in a healthy body and mind is the inspiration for her commitment to helping others embrace life and at 21 years old Vanessa began using NLP techniques to improve her communication skills professionally and work on increasing health. Her career began in Human Resources and her natural ability to inspire people quickly moved her into a more active role as a training consultant.
Starting a family encouraged Vanessa to begin looking around for a career which enabled her to spend time with her children and still make a contribution to others. In 2001 Vanessa qualified in Hypnotherapy and as a Master Practitioner of NLP with The Quest Institute and quickly established a successful full time Hypnotherapy and NLP practice which continues to help hundreds of people from all walks of life every day of every year in addition to running HypnoBirthing antenatal education classes. Now a mother of three, her knowledge of body and mind allows her to keep a good work-life balance as she enjoys keeping healthy with Latin American Ballroom Dancing, a keen interest in motorcycling and also enjoys the martial arts discipline of Karate with her children.
Becoming a mother inspired Vanessa to begin helping other women have a good outlook and experience of childbirth, and complements the areas of specialism (Anxiety, Panic and Phobias). She learnt and applied self hypnosis for the birth of her own children, believing that we are able to learn from our own life experiences and understanding the profound impact a positive birthing experience can have not just on our children as they grow up but also on our ability to confidently parent.
Vanessa is professionally qualified in the following therapeutic disciplines including Cognitive Hypnotherapy, NLP, EFT(Emotional Freedom Therapy), Reiki and is currently a trainee Doula assisting the births of women in the Berkshire area.
Cognitive Hypnotherapy (DipCH)
Master NLP Practitioner (MPNLP)
Hypnotherapy Practitioners Diploma (HPD)
EFT
Reiki II
HypnoBirthing Instructor
Trainee Doula with Doula UK/Nurturing Birth
We will be featuring Vanessa’s work as it progresses this year and please check out her web site www.changes4life.co.uk or call 0118 3765548
That was the year that was- 2010
Picture by Daniel Salter ©2011
I’ll make no bones about it 2010 was a good year! Profits were up for the second year and we retained our strong relationship with our core businesses.
Once again Chris Deans Syd Lawrence Orchestra have been very good customers with a steady stream of concerts as well as another album for the band.
The concert based merchandising would appear to be the mainstay of the short run cd (<10,000 units) market still and I now have a few clients that like to work this way.
ngles string quartet have both made albums with us in the last year.
The new album for the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Night at the movies, is out next week but I’ll cover that in more detail then.
The BBC big band had another good year despite facing huge budget cuts the band was still on top form with great international artists such as Nills lingren (trombone), Paul Carrack, Anita Wardel & James Morison.
It was once again a huge honour to engineer these concerts for radio two and the band and great fun!
The huge vocal talent of mr Gary Williams was very present last year at Jazzmouse.
We managed to complete three albums for Gary last year and details of these are available on his web site.
Composer Will Todd also had a prolific year and we had a great time working on his Te Deum in the studio as well as performing the world premiere of Te Deum and the ever popular mass in blue. wills music can be found here.
The Raymond Gubbay Organisation seem to go from strength to strength and we were lucky enough to be involved in four shows for them. The two highlights for me were one night in Hollywood featuring Ruthie Henshall and the sounds of the musicals tour featuring Jessie Buckley.
Ruthie’s tour was a cavalcade of the great music from Hollywood and broadway and also featured Due to the complex nature of the show I was very glad to tour a Digidesign Sc48 and Sony radio mics.
The sounds of the musicals tour featured the massive vocal talents of Jessie Bucklie, Debbie myers, Tim Howa and James Graeme. This celebration of musical theatre thrilled audiences up and down the nation and was also great fun to do.
It would appear that live music is as popular as ever with audiences averaging 85% occupancy and I hope that it continues into 2011!
If I can dream – release for the Lindsay Dawkes Fund for Musical Development
The Lindsay Dawkes Fund for Musical Development is based in Berkshire and aims to provide musical instruments for a wide range of projects involving children in local education. Established in the summer of 2007 by family and friends of Lindsay Dawkes, the co-founder of Dawkes Music, who passed away earlier that year, the Funds sole aim is to raise money to aid musical development.
The opportunity for children to experience and enjoy instrumental music was a major factor in Lindsay’s life and work. With money raised from ongoing events and activities, the Fund will be able to continue the supply of musical instruments to local education projects.
At this time much research is now linking instrumental music to improved educational results and behaviour, hopefully we can all strive to offer musical opportunities to today’s youngsters. As with any Fund of this type it relies on the kind donations and support of the general community. We feel passionately about this cause as did Lindsay, between us all we can make a difference.
Dawkes music, both in the Uxbridge & Maidenhead shops, has been part of my musical life for as long as I can remember and from an idea by local business man Jon Davey I suggested that we recorded this track for the fund.
Dawkes kindly arranged for the Yamaha trio (Gareth Williams, Laurence Cottle and the late Chris Dagley) to put the rhythm section backings down.
Elvis flew in and the track was started …
So in true rock & roll style we had a fallow period where time, touring & schedules all intervened but now the first version of the song is done.
It is my intention that we revisit this a couple of times a year to add prize winners et cetera to the track until we have the Dawkes ‘mega’ band version.
//
(The Fund is a registered Charity: No. 1128550)
Please donate what you can. The track is £0.99p but feel free to pay any amount over and above this.
All monies raised will go to the fund
GLEE CLUB UK™ CHRISTMAS SINGLE NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES!
Please buy your copy now and let’s make some money for Cancer Research UK and MacMillan Cancer Support!
A BRACKNELL singing group could be battling this year’s X-Factor winner in the race to be Christmas number one.
The Glee Club has recorded its very own charity single “Light a Candle” and hopes to ride a wave of seasonal goodwill to the top of the Christmas charts.
After wrapping up recording at Sandy Lane Primary School on Sunday club captain Richard Whennell said: “It’s been an absolute blast, I’ve had the best time. We’re going to put it up on iTunes within a month and everyone has orders to spread the word when it’s out and we’ll see what happens. We’re quite serious about getting it in the charts.”
Proceeds from downloads will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK and singer Wendy Gribble from Twyford said: “It’s great to do something worthwhile but we’ve all enjoyed it so much, I didn’t want to stop.”
Cancer sufferer Nigel Lewis-Baker from Leatherhead spoke to the group and wished them luck with their effort.
He said: “I’ve got terminal prostate cancer and I work with a number of charities as a ‘cancer voice’. Cancer Research UK and Macmillan are two of them so this fits in very nicely. I think it’s fantastic what they are doing to promote these charities and I wish them every success.”
The single is available on iTunes to download by searching Light a Candle Glee Club UK.
BBC Big Band Autumn Season 2010
Forth coming attractions with the BBC Big Band :-
The concerts will be recorded for BBC Radio 2′s Big Band Special.
Friday 22nd October 2010 – Birmingham Town Hall – 7:30 pm
Sing Sing Sing – featuring Ken Peplowksi Clarinet & Clare Teal Vocals
Join Virtuoso clarinettist Ken Peplowski, the BBC big band and Clare Teal for a musical celebration fo Benny Goodman, ‘The King of Swing’.
Highlights include Don’t be that way, Stomping at the savoy, Swingtime in the Rockies, Avalon & Why don’t you do right.
Friday 19th November 2010 – Birmingham Town Hall – 8pm
Funk for Life – Nils Landgren meets the BBC Big Band
Jorg Keller – Conductor
Swedish trombonist and singer Nils Landgren along with his Funk Unit joins forces with the BBC Big Band for the very first time to perform music from the latest album Funk for Life – in all new versions for big band, created by conductor Jorg Keller.
Friday 10th December 2010 – Birmingham Town Hall – 7:30pm
BBC Big Band Christmas Concert
For ticket details please contact the Town Hall Birmingham
BOX OFFICE – 0121 780 3333
BBC Big Band with James Morrison – review by Marion Fry
A long time coming…….
This BBC Big Band concert was originally scheduled for April 23rd. However, thanks to volcanos, volcanic ash disrupted air travel and our guests were stranded on the way into the UK – in James’ case all the way from Australia.
However, it was worth the wait and the full house enjoyed a first class concert, with the rhythm section giving the introduction to ‘Ticker’ with the rest of the band joining them on stage later. ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ followed with a fine trombone solo from Trevor Mires. Claire then came onstage to introduce the recorded broadcast part of the concert. ‘Dippermouth Blues’ later known as ‘Sugar Foot Stomp’ was an early Louis number, with solos from Craig Wild on trumpet, Jay Craig on baritone sax, Ashley Horton and Pat Hartley on trombones and Graham Harvey on piano. At this point James Morrison came onstage for his first set of four numbers, which began with ‘Struttin’ With Some Barbecue’, solo from Graham Blevens on tenor sax, ‘All Of Me’ was next, followed by ‘Jeepers Creepers’ supported by the trumpet section (Brian Rankine, Pat White, Craig Wild and Martin Shaw) The set concluded with Louis’ hit from the charts ‘What A Wonderful World’. The audience gave James an ovation as he left the stage, to be replaced by Anita Wardell, who came on stage to sing ‘I’m Beginning To See The Light’ followed by ‘That Old Black Magic’ and the last number before the interval was a spirited rendition of ‘Stompin’ At The Savoy’. Anita certainly has a superb voice, and these numbers were just right for her.
The audience returned after the interval, in their seats and eagerly awaiting the second half, which began with an instrumental, ‘Let’s Get Together’ which featured solos from Martin Shaw, Graham Harvey and Graham Blevens.Anita returned to the stage to give us more of Ella, with ‘A Tisket A Tasket’, ‘Don’t Be That Way’, then a beautiful rendition of ‘Stairway To The Stars’ accompanied by Graham Harvey – superb!- ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’ and ‘The Very Thought Of You’. James then joined Anita for’Come Rain Or Come Shine’ (Martin Shaw soloing) and their last number together was absolutely great with Anita scat singing and James blowing up a storm with ‘Lady be Good’. Anita then left the stage to great applause , then James played one of my favourite ‘Louis’ numbers ‘Sleepy Time Down South’ He then went on to play ‘Der Treue Husar’ which the band backed him by playing the numbers in different styles, I think most people would be familiar with this number as ‘The Faithful Hussar’!! James finished his set with ‘Up a Lazy River’ – great accompaniment by Phil Robson on guitar. The audience went wild, and refused to let the concert end without Anita returning to the stage to sing ‘Mack the Knife’, with of course James on trumpet! What a great show, and many thanks to Bob McDowall and his team for all the hard work in making sure that we finally got to hear this concert.
Marion Fry
Personnel:
Trumpets: Pat White(lead) Brian Rankine, Craig Wild and Martin Shaw
Trombones: Ashley Horton (lead) Trevor Mires, Pat Hartley and Pete North
Saxophones: Paul Jones (lead) Graham Blevins Ben Castle Sammy Maine and Jay Craig
Rhythm Section: Piano: Graham Harvey, Guitar: Phil Robson, Bass Dave Whitford, Drums: Darren Williams
Jazzmouse’s Paul Fawcus was in attendance fulling his role as FOH engineer for the BBC Big Band
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