Gordon Campbell Big Band present ‘Tommy Dorsey – A Tribute’ – a review by Marion Fry

What a great afternoon’s entertainment this concert turned out to be – a fine big band, vocalists Jeff Hooper and Eleanor Keenan and guest presenter Sheila Tracy. It was a sellout performance which was enthusiastically received and deservedly so.

Gordon Campbell is lead trombone with the BBC Big Band and, as we know is a world class trombone player. For this afternoon concert he had gathered together an all-star lineup to play the music of Tommy Dorsey. Lots of well known numbers, and a few less familiar, all perfectly played, Gordon was an urbane leader, and we were also fortunate to have Sheila Tracy doing her usual knowledgeable introductions.

Jeff Hooper was the featured vocalist in the first half, unusually for him sitting on-stage during his part of the show. I particularly enjoyed Gordon’s mellifluous accompaniment to Jeff’s ’Stardust’. There were solos from Mike Lovatt with some terrific Bunny Berigan high notes, lovely piano accompaniment from Bunny Thompson and Claire McInerney delighted with several solos on saxophone, clarinet and piccolo!

The second half was just as good, with Eleanor Keenan doing the vocal honours and Gordon showed another side of his talents as he joined in on vocals, with duets on some of the numbers, including ‘For You’

This event was so successful that Gordon told us that his Band has been booked to return to the Hawth on 27th February 2011 for another afternoon concert. This will be a tribute to the Great Big Bands, with the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Ray Anthony and Billy May. A must for Big Band lovers with tickets are already on sale. Get there if you can, you certainly won’t be disappointed!

Music Director: Gordon Campbell
Vocalists: Eleanor Keenan, Jeff Hooper
Presenter: Sheila Tracy
Trumpets
Simon Gardner
Mike Lovatt
Tom Walsh
Paul Eshelby
Trombones
Pat Hartley
Mike Feltham
Cliff Hardie
Mark Nightingale
Saxes
Colin Skinner
Mark Crooks
Robert Fowler
Ollie Wilby
Claire McInerney
Piano
Bunny Thompson
Guitar
Max Brittane
Bass
Paul Morgan
Drums
Matt Skelton

Review by Marion Fry