Berkhamsted Jazz
Club
Sunday 14th
March 2010 7.30 p.m.
Please note: this is a Sunday concert and starts at 7.30
rather than the normal 8.00.
PETE LONG’S ALL-STAR GOODMEN ORCHESTRA
Regarded as one of the finest jazz spectacles ever, the Benny
Goodman Carnegie Hall concert of January 1938 is revered by big band fans
worldwide, and recordings of that historic event continue to sell today on
vinyl and CD. It’s partly thanks to
Benny that jazz was elevated from the dance halls, clubs and dives to the
concert platform.
Star soloist Pete Long doesn’t have Gene Krupa, Harry James,
Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson in the All-Star Goodmen Orchestra, but he
does have the cream of London’s big band players guaranteeing all the passion
and frenzy of the original concert.
They will play THE ENTIRE PROGRAMME from the 1938 concert and FULLY
ACOUSTICALLY, just as it was back then.
It includes Don’t Be That Way, Body & Soul, One O’Clock Jump,
China Boy, Sing Sing Sing, Big John Special and all those other fabulous
Fletcher Henderson, Mel Powell and Eddie Sauter arrangements.
Among the performers that you will hear tonight are:
PETE LONG clarinet
Pete’s name has become synonymous with his tribute bands
“Echoes of Ellington”, “Gillespiana” and “9.20 De-Luxe”. His playing, arranging and highly
entertaining presentations have provided him with a constant stream of work
in West End musicals, BBC Radio Big Band, Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues
Orchestra, Big Band Special (BBC) and Dr John’s UK Band, as well as clubs and
festivals with his own bands large and small.
JOAN VISKANT vocals
Joan was born in Chicago and lived in Paris before settling in
London. Joan has appeared at
international festivals with artists such as Emmy Award winner John Altman’s
Big Band, Keith Nichols’ Cotton Club Orchestra, and she performs the “Ella
Fitzgerald Songbook” with Barbara Jay, Tina May & Lee Gibson. After her debut album, Woolf Phillips -
Frank Sinatra’s MD - described her as “the best female singer I have heard in
30 years”. Her second CD was Observer
album of the week and Michael Parkinson’s album of the week, whilst her
latest recording, “Madeleine Rooms”, has been featured as album of the week
on Jazz FM. As well as working with
“The Goodmen”, Joan tours with Pete Long’s “Ronnie Scott Big Band” and his
small group, “The Rhythm Kitchen” which cooks up fresh hot jazz from the
1940’s and 1950’s.
Tonight, Joan will perform the songs that Martha Tilton sang in
the 1938 concert.
RICHARD PITE drums
A specialist in completely accurate percussion styles of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, tonight Richard
will recreate the Gene Krupa part on an authentic Slingerland Radio King Drum
kit!
And:–
ALLAN GRAHAME
vibraphone
Allan will take on the role of Lionel Hampton.
ALL THE OTHER “GOODMEN” will be introduced to you by Pete Long
during the concert.
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