Proms 30. Battle Of The Bands

[Lena & Harry Smith]

For those who love the Big Band sound, this Sunday evening the 17th of August at 7.0 Clock on BBC4 TV presented by Clare Teal, with conductor James Pearson taking us back to the Swing Era of the 30s and 40s with Count Pearson Proms Band and Duke Windsor Proms band with a recreation of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Bands.
Singers are Clare Teal with Vula Malinga and Gregory Porter.

[Sandra]

Looking forward to it Lena and Harry

Hasn't James Pearson come on.A superb pianist that we first knew from the Syd Lawrence Orchestra

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes sounds good, and we didn't realise that James Pearson was a pianist in the SLO Sandra.

[mariana44]

Greegoey Porter seems to be everywhere these days--where did he spring from ?

[Marian]

That's an interesting name Marian!
We're going to a Warner's Big Band weekend at the end of the month. The Joe Loss Orchestra at Littlecote House in Berkshire.

[Sandra]

Yes sounds good, and we didn't realise that James Pearson was a pianist in the SLO Sandra.

Just a stepping stone I think Lena and Harry.We saw him a few times around 2004.

Now their regular pianist is the wonderful Trevor Brown.

Gregory Porter- why not Matthew Ford!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Thanks Sandra, Yes, I think the choice of Gregory Porter is because he is classed more as a Jazz singer, but we would certainly have preferred Matthew Ford.
In case anyone is still wondering why Gregory Porter wears that hat, the mystery is solved, apparently he had some skin surgery according to Wikipedia.
So that's cleared that up then...Whoops, sorry !!

[Sandra]

What an excellent show.Fantastic musicians on both sides of the 'battle'.Surprise surprise it was a draw!

Clare Teal,Gregory Porter and Vula Malinga adequately providing the vocals.Couldn't see the point of the dancers good as they were.

We recognised several of the band members including the excellent Colin Skinner from the SLO.

Well done Clare for playing Matts I GUESS IT WAS YOU ALL THE TIME on her programme

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We enjoyed the programme too Sandra. The musicians were outstanding and the singers made it a brilliant programme to watch. How Vula Malinga managed to walk with all that heavy load that was before her, and in those high heeled shoes too. I'll never know
Clare Teal really knows her stuff, and not only is she a vey good presenter of this kind of music, but a great singer too. I think the dancers were included, because this was always part of New Orleans Jazz era, etc. They were fit if nothing else. and yes, we had the feeling the battle would end up being a draw.