Classical Jazz 2005: Home

Swinging Down Memory Lane

BOX OFFICE for one performance on 7th December 2006 at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch was £6,630

 

Next Performances:

Friday 26th February 2010 The Sands Venue, The Old Town Hall, Lord St, Gainsborough, Lincs DN21 2DB

NB Joan Viskant will be featured at this performance.

Saturday 3rd April - The Queen's Theatre, Hornchuch, Essex (with Val Wiseman)

 

Swinging Down Memory Lane This is the second time around for Swinging Down Memory Lane. The original production was put together to mark the 75th birthday of one of Britain's original jazz legends - the late George Chisholm OBE. We also had the pleasure of the wonderful singing star, Miss Maxine Daniels, who sadly died last year. The show played to full houses all over the country as well as a broadcast on BBC Radio 2. In 2004 we decided to revive the show with an entirely new cast and an exciting new programme.

The Great American Songbook.

From the early 1900s until, roughly speaking, 1950, the American popular song reigned supreme. From the creative geniuses of of such tune-smiths as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Hoagy Carmichael and many others came the golden evergreen songs that dominated the Broadway musical, the films of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and the soundtrack to World War ll. Sinatra, King Cole, Ella, Billie, Anita and Peggy all relied on this amazing body of work for inspiration.

Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman helped to popularise tyhe jazz and swing era with their interpretation of this unique music.

 

John Petters Swing Band


John Petters : Drums & Leader ("…England's finest traditional Jazz drummer.." The Mississippi Rag, USA). Born in London, John Petters is regarded as one of the UK's top traditional jazz and swing drummers. Self taught, he was influenced primarily by the great Gene Krupa and developed a driving swinging style whether soloing or accompanying.

Val Wiseman : Vocals "..The Jazz idiom comes to her so naturally that her simplest phrase swings .." Dave Gelly - The Observer

British Jazz Award Winner 2009

Always a big draw wherever she plays, Val has a natural understanding of jazz time and phrasing. She has been playing the role of Billie Holliday in Lady Sings The Blues - a tough assignment, yet Val, who has made a lifelong study of Billie's music succeeded in getting uncannily close to her idol whilst avoiding the danger of becoming a clone.

Martin Litton - Brilliant pianist & arranger. Former member of the Kenny Ball Band, Martin is argueable the finest exponent of early jazz piano.

Trevor Whiting : Clarinet & saxophones
Arguably the finest performer f the classic swing repertoire,Trevor has un unparalleled C.V. including recording with Art Hodes, Wild Bill Davison, Al Casey, Acker Bilk, Chris Barber etc.

Keith Donald : Bass
A band member since the '70s, Keith a a natural musician with an uncanny ear, which has enabled him to share the stage with such legends as Lonnie Donegan, Ken Colyer and Slim Gaillard.

 

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Sound Clips

Sound clips are in MP3 format. Please listen to the clips as the music speaks volumes more than words can express. To hear a clip, simply click on the buttons.

Drummin' Man
Drummin' Man

Drummin' Man
A Fine Romance

Stars of the Show

John Petters

 

Val Wiseman

Val Wiseman

 

Trevor Whiting

Martin Litton

Keith Donald