WERNER TAUTZ – Time for Music Bing Bang, The Better Idea, On the Road South, Your Tenderness, Piccadilly Walk, Portrait of a Dream, Black Velvet, Tokyo Tea Time, etc… 25 tracksVarious German Orchestras. (Germany) Bliss Records BRA 10011, 77:15 mins. Werner Tautz celebrated his 80^th birthday last December, and this great collection of 25 of his compositions is a worthy tribute. Many readers of this magazine will already be familiar with Werner’s tuneful melodies through earlier Bliss Records releases, and they will be aware of his talent for composing bright and tuneful works that are so easy on the ear. This time the emphasis is more on dance and swing music, and once again Werner demonstrates that he is a master of this as well. The music simply bounces along happily from track to track, with some great big band sounds from various German radio orchestras that may well come as a pleasant surprise to collectors who think that the Americans (and perhaps a few British outfits) had a monopoly in this area. Not so! The likes of Kurt Edelhagen, Delle Haensche, Alfred Hause, Horst Jankowski, Erwin Lehn, Werner Müller and even Britain’s Reg Owen, all have a ball playing Werner’s great tunes. The recordings date from 1956 to 1977, and they seem to come from all the top radio stations in Germany. The booklet notes are in German and English, and I have no hesitation in saying that this new CD is going to give a lot of pleasure to folks who enjoy tuneful big band music from a few decades ago. David Ades Bliss CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £14 [US $28] each.

MORE BEWITCHING PIANO Eddie Heywood – Sweet and Lovely, Who’s Sorry Now; Steve Race – So in Love; Ben Light – Perfidia, Tea For Two; Carmen Cavallaro – They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Some Enchanted Evening; Frankie Carle – Running Wild, Sunrise Serenade; Semprini – Kitten on the Keys; Stanley Black – Falling in Love with Love; Vivian Ellis – "Bless the Bride" selection; plus Diana Lynn, Jan August, Barclay Allen, Carroll Gibbons, Felix King, Ian Stewart, Frankie Froba and Eddy Duchin – 24 tracks Memoir CDMOIR 571, 76:38 mins. It would be hard to imagine a better choice of pianists than this, and this recent collection from Memoir will find its way into the hands of many appreciative piano lovers. The Vivian Ellis selection from his hit show "Bless The Bride" is a real gem. Digital sound restoration is in the safe hands of Ted Kendall, proving once again that the dusty grooves of those old 78s contained more magical sounds than we realised at the time. David Ades

THE BIG BEAUTIFUL MALE VOICE Edmund Hockridge – Just Say I Love Her, I Leave My Heart in an English Garden, If I Loved You; Howard Keel – The Girl That I Marry, My Defences are Down; Gordon MacRae – So in Love; Allan Jones – If, Falling In Love With Love; Lee Lawrence – So Ends my Search for a Dream, How Can You Buy Killarney?; David Hughes – With These Hands, A Beggar in Love; plus John Raitt, Teddy Johnson, Vaughan Monroe, Harry Dawson, Lester Ferguson, Georges Guetary, Reggie Goff and Bill Johnson – 24 tracks Memoir CDMOIR 572, 72:45 mins. The title of this CD is a bit of a mouthful, but then it features some very big voices! If you think of your favourite male singer from around 50 years ago, the chances are that he will be included in this collection.David Ades

THE MOZART LOUNGE Stanislaus, A Long Cigarette, Zottos, Halogene, Cindy’s Jump, Blues in Italy, Fake Three, Pluto, Arcadia, Midnight Shadow, Bamba, Jasmin, Wagtail, I’ll Wait for your Love, Three Cats, Moonshot, Haute Couture & You Have Gone Apollo Sound APSCD229, 44:55 mins. Apart from track 7 ‘Fake Three’ by Paul Lewis, the names of the other composers may be a little unfamiliar, although they will mean a lot to the aficionados of Test Card Music: W. Kubiczeck, H. Walther, J. Gleichmann, M. Peiper, M. Gutesha, G. Peguri, T. Schumann, Sapabo, H. Stuck … etc (pity their first names aren’t given in full). If you haven’t yet realised from the title, these recordings emanate from the Mozart Edition Production Music Library, which has already been ‘raided’ in previous releases from Apollo Sound (and ASV). This latest compilation is not really light music, but tuneful, rhythmic pop of the kind that tended to overwhelm us in the 1970s. Perhaps it is aimed more at the ‘serious’ collectors of this kind of repertoire, which will certainly ensure that sales are healthy. Sound quality is good, although I do wonder if some people might feel that the total running time of under 45 minutes is a trifle ungenerous. David Ades Apollo Sound CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12.75 [US $25.50] each.

SKYSCRAPERS – SYMPHONIC JAZZ Skyscrapers (John Alden Carpenter), Manhattan Serenade & Manhattan Moonlight (Louis Alter), Two American Sketches (Thomas Griselle), Song of the Bayou (Rube Bloom), New Year’s Eve in New York (Hans Werner-Janssen), Skyward (Nathaniel Shilkret), My Silent Love (Dana Suesse), Buffoon (Zez Confrey) Victor Symphony/Concert Orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret Naxos 8120644, 64:23 mins. I was attracted to this CD as soon as I read about it in the monthly Naxos list, and it certainly provides a fascinating insight into one aspect of the American recording scene way back around 1930, when jazz was making such an impact. Many of the works are new to me, particularly the opening number Skyscrapers by John Alden Carpenter, which runs to almost 22 minutes. When I first listened to it I considered it to be pretentious and boring, but then I took it with me on a long car journey, and found myself playing it repeatedly. There really is a lot going for this work, although the main reason why it isn’t better known could be because it lacks the kind of strong romantic theme that Gershwin, for example, would have conjured up. But I find it fascinating, none-the-less. On the other hand, Louis Alter’sManhattan Serenade is a well-known delightful standard, although this is a fragmentary arrangement which comes to annoying abrupt pauses, just when you think the melody is finally going to take off. The American Sketches by Thomas Griselle are far more satisfying, as is Rude Bloom’s Song of the Bayou and that lovely song by Dana Suesse My Silent Love. Perhaps the best-known work is the closing number Buffoon, by that ‘Kitten on the Keys’ man, Zez Confrey; this is a ‘fun’ arrangement! All in all this is an interesting collection, a bit disappointing here and there, but who can really complain at such a bargain price – around £5. Producer David Lennick and sound engineer Graham Newton have worked wonders with these ancient grooves. I urge you to sample it. David Ades

JEAN SABLON J’attendrai, These Foolish Things, La Chanson des Rues, Vous qui Passez sans me Voir, Paris tu n’as pas Change, Symphony, Pigalle, My Foolish Heart, C’est si Bon, etc… 20 tracksNaxos 8120641, 62:57 mins. I have always enjoyed the voice of Jean Sablon, one of the several talented singers of his generation whose fame spread well beyond his native France. So I didn’t hesitate to acquire this new CD, although my initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I started to listen. The sound restoration is poor, and I am surprised that a company such as Naxos would release such an inferior product. It makes a nonsense of the blurb inside the booklet, which informs us that … "Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience to produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings." This one certainly slipped through the net: it is simply not good enough. David Ades

VICTOR HELY-HUTCHINSON A Carol Symphony Improvisations on Christmas Carols (Brian Kelly); A Carol Symphony (Victor Hely-Hutchinson); Bethlehem Down (Peter Warlock, arr. Lane); Wassail Dances (Philip Lane); A Christmas Carol Symphony (Patric Standford). City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland. Naxos 8.557099. Surprisingly, this is only the third recording of Hely-Hutchinson’s wonderful Christmas piece but this CD also includes another fine Carol Symphony composed in 1979 by Patric Standford. Also delighting the Light Music ear are excellent works by Brian Kelly, Peter Warlock and Philip Lane. Don’t think for a moment that this disc is only suitable for Christmas because it is, without doubt, all-year round delightful fayre which will give great pleasure to many. Lane’s arrangements of the Warlock piece reminds one of the string version of John Ireland’s The Holy Boy and who is to say it does not deserve equal recognition? Peter Worsley

ENTENTE CORDIALE Light Classics Peter Warlock – Capriol Suite; Dame Ethel Smyth – Two Interlinked French Melodies; Peter Hope – Four French Dances; Joseph Jongen – Two pieces; Charles Lecoco – Overture, The Lady and the Maid; Paul Lewis – A Paris; Jean Gabriel-Marie – Mireio suite; Cesar Franck – Chorale. City of Prague Philharmonic conducted by Gavin Sutherland and Christopher Phelps ASV White Line CDWHL2147, 70:25 mins. Contrary to the expectation generated by the title, the inspiration for this CD is music with a purely French influence which is either composed by the French themselves, or Belgians or the British. Our friends at ASV are right to subtitle this CD ‘Light Classics’ because readers who have purchased previous Light Music CDs in the White Line series might feel that most of the music on offer here is somewhat on the serious side. Probably the best-known work is Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, and Peter Hope’s charming French Dances may also sound familiar through broadcast performances. Easily the most accessible piece of music in this collection is Paul Lewis’s delightful waltz A Paris which he composed in 1991. Jean Gabriel-Marie’s Mireio suite provençale is a very pleasant surprise, with the opening Prologueconfirming how much an influence Ravel exerted on composers of incidental music around 70 years ago. It would have been nice if the ‘Entente Cordiale’ idea had been exploited to its full potential by including some French musical impressions of Britain … but perhaps there aren’t any. David Ades

ORIENT EXPRESS: The Legendary Journey Captured in Music. DARYL GRIFFITH: Orient Express, KENNETH WRIGHT: Dainty Lady, F. CHARROSIN: Keep Moving, RENÉ POUGNET: Aubade, L. OLIAS: Paris Urchin, FRED HARTLEY: (arr) Five Minutes with Waldteufel, KRUGER HANSCHMANN: Farmer’s Breakfast; In the Park Café, G WINKLER: Spinning Top, KARL KOMZAK, snr: Munchen-Wien, MOZART: La Finta Giardiniera Overture, R STOLZ: Easter Parade in Vienna, KORNGOLD (Arr Artok): Marietta’s Song, SCHNEIDER: Lehar in Three Four Time, KÁLMÁN: Grand Palotas de la Reine, J. G. RENNER: Gypsy Blood, J. KNÛMANN: Roumanian Gypsy Fantasia, H. KROME: Bulgarian Dance, CECIL RAYNER: Fatina, An Eastern Waltz. London Salon Ensemble Meridian CDE 84466 (79'57") This desirable, very generously measured disc charts in light music the progress of the original Orient Express through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Rumania. We start in London with a specially composed piece of train music by Daryl Griffith, harmonium player in the LSE, and contrasting miniatures by Kenneth Wright and Frederick Charrosin. Paris Urchin is a perky number and along the way there is opportunity for all manner of dance music – waltzes by Waldteufel, Stolz, Lehar and Cecil Rayners (Constantinople, represented by an English writer for silent films!) a Bavarian peasant polka, Komzak’s delicious polka mazurka, Hungarian dances by Kalman and characteristic Rumanian and Bugarian examples (gypsy music has long been a standby of light orchestras). The transcription of Korngold’s famous song seems a touch long in this context, but Winkler’s Spinning top and Mozart’s elegant little overture are especial delights. This attractive, often unusual programme is executed in perfect style. Strongly recommended. Philip L. Sowcroft

New from Meridian is another sparkling CD from the London Salon Ensemble – this time recreating in music a journey on the original Orient Express which ran from London to Constantinople (Istanbul). The cities on the journey are represented either by title, composer, or both. The title tune Orient Express is really rather special as it is a first-rate piece of Light Music composed specifically for the Ensemble by their Harmonium, Celesta and Percussion player, Daryll Griffith. A versatile musician is Daryll, having not only played violin with the BBC Concert Orchestra, but having also conducted it! Having heard several of his many compositions, I have been amazed that for a relatively young man he has a marvellous understanding of the light music idiom. Before leaving London we are serenaded by Kenneth Wright’s delightful Dainty Lady. The theme of the CD provides the Ensemble with a wonderful excuse (as if one was needed) to include Charrosin’s scintillating string fresco Keep Moving– a piece that ‘brings the house down’ at their public concerts. In France we meet a Paris Urchin, a possibly unfamiliar yet enchanting piece of typically 1950s style light music, featuring the accordion of Neil Varley (who is the producer of Brian Kay’s Light Programme on Radio-3). Its composer, Lotar Olias, apparently once submitted an entry for the Eurovision Song Contest! Well, nobody’s perfect! We are then treated to some Waldteufel waltzes (Fred Hartley style). Fred was incidentally Head of Light Music at the BBC from 1940-1944 (not 1946 as stated in the booklet). Other delights include In a Park Café and Winkler’s Spinning Top. As we reach Salzburg, what more appropriate than Mozart’s tiny overture La Finta Giardiniera. On then to Vienna with waltz medleys by Stolz and Lehar, and then to Budapest and Bucharest with some typical gypsy music, including Renner’s Gypsy Blood. After aBulgarian Dance by Hermann Krome, we conclude our journey in Constantinople with an Eastern Waltz by Cecil Rayners – Fatima. There’s something for everyone on this CD, which is superbly played and recorded in natural acoustics. Howard Friend’s informative notes are of great interest; we are also treated to a picture of the London Salon Ensemble as well as a reproduction of an actual Orient Express timetable (assuming that it wasn’t cancelled for engineering works or leaves on the line!). Although this commendable CD is available in the shops for £14.99, it is suggested that you purchase it at a much reduced price direct from the Ensemble. You should contact: Lars Payne, 40 Durand Gardens, London SW9 0PP, England – or telephone him on 0207 735 7948. Brian Reynolds

DENNIS LOTIS Decca Singles Undecided, That’s-a-Why, Settin’ the Woods on Fire, Don’t Let the Stars get in your Eyes, Ma Says Pa Says, I Collect, Wild Horses, etc… 25 tracks Vocalion CDLK4150, 61:29 mins. Ted Heath was fortunate in having several top vocalists who became star performers in their own right. Vocalion has already reissued some classic tracks by Dickie Valentine (CDLK4147), and now it is the turn of Dennis Lotis – happily still appearing regularly on stage with Rosemary Squires. It seems incredible that he has been singing for over 50 years, and these early recordings reveal that he was one of the very best. He didn’t always have very good songs to sing, but it is fun to hear the best (and the worst!) once again in this enjoyable compilation. David Ades

TED HEATH Big Band Dixie Sound That’s a Plenty, I Wish I could Shimmy like my Sister Kate, The Darktown Strutters Ball, etc… Big Band Blues St. Louis Blues, Memphis Blues, Blues in the Night, etc… Vocalion CDLK4155, 77:14 mins. Vocalion continues to serve Ted Heath fans magnificently, with a steady stream of LP reissues. No doubt Ted’s legion of fans will add this latest to their CD collections. David Ades

BRITISH BY ARRANGEMENT Beatlecracker Suite (Tchaikovsky/Lennon & McCartney arr. Arthur Wilkinson); The African Queen (Allan Gray arr. Philip Lane); Nocturne (Borodin arr. Malcolm Sargent); Dances from Terpsichore (Praetorius arr. Philip Lane); Variations (Donizetti arr. Robert Irving), Mendelssohniana (Philip Lane). City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland. ASV White Line CD WHL 2142. Tchaikovsky and the Beatles may sound an unusual combination but after you have heard Wilkinson’s Beatlecracker Suite you will marvel at the juxtaposition of the eight short movements. Philip Lane is a master of arrangement and his continuing fruitful relationship with conductor Gavin Sutherland has again hit the Light Music bullseye. Who is next for the treatment? Edmund Whitehouse

BILLY MAYERL Marigold; Hollyhock; Four Aces Suite (Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds, Spades); The Joker; Hop-o’-my-Thumb; Jazz Master; Railroad Rhythm; The Song of the Fir Tree; Harp of the Winds; Three Dances in Syncopation (English, Cricket, Harmonica); Aquarium Suite (Willow Moss, Moorish Idol, Fantail, Whirligig) (all Billy Mayerl); Wake Up and Dream medley (Cole Porter); Baby’s Birthday(Ronell); Balloons (Magine), Here Comes the Bride medley (Schwartz), Limehouse Blues (Braham). Evergreen Melodies CL2. Released to celebrate Billy’s centenary alongside an article in This Englandmagazine, all the original tracks feature the "Nimble fingered gentleman" himself. Apart from theAquarium Suite which includes his own orchestra playing in the background, they are exciting piano solos, played mostly at the frenetic pace which made the maestro such an exciting entertainer. Also available in shortened cassette form. Eat your heart out, Liberace! Edmund Whitehouse

LITA ROZA Decca Singles The Blacksmith Blues, Allentown Jail, High Noon, Early Autumn, Walkin’ to Missouri, Half as Much, etc… 25 tracks Vocalion CDLK4160, 68:19 mins. Vocalion has already released a CD of two of Lita’s Decca LPs (CDLK4126), but now the spotlight falls on her singles. She had some big hits (Blacksmith Blues and Allentown Jail) and recorded many songs that have survived the years. Of course, this selection finds her with her boss Ted Heath, as well as Reg Owen, Johnny Douglas, Roland Shaw and Bob Sharples. Voted No. 1 Female Vocalist from 1952 until 1955, these 78s are part of Britain’s Pop History; it is important that they should be available. David Ades

CYRIL STAPLETON Decca Singles Collection for full tracklisting see page 48 of JIM 153 – December 2002 Vocalion CDLK4154, 77:57 mins. Fans with fond memories for the BBC’s "Show Band Show" have probably invested already; so these notes are aimed at potential first-time buyers. Much recorded in 1952, Eric Spear’s Meet Mr. Callaghan features Miller-type saxes in this version, while the treatment of Doll Dance could hardly be more Latin-Sixty-ish. Loads of variety in-between-times too; that corkingly brassy Elephants’ Tango and the catchy Italian Theme, the latter an instant recall by me after years, nay decades silence. More nostalgia, should one recall the march which introduced "Highway Patrol"; and more warmly romantic film/TV melodies by Max Steiner and Victor Young. Pop-inflected pieces present shorter, punchily-rhythmic melodic lines; and so on. Many tracks showcase brilliant engineering (Kenneth Wilkinson, perhaps?) as well as musical skills. Some traditionalists might object to the vocal ‘intrusions’, but they are few and one can skip them in the generous 30 tracks. Michael Dutton’s faithful exemplary transfers (I’ve compared where I could) add to an already strong recommendation. Finally, see if you can spot the tiny paraphrase on Great Little Army during track 9! John Govier

JOHNNY KEATING SOUND The Keating Sound Listen, Speak Low, Baghdad Blues, Serenata, etc…Straight Ahead The Preacher, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Hey Girl, etc… Vocalion CDLK4165, 73:31 mins. Johnny Keating was chief arranger for Ted Heath, so he knew a thing or two about Dance and Swing Bands. He also knew that, by the 1960s, the days of the ‘traditional’ dance bands were well and truly numbered. Things had to change, and these two LPs from 1964 and 1965 illustrate graphically how Johnny felt they should change. My goodness, how people sat up and took notice when they heard the first track Listen! It still has the same effect today. Malcolm Laycock’s note puts everything into the right perspective, and if you had any doubts about the quality of the musicians a glance at the credits will reveal that only the top session men were good enough to play these adventurous charts. I missed these LPs the first time around; I am very glad to have them now!David Ades

JACK BUCHANAN Medley (Two Little Bluebirds, It’s Not You, There’s Always Tomorrow, Dancing Honeymoon, And Her Mother Came Too, Who); Everything Stops For Tea; Fancy Our Meeting; From One Minute to Another; Goodnight Vienna; I Think I Can; I’m In a Dancing Mood; etc... Evergreen Melodies CYC. The alleged comment made after Fred Astaire’s first audition was "Can’t act, can’t sing but can dance a little"! The same accusations were made about Jack Buchanan, Britain’s Fred Astaire lookalike. There were many similarities between the two and all these excellent songs from the Thirties go with a swing which make the listener hum along without even realising it. His main leading lady was Elsie Randolph who pops up on five of the tracks with a man she described as "Immaculate in dress and behaviour, totally and unselfishly dedicated to the theatre". Also available in shortened cassette form. Edmund Whitehouse

"Music At Sunset" Beating Retreat - DUNN: The Captain General and Fanfare, Salute for Heroes; HANDEL arr. DUNN: Where ere You Walk; McBAIN: Bugle March; Mechanised Infantry, plus drummings, Heart of Oak, Land of Hope and Glory, Cockaigne, Evening Hymn and Sunset, Rule Britannia and A Life on the Ocean Wave; Music at Sunset - ALFORD: Marches, By Land and Sea and The Vedette and Waltz, Thoughts, ZETHLE: Viscount Nelson March, BRIDGER: The Shanghai Sailor; CLIFTON PARKER: Sink the Bismarck TATTOO ALFORD: The Middy; RAUSCH: Bugle March, Sambre et Meuse; DUNN Royal Flourish No.2 and March, Passing By; HANDEL arr. DUNN: March and Air plus Drummings, Crown Imperial, Jerusalem, and Evening Hymn and Last Post.) Band of HM Royal Marines School of Music / Lt. Col. F. Vivian Dunn. EASTNEY COLLECTION RMHSEC 007, £12.00 each incl. p & p from 60 Mayford Road, London SW12 8SN, England. This is a superb tribute to that fine musician and great gentleman, Sir Vivian Dunn, one of several from Eastney, but this one shows his talent not just as a conductor, but as an arranger and composer. It falls into three parts, the first and third being a recreation of military ceremonies with appropriate music, mostly marches and fanfares, with snippets of Elgar, Parry, Walton and Handel - some moving moments here. In between we have a short concert comprising three marches, two of them by Alford and not among the more hackneyed ones, a film theme (and Sink the Bismarck does stir the blood), a charming waltz reminding us that Alford could compose things other than marches and the sprightly piccolo solo, The Shanghai Sailor. I like Dunn’s own compositions which skilfully incorporate popular melodies, rather as his great predecessor, Alford often did. Excellent performance and recording; need I say more.Philip L. Scowcroft

‘DAYDREAMS’ - The Chamber & Instrumental Music of Sir Arthur Sullivan String Quartet; Daydreams 1 to 6; Idyll for cello and piano; Allegro Resoluto; Slowly Slowly [cello/piano]; Berceuse, Romance for String Quartet; Thoughts 1 & 2; Twilight; Duo Concertante Yeomans String Quartet, James Watson [cello], Murray McLachlan [piano] SOMM CD 233. Sullivan composed so much more than his comic operas with Gilbert and CD companies, even performers, are gradually taking note of this. Indeed, he deserved to be known as a master of "serious" music, though much of this disc of his solo piano and chamber music is light and tuneful enough. The Daydreams are nicely varied, best being the fourth, a waltz re-cycled from a ballet. The two Thoughts are even briefer and lighter in touch. The Berceuse is Sullivan’s own transcription of an air from ‘Cox and Box’. Most substantial are the fairly recently rediscovered one movement Quartet – a student work like theRomance and both showing Mendelssohn’s example – and the Duo Concertante for cello and orchestra. Practically all the piano and cello works date from the 1860s; Slowly Slowly is a transcription by Berthold Tows of an excerpt from ‘The Golden Legend’. Performances are very good, with a special mention for the hard worked M McLachlan. Recording and presentation are first rate.Philip L. Scowcroft SOMM Recordings can be ordered direct from them at: 13 Riversdale Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0QL, England.

DAVID HUGHES Favourite Opera & Operetta Arias On with the Motley, Your tiny hand is frozen, Take a pair of sparkling eyes, etc… Songs You Love Where e’er you walk, Ave Maria, Angels Guard Thee, etc… Vocalion CDLK4166, 78:11 mins. The serious side of David Hughes is represented on these two LPs, the first with the City of Birmingham Orchestra conducted by Louis Fremaux, and the second featuring Gilbert Vinter and his Orchestra and Jack Byfield on the piano. David’s transformation from ‘Pop’ to ‘Opera’ is confirmed in these fine recordings, made not long before his sudden death from a heart attack in October 1972. Examples of his early rise to fame are already available on Vocalion CDLK4134. David Ades

‘NULLI SECUNDUS’ Burton: The Minstrel Boy; Goodwin: Second To None; Ellis: Op. Palllister; Jones: We Are The Music Makers; Barnwell: A New Start; Taylor: Wandering Minstrel; Meldrum: Decadian; Norley: Pegasus Bridge; Brydon: The Dalesman; Torrent: Excelsior; Wolfendale: The Minstrel Boy; Taylor: Oxbridge; Walters: The Castle Guard; Torrent: Flying Colours; Philbin: Crown & Lyre; Burton: Foggy Foggy Dew; Brown: Strident King, On The Countermarch; Hallatt: Scutad; Goodwin: Esprit de Corps; Hopla: The White Rose; Hamilton: Oath For All Corps Comrades; Allen: The Musical Ride; Forsyth: Band Ready; Sale: Duty Calls; Burton: The River Wide Band of the Prince of Wales Division [Clive], Band of the Royal Logistic Corps conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey A Kingston CA Mus Bandleader BNA 5173, 68:13 mins. On sampling this disc one could be forgiven for thinking that most of the existing "tunesmiths" representing the lighter end of the musical spectrum are to be found alive and well and residing within the ranks of the British Army musicians! Here is a splendid collection of 26 brand new rousing and essentially tuneful quick marches composed by various aspiring bandsmen and their more senior officers as entries for the Corps of Army Music March Competition. The vast bulk of the material here is completely original although there are a few borrowings from ‘Trad’ and, in one case, Sir Arthur Sullivan. Considering the limited amount of time available for both rehearsal and recording and the fact that the musicians were totally unfamiliar with the scores, the two bands under the skilful and expert guidance of their conductor, the Principal Director of Music [Army], acquit themselves with distinction and the overall results are pretty impressive. A stimulating, unusual and heartening disc which reflects great credit on the standards demanded and attained at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, and well recorded there in the Morris Hall. As to which march subsequently won the Competition, I can only recommend you to buy this disc and find out! Roger Hyslop Bandleader CDs are available from DISCURIO, 46 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LD. Tel/Fax 01634 845222, www.discurio.com, or from larger retail outlets such as the HMV Oxford Street stores in London.

KOMZAK, LANNER, MILLOCKER, STRAUSS (JOHANN AND JOSEF), SUPPE, ZIEHRER Overtures, Marches, Polkas, Waltzes Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna conducted by Willi BoskovskyEMI Double Forte 72435756762,total timing 120:37 minutes. Much of the material for this very generously filled pair of EMI Double Fortes -26 tracks in all -hails from a 4 LP box set issued during the mid -1970s under the title 'Viennese Enchantment'. Most of the first disc is occupied by fairly standard fare -Suppe's Light Cavalry and Poet and Peasant etc., although there is an unfamiliar Johann Strauss overture - Blindekuh (Blind Man's Buff) and one by Ziehrer entitled Die Landstreicher. The second disc however is a cornucopia of Viennese rarities including two waltzes by Carl Millocker -Carletta and the Traum Walzer from The Army Chaplain and a mouth-watering confection of dance music by Komzak, Lanner and Ziehrer whose sheer fecundity for producing attractive, lilting, enchanting and stirring melodies surely rival the great 'Waltz King' himself. Two minor technical quibbles: the recording sessions used two different halls with noticeably different acoustic characteristics. One, fortunately used for the minority of tracks, produces a bright shallow sound whilst the other venue reveals sound of greater opulence and depth with more warmth from the string section. There are also some disconcerting variations in sound level between individual items which some judicious adjustment of the volume control can easily remedy. Overall however these discs at mid-price are excellent value particularly with that doyen of Viennese musicians -Willi Boskovsky -at the helm! Roger Hyslop

SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN Iolanthe: Overture & The March Of The Peers; Patience: Quick March; Three Sketches from ‘Kenilworth’; Princess Ida: Quick March; The Lost Chord; Danish March [Princess of Wales March]; The Yeoman Of The Guard: Quick March; The Golden Legend: ‘O Gladsome Light’; Pineapple Poll: Suites 1 & 2; The Pirates Of Penzance: March The Band of the Irish Guards directed by Major Andrew Chatburn BA ARCM, psm The Specialist Recording Company SRC106, 68 minutes. Particularly welcome in the compilation under review are the Three Sketches from ‘Kenilworth’ in an arrangement by Herman Finck – he of In The Shadows fame. This work was a masque for chorus and orchestra based on Sir Walter Scott’s description of Elizabeth I’s visit to the town. First performed at the 1864 Birmingham Festival, it was fatally flawed by a weak libretto and quickly disappeared from the repertoire. Herman Finck rescued some of the score in the form of the Three Sketches as heard here and Dennis Wright subsequently transcribed the music for band. As far as one can recollect there are currently no alternative modern recordings currently available. Other rarities are the Danish March [Prince of Wales March] and ‘O Gladsome Light’. The Lost Chord – decidedly not a rarity – comes as a splendidly played cornet solo and it’s good to have arrangements of Sullivan’s music for the Savoy Operas in the form of very convincing quick marches, especially as according to John Humphries’ notes they have lain in the British Library unplayed for well over 50 years! The Irish Guards under their DOM, Major Chatburn, are in particularly fine form whilst the recordings made in The Chapel, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, are quite magnificent with full, vivid and detailed sound. Military band enthusiasts and Sullivan aficionados alike can buy with confidence. A quality product! Roger Hyslop [available from DISCURIO and larger outlets, as above] The Specialist Recording Company has been set up by Michael Purton, principal horn player with the Hallé Orchestra 1973-1986, with the express objective of recording military bands on state of the art equipment in carefully selected locations so that these fine ensembles can be heard at their very best. Initially SAC are concentrating on producing single composer CDs. For the curious, so far issued in this series are discs devoted to Elgar [SRC101], Bliss [SRC102], and Arnold [SRC103], all employing bands of the Household Division or Royal Artillery.

TONY MARTIN Make With The Magic Singin’ in the Rain, No Orchids for my Lady, Pagan Love Song, Domino, Fascination, At Last At Last, Music Maestro Please, Manhattan, etc… 26 tracks Vocalion CDUS3031, 75:10 mins. Tony Martin was a very good singer in his prime, and his fans will be delighted to have this new collection of his recordings from 1947-52. The thing that immediately strikes you when first playing this CD is the amazing clarity that Michael Dutton has achieved from these old 78s. I have read that there are critics of his work, saying that middle and bass are sometimes less than they would like, but if your own personal preference requires a fuller-bodied sound this can be easily achieved by increasing the bass control on your amplifier – after all, that is why you have bass and treble controls at your fingertips. It is surprising that new Tony Martin CDs are coming along without any duplications (I checked the recent Memoir release), illustrating how many fine recordings he made. Many tracks this time benefit from Henri René accompaniments, and there are also some nice sounds from Earle Hagen and Freddy Martin. Most enjoyable. David Ades

ANNE SHELTON Music Music Music! It Happened in Adano, Greensleeves, If You Ever Fall in Love Again, etc … plus three tracks arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon: Don’t Misunderstand, Come Back to Angouleme & Love Me My Love. 25 tracks, Vocalion CDEA6081, 72:07 mins. She tended to be overshadowed by Vera Lynn, but Anne Shelton had a very good voice and it is to Decca’s credit that they issued many records by both of these talented ladies. This latest selection from Vocalion contains many superb examples of her charm and sincerity. She had some good orchestras accompanying her – Robert Farnon (of course!), Paul Fenoulhet, Jay Wilbur, Caramata and others are included here. Some of the songs have deservedly long been forgotten, but Anne gamely gives of her best each and every time. Once again, the clarity of the transfers is outstanding.David Ades

RADIO & TELEVISION MEMORIES Volume One: Music While You Work Calling All Workers; Radio Newsreel Imperial Echoes Toytown Parade of the Tin Soldiers; Housewives Choice In Party Mood; Children's Choice Puffin' Billy; Sports Report Out of the Blue; Mrs Dale's Diary 1 Harp interlude; Mrs Dale's Diary  2  Dance in the Twilight; The Archers  Barwick Green; Listen with Mother  traditional chimes; Top of the Form Marching Strings; ITMA introductory theme; Dixon of Dock Green An Ordinary Copper; Meet the Huggetts  Horse Feathers; Down Your Way Horse Guards, Whitehall; In Town Tonight Knightsbridge March; Blue Peter  Barnacle Bill; Children¹s Newsreel Holiday Spirit; PC 49 Changing Moods No. 2; Grove Family Family Joke; The Appleyards Looking Around; What¹s My Line? Parisian Mode; Emergency Ward 10  Silks & Satins; Billy Bunter Sea Songs; Ask Me AnotherFlying Squad; BBC Film Unit credits Wellington Barracks. Evergreen Melodies CR2 (cassette TR2). This will bring back memories, there are 26 tracks in all, roughly equally divided between TV and radio, in reasonably good transfers from mostly 1940’s and 1950’s originals. Most will be familiar from other recent issues or re-issues – for example, twelve tracks were present, if not necessarily in these versions, in EMI’s 1997 collection "The Great British Experience." One or two of the shorter tracks here are less familiar on CD, like the introductions to ITMA and Dixon of Dock Green and the brief harp interlude (composed by harpist Sidonie Goosens ) from Mrs. Dale’s Diary. Three tunes –Out of the Blue ( Sports Report ), Barnacle Bill (Blue Peter), and Barwick Green (The Archers) still introduce the original programmes. Devotees who want this selection will hardly need my recommendation but irritatingly, as always from this source, there is little or no information as to the performers or date of recording. I suppose the release is aimed more widely at ‘Evergreen’ readers, rather than at specialists in British light music, and on that account I wish it well. Philip L. Scowcroft

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS – Complete Symphonies Numbers. 1 to 9. LPO Choir / Cameron /Baillie / Ritchie /Gielgud , LPO/Boult – DECCA " The British Collection " – 473241 – 2 5 CD Boxed Set (CD’s in individual card sleeves + booklet. While not ‘light music‘ as such , the very Englishness of these works shine through every bar. These classic recordings, originally on the Decca LXT LP label, resurfaced on CD (Decca London and Belfast ) while the Symphony no. 9 was taped by Everest Records in stereo in 1958. Here we get a far better presentation than previously, with good notes on each Symphony and for the first time as a set, the final Symphony is included.The new transfers at 96khz are outstanding: far better than the previous re-incarnations, with plenty of weight and clout. With a device that creates fake stereo on my processor switched in, the results for such early recordings (1952–1958 ) are superb, with reference to the mono recordings of Symphonies nos. 1 – 7. Symphony no. 3 ‘A Pastoral Symphony’ is still considered the best available recording and here the clarity beautifully reflects the composer’s wartime memories of the French landscape, not English, as some writers thought was the case. The organ entry in the ‘Landscape’ movement of Sinfonia Antartica is still magnificent and will interest readers, as the music is based on the composer’s film score ‘Scott of the Antarctic‘. There is some lack of range compared to the modern stereo recordings of Andrew Davis and Boult’s later EMI set, especially in nos. 1 ‘Sea Symphony‘ and 2 ‘London Symphony‘ but this set is well on top of any short list. As a youngster I lived in a house in Kew which belonged to a friend of Vaughan Williams and contained some keyboard instruments belonging to him. The composer visited the house and conversed with my parents. He was a warm hearted ‘big’ man in stature and that likeable nature is reflected in these scores, while good tunes abound. Give these classic recordings a try and you will, I hope, be delighted with them, especially at the modest price asked. Discount mail order suppliers are the most competitive on price. Max Harris

SANDY MACPHERSON I’ll Play to You; Down the Mall; Dancing With Tears In My Eyes; Seventeen Candles; Gaucho Serenade; A Little Rain Must Fall; It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow; Who’s Taking You Home Tonight?; Over the Rainbow; I Don’t Want To Set the World on Fire; Sand In My Shoes; Yours;Londonderry Air; Melody in F; My Hero; Salut d’Amour; etc… Evergreen Melodies C85 (cassette E85). Sandy Macpherson was the BBC theatre organist for more than 25 years during which time he endeared himself to millions on the radio with his quiet unassuming Canadian accent which actually belied a large frame and busy manner. He was a pillar of broadcasting during the war years, particularly in the early days before his purpose-built organ at St. George’s Hall was destroyed in the Blitz. He then moved to Evesham and later North Wales where he inherited Reginald Foort’s giant concert Moller organ which the BBC bought and moved to London after the war was over. These recordings feature all the major instruments Sandy played during his long career.    Edmund Whitehouse

"La Bicyclette Bleue" Original sound track from French TV series composed and conducted byMichel Legrand (French Emarcy 159 846-2). Back in the territory he excels in, Orchestral music, Legrand has scored music that is sometimes gentle, beautiful and persuasive, other times we get the epic music provided by Hollywood before hit records were lumped together to provide a film sound track. Forties styled jazz on titles such as "La voyage a Paris" and "Les abris" leads me to suspect the story line is set in wartime France (I have not seen the series!). This is further emphasised on a track like "Paris libere" where a large chorus augments the orchestra, this is music which needs a bigger screen than television can provide, full of string and brass splendour. The title song is destined to be a Legrand composition wheeled out as many times as some of his other classics, we get two versions, one solo piano the other the full might of a large orchestra. The building menace invoked in "La mort du pere" really stirs the soul. There is music for almost all tastes here, which I am sure will become a firm favourite with musical connoisseurs world-wide. I played it almost continuously after receiving it. If like myself you buy few sound tracks, put this one top of your "must have" list. I doubt anything will top it before the year is out. Paul Clatworthy

TV THEMES -Classic Themes from popular Programmes on ABC (Australian)Television -various composers and orchestras. (Australia) ABC Classics 472575-2 123:06 mins. This double CD set contains some sixty-three tracks of theme music from popular ABC TV programmes over the last four decades. Most are from ABC-produced programmes which have become firm favourites with the Aussi public. Many of the themes have not been released on record before. Several short tracks of music currently used with the various station idents we see each day, are also included. Many of the popular British programmes that we have grown to love are also featured - either the original version or one played by a local orchestra. The themes have been grouped together in several categories: News & Public Affairs, Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Lifestyle etc. This reflects the wide variety of programmes we have on ABC TV each week and makes it interesting to hear. Heartily recommended for lovers of TV theme music and TV in general.

Barry Freeman

NATALIE COLE "Ask a woman who knows" I haven't Anything better to do, Tell me all about it, Ask a woman who knows, It's crazy, You're mine you, So many stars, I told you so, Soon, I'm glad there is you, Better than anything, The music that makes me dance, Calling you, My baby just cares for you. POLA 065470-2. Every British member who listened to the radio broadcast on November the 11th and 18th of last year of Natalie Cole in concert with the BBC Radio Big Band (augmented with strings) knows what delights this album contains! For the uninitiated Natalie and co-producer Tommy LiPuma have picked a group of songs, for the most part, not given many airings. The backings are impeccable, just as fine as when she recreated her father’s songs. Four tracks have the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, one has a duet with Diana KraIl others have Roy Hargrove, Gary Foster, Russell Malone and Joe Sample. Arranger credits include John Clayton, Alan Broadbent and Rob Mounsey. Natalie says she likes to grow and experiment "kicking the bar up a little." She certainly does on this album! Paul Clatworthy

JACK MILLMAN "Blowing up a storm" Four more, Khan, We'll be together again, Asphyxiated Swing, Yardbird suite, Stella by starlight, Now hear this, Easy to love, Where can I go without you, With the wind and rain in your hair, Back home in Indiana, Bag's groove, Tom and Jerry, So goes my love, Bolero De Mendez, Just a pretty tune, Cathy goes South, Bambi. Progressive Records PCD- 7085. I slipped a review of another Jack Millman in the December Big Band Roundup although it was not technically a Big Band! I'm playing by the rules this time! The first twelve tracks feature Jack on Flugel, Don Friedman, piano, Don Peterson, bass and Ray Tiedel, drums. Jack's playing and arranging not quite as good as one of his rivals of the time, Shorty Rogers, but still very listenable West Coast jazz, recorded in 1957. The last six tracks are more adventurous as more players are drafted in and Bill Holman, Pete Rugolo, Gerald Wiggins, Gene Roland and Johnny Mandel take over the arranging duties. These tracks were recorded in 1956, a date I will always remember as I spent Christmas stuck in a Devizes transit camp! I could have done with some of this music then! Paul Clatworthy

MÉMOIRES DE KIOSQUE (Bandstand Memories) The Phantom Brigade, The Acrobat, Buffoon, Fandango, Colonel Bogey, Stein Song, Children of the Regiment, etc… 58 tracks on 3 CDs Various Bands (France) EPM 980722. This is the latest enterprising collection from Pierre-Marcel Ondher (affectionately known simply as ‘PMO’), which focuses on the kind of music that could be heard frequently on bandstands and in town centres during the 1930s and shortly thereafter. The bands come mainly from Germany, France, Britain and Russia, and include such famous names as Wingates Temperance, Coldstream Guards, Royal Marines, Black Dyke Mills, American Legion, Fodens Motor Works, Fairey Aviation, etc… PMO has compiled a truly fascinating selection from his own massive private collection, and music lovers owe him a great debt of gratitude for making these historical 78s available once again. It is difficult to imagine that anyone else would be able to put together such an important collection from so many different sources. Perhaps this is aimed at serious collectors of band music; if you fall into this category you cannot fail to be pleased at having the opportunity to acquire so many rare recordings sounding fresh and bright, thanks to the modern miracle of CEDAR. The excellent booklet is only in French, but the very full recording details are not difficult for non-French speakers to understand. David Ades This 3-CD set can be obtained from the RFS Record Service for £23.00 [US $46.00].

NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG: HUMORESQUE. Music from the 1947 Warner Bros. film, directed by Jean Negulesco. Includes "Carmen Fantasie", "Tristan and Isolde Fantasie, " Humoresque by Antonin Dvorak plus 7 other selections.NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG, violin with the LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA conducted by ANDREW LITTON. 59:39. Nonesuch 79464-2. Warner Brothers’ 1947 expose of an artist's life, "Humoresque," gets a well deserved modern day digital recording. For this modern traversal, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg gives ample evidence of her enormous talent. The variety of the selections amply shows off Sonnenberg's genius. Along with selections by Bach, Lalo and Dvorak, all played with individual elegance come some interesting turns on two pop songs by George Gershwin in which Nadja's partner is impressive singer Judy Blazer. Franz Waxman's famous "Carmen Fantasie" is played with a dominating presence by Salerno-Sonnenberg. And to top things off is an emotionally shattering performance of Waxman's "Tristan and Isolde Fantasie" which has to be to be believed. Andrew Litton provides expansive yet sympathetic accompaniments. Every film music fan should own this amazing release! Richard Jessen

RETO PAROLARI and the GERMAN SYMPHONIC POPS ORCHESTRA Great Moments of Light Music Friedrich Schrőder – Overture ‘Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies’; Hans Bund – Erinnerung an ein Ballerlebnis’; Ernst Fischer – Eile mit Weile, Auf der Gamsjagd in Tirol; Willy Richartz – Waltz from ‘Kőlnisch Wasser’; Werner Heymann – Selection of his music for films; Gerhard Winkler – Chianti; Josef Rixner – ‘Bagatelle’ overture, Spanish March; Ludwig Schmidseder – Habanera. (Switzerland) Amos CD5967, 58:20 mins. Almost single-handedly, Reto Parolari is keeping the flag of Light Music flying in his native Switzerland, and it is good to know that his influence is spreading well beyond the borders, notably into Germany. The ‘great moments of light music’ in this collection will be better known to European ears, although readers of this magazine will not need any introduction to the works of Ernst Fischer, Gerhard Winkler and Josef Rixner. The other composers are equally capable of producing some beautiful sounds, and this entire CD is both a wonderful voyage of discovery and a pure joy. I think that this is the best CD I have heard so far by Reto Parolari, and the German Symphonic Pops Orchestra (of Leipzig) perform enthusiastically under his baton. Warmly recommended to all light music enthusiasts. David Ades

FIESTA! Tico Tico No Fuba; Granada; The Girl From Ipanema; Brazil; Besame Mucho; Sweet and Gentle plus 14 other selections. ERICH KUNZEL AND THE CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA. Telarc CD-80235. 75:02. Erich Kunzel and his forces in Cincinnati have recorded a real pleasure packed CD! The majority of the arrangements are by Tommy Newsome with Warren Barker, Carmen Dragon, Charles Koff, Richard Hayman and John Bambridge contributing to this sparkling 1990 release. Tommy Newsome's best arrangements have a combination of suavity with a sly, dry wit which is evidenced in "Sweet And Gentle." "Tequila" is Newsome's most exotic score with only tuned percussion taking the lead. "The Girl From Ipanema" is a quietly sensual impression of that eternally young, tall, bikini clad woman. Bambridge turns in a beautifully score for "Besame Mucho" that charms as much as it beguiles. The Carmen Dragon/Warren Barker scores date from the Hollywood Bowl Symphony LP's of the 50' s with a visceral "Tico Tico" and a highly dramatic "Granada". Doc Severinsen plays with red blooded lustiness in "La Virgen de la Macarena". And let's not forget Eric Knight's pulsating score of "Lambada" which will win awards for most played track! Richard Hayman's hilarious "Mexican Hat Dance" is remarkably fresh and cheeky! Kunzel inspires vigorous and energetic performances from his excellent Cincinnati musicians. Richard Jessen

INTERNATIONAL NOVELTY ORCHESTRA plus Quartet, Harry Robbins (xylophone) and other Groups 5 CDs issued in Australia by FRANK BRISTOW FBCD86-90. In the notes accompanying these CDs (which are all available separately), Frank Bristow explains that the idea was first discussed some years ago with his friend, the late Stuart Upton, the then Editor of the now defunct Vintage Light Music Society magazine. For all his expertise and experience, Stuart was unable to provide any information about the 12 to 14 players who made up these groups. Respected French record producer Pierre-Marcel Ondher recently said that it is now impossible to discover anything about that combination. The name The International Novelty Orchestra has been used for both British and American ensembles over the years, but this CD series is specifically about a delightful British studioband who recorded for Regal Zonophone mainly during the 1930s. The group played novelty pieces, waltzes and occasionally hits of the period. Many are what is now regarded as ‘traditional’ light music of the ‘palm court’ variety, although occasionally some tracks will surprise with their infectious rhythmic vitality. Many tracks have (unnamed) vocalists; keen British dance band fans will recognise the likes of Sam Browne. Sadly there isn’t room to list the contents, but each and every CD contains many pieces that are sure to delight those who are attracted to this style of music. The transfers are clean and sympathetic to the original sound. This is the kind of mammoth recording project that could only be undertaken by a dedicated band of true enthusiasts. We are indeed fortunate that there are people around like Frank Bristow and his colleagues. David Ades

Frank Bristow’s CDs are only available from him in Australia, but you can also order and pay through his contacts in England and the USA:

Frank Bristow, 2 Cross Street, Brighton, Victoria, 3186, AUSTRALIA – e-mail:

PAUL DESMOND: BOSSA ANTIGUA. Bossa Antigua; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes; O Gato; The Girl From East 9th Street; plus 7 more slections. PAUL DESMOND, alto sax with JIM HALL, EUGENE WRIGHT, CONNIE KAY, others. RCA Victor/BMG 0902668689-2. 59:34. In the 1960's, Bossa Nova was a shot in the arm for both the jazz and pop music worlds. Nowhere else is that made more plain than on this legendary re-release by alto saxist Paul Desmond. Things begin in a softly engaging groove with "Bossa Antigua" which means "Old Thing" (a witty referral to the phrase "same old thing") which has an attractive solo by Paul Desmond and one of the best solos by Jim Hall on guitar. The alternate take of this selection ("Samba Cepeda") remains stuck in a static groove. The same problem occurs with "O Gato" which takes off magnificently on the released version but merely stands still in its tracks on the alternate take. The big surprises are the two takes of "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes": the first is an all out jazz treatment while the alternate is an overtly bossa nova version full of life. "The Girl From East 9th Street" is an Americanized version of "Ipanema" without a single reference to its famous sister. The booklet not only includes Desmond's facetious liner notes but credits Percy Heath, George Duvivier and Milt Hinton as session musicians (they do not appear!). This is a re-release of historic proportions worthy of the legend and artistry of Paul Desmond.Richard Jessen

TRIO TIME – How Beautiful Is Night Kerry Dances, Lulu’s Back In Town, Yesterdays, Small Talk, Solar, How Beautiful is Night, Sweet and Lovely, Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve seen, What is This Thing Called Love, Ask Me Now, Blues for Holly Ann, The End Of a Love Affair, Over The Rainbow, Beatrice, Oh, Lady Be Good, On Green Dolphin Street. Ted Beament Piano/ Adrian MacintoshDrums/ Paul Bridge Bass. Calligraph Records CLGCD 036. At the November RFS Meeting I introduced a recording of one of Bob’s compositions "How Beautiful is Night" in a setting that was both unusual and delightful; it brought about a number of enquiries regarding the album. Ted Beament has been around the British jazz scene for a good few years and has backed many a visiting American musician including Sonny Stitt and Harry Edison. In 1995 he joined Humphrey Lyttelton and recorded with "Humph" and Helen Shapiro. It was at a Humphrey Lyttelton gig, at a local jazz club, that I found out about this CD which Ted had for sale. I spoke to Ted about the album’s title which he readily admitted was a favourite of his "that guy writes such lovely tunes; I really would like to meet him". When I explained I would be sending Bob a copy his face beamed and he signed a copy with the words "I hope you like it". I hope I did it justice, he remarked to me. The album is a collection of standards, with one or two jazz favourites added to the mix. Nice to see Small Talk in a new recording, and Ted’s arrangement of Kerry Dances is a delight. This is a very accessible album, each member of the trio contributing equally to the whole and highlighting the detail of each piece. This is never more evident than in How Beautiful is Night which Ted begins as a straight piano solo. The bass and drums then enter with a gentle, almost latin beat, allowing the piano to explore the melody line, as "Humph" says in the CD notes: "it’s four and half minutes of enchantment". If you don’t usually buy this sort of album why not treat yourself. It really is a joy. Oh! and what of Bob Farnon’s reaction, I can tell you he was absolutely delighted; and did he do the piece justice ? – "Oh Yes" said Bob admiringly "he most certainly did". Albert Killman

Calligraph Records can be obtained for £12 from all good record shops,or by mail order from:3 Ainsdale Close, Links View, Northampton, NN2 7NQ, England; postage and packing £1.50 [outside UK £2.50].

CHARLIE BYRD: BRAZILIAN BYRD (Music Of Antonio Carlos Jobim). Jazz 'n' Samba; Corcovado; The Girl From Ipanema; Dindi plus 8 selections and one alternate take. CHARLIE BYRD, guitar with orchestra. Columbia Legacy CD CK 52973. 37:04. The Bossa Nova era of the 1960's had two highly popular guitarists before the public: Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida. Both had been pioneers in the idiom in the 1950's as well as studying with Andres Segovia, famous Spanish classical guitarist. On this album, recorded on three dates in 1964 and 1965, Charlie Byrd is partnered with Tommy Newsome as arranger/conductor. Things get off to a rousing big band chart of "Jazz 'n' Samba" with Byrd swinging as hard as the big band behind him. Byrd's classical training is very much evident on a mournful "Corcovado" and "Dindi" which he imbues with a soft edged Romanticism. "The Girl From Ipanema" receives a perky arrangement that acts as a perfect foil for Byrd's rhapsodic rendition of the vocal line. For this recording, Byrd arranged three selections of which "Engano" is the most effect with its rolling chords set against a sparce orchestral background (the alternate take is taken at a way too fast tempo). Charlie Byrd and Tommy Newsome both were working magic at these sessions which is very apparent of their special rapport with one another. This highly recommended reissue comes with Dom Cerulli's original informative liner notes. Richard Jessen

Late Arrivals from EMI

Just as we were putting the final touches to this feature, a batch of new releases arrived from EMI Gold. Sadly space to list all the titles is a problem, but the following details should point you in the right direction.

BIG BAND MILLION SELLERS featuring Laurie Johnson, Colin Busby, Ted Heath, Don Lusher and Kenny Baker playing String of Pearls, Tuxedo Junction, April in Paris, Lullaby of Birdland and many more titles associated with the Big Band Era. 22 tracks, EMI 581 5972. These are not recreations of the original sounds of the bands that first made these tunes famous, but more recent interpretations.

THE VERY BEST OF KENNY BAKER Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey, You Made Me Love You, Satchmo, Georgia, Carnival Time, And the Angels Sing, I Can’t Get Started, What’s New, etc… 18 tracks, EMI 581 4822. Here is the late, great Kenny Baker, fronting a fine big band, and you’ll also spot solos from the likes of Tommy Whittle, Don Lusher and Roy Willox.

BIG BAND CLASSICS C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington), Jumpin’ at the Woodside (Count Basie), One o’Clock Jump (Benny Goodman), In the Mood (Colin Busby), Cute (Don Lusher), Begin the Beguine (Joe Loss), What’s New (Kenny Baker), Red Silken Stockings (Sid Phillips & Betty Driver), Tampico (Stan Kention and June Christy) etc… 21 tracks, EMI 581 5982. Duke Ellington and Coronation Street’s barmaid Betty on the same CD? I’m lost for words … and I could quote some other amazing examples! Quite honestly, I think that the net has been cast far too wide in this collection, and whoever buys it (for whatever reason) is probably going to dislike at least half of the tracks.

THE VERY BEST OF TED HEATH Opus One, East of the Sun, Obsession, Intermission Riff, Hot Toddy, etc… 24 tracks, EMI 581 4802. We’re on safer ground here, although (like the CDs mentioned above) the promotional details give no clue as to the source of the recordings. If you want theoriginal Decca Ted Heath hits, going back to the days of 78s, you’ll discover them elsewhere. But if authenticity is not your hang-up, you’ll find much to enjoy here. The playing is impeccable, as you’d expect. David Ades

QUEEN’S HALL LIGHT ORCHESTRA conducted by Robert Farnon, Philip Green, Sidney Torch & Charles Williams - Volume 3 All Sports March (Robert Farnon), Paddle Boat (Joyce Cochrane), Melody of the Stars (Peter Yorke), Going for a Ride (Sidney Torch), State Occasion (RF), Soliloquy (Haydn Wood), Valse d’Amour (Tony Lowry), All the Fun of the Fair (Percy Fletcher), Music in the Air (Byron Lloyd), Sunset at Sea (Charles Williams), Waiata Poi (Alfred Hill), Comic Cuts (ST), Pale Moon (Frederick Knight Logan), Cubana (CW), Ecstasy (Felton Rapley), Grand Parade (Clive Richardson), Song of Capri (Mischa Spoliansky), Spring Song (HW), My Waltz for You (ST), Fiesta (Mark Lubbock), The Awakening (Robert Busby), Kings of Sport (Jack Beaver), Fiddler’s Folly (Len Stevens), Casanova Melody (Michael Sarsfield), Grandstand (RF), "Dan Dare" themes - Commandos (CW), Radio Location (CR), Searchlight (CW). Vocalion CDEA6094

BRITISH STRING MINIATURES Volume 2: Set of Act Tunes and Dances (Henry Purcell); Serenade for the Birthday of Frederic Delius (Peter Warlock); Air and Dance (Delius); Serenade (Matthew Curtis); Suite – The Spanish Lady (Sir Edward Elgar); Serenata Concertante (Philip Lane) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland ASV CDWHL2136

BRITISH LIGHT OVERTURES Volume 2: Plymouth Hoe (John Ansell); Overture 125 (David Gow); Farnham Festival Overture (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett); The Moor of Venice (William Alwyn); A Scots Overture (John Gardner); The Lamprey (Michael Gryspeerdt); Scaramouche (Peter Hope); A Cleveland Overture (Anthony Hedges); A Snowdon Overture (Gareth Glyn) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland ASV CDWHL2137

JOHNNY DOUGLAS ORCHESTRA I won’t dance, Yesterdays, A fine romance, The Carioca, They can’t takle that away from me, The way you look tonight, I’m putting all my eggs in one basket, etc.. (22 tracks taken from the Decca LPs ‘Cheek to Cheek’ & ‘A Handful of Stars’ Dulcima DLCD118

TRIBUTE TO ERIC COATES London Bridge, The Enchanted Garden, By the Sleepy Lagoon, Cinderella, Second Symphonic Rhapsody – Bird Songs at Eventide & I Heard You Singing, FootlightsEDWARDIAN FAVOURITES Melodies by Paul Rubens, Josef Strauss, Lionel Monckton & Edward German Pro Arte Orchestra conducted by Stanford Robinson Vocalion CDLK4183

MUSIC OF LECUONA Siboney, Danza Iucumi, Jungle Drums, Gitanarias, Maria my own, Malaguena, Always in my heart, Andalucia, La comparsa, High in Sierra PLACE PIGALLE Domino, Why do you pass me by, At last at last, Autumn leaves, C’est si bon, La mer, Waltz of Paree, Chez-moi, Boom, Mademoiselle de Paris, When the world was young, Au revoir Stanley Black, his Piano and Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4176

BRITAIN’S CHOICE March from ‘Colour Suite’ (Gordon Langford), A La Claire Fontaine (Robert Farnon), Suite of English Folk Dances (Ernest Tomlinson), March from ‘A Little Suite’ (Trevor Duncan), The Boulevardier (Frederic Curzon), The Watermill (Ronald Binge), Tabarinage (Robert Docker), ‘The Ring of Kerry’ Suite (Peter Hope) PERCY GRAINGER Country Gardens, Molly on the Shore, Londonderry Air, Handel in the Strand, Mock Morris, Shepherd’s Hey. Quilter Children’s Overture,Toye The Haunted Ballroom, Armstrong Gibbs Dusk, Balfour Gardiner Shepherd Fennel’s DanceThe Light Music Society Orchestra conducted by Sir Vivian Dunn Vocalion CDLK4182

MUSICAL MERRY-GO-ROUND The Carousel Waltz, Clowns’ Dance, Visions d’Art, Circus Polka, Masquerade – Waltz, La Ronde, Coney Island, Gopak, Prater Fest, Dance of the Comedians FAMOUS EVERGREENS Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Ave Maria, Songs Without Words No. 4, Waltz (Brahms), Santa Lucia, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ – waltz, Jealousy, Clair de Lune, Moto Perpetuo, Intermezzo from ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’, Dance of the Hours Sinfonia of London conducted by Robert Irving and Douglas Gamley Vocalion CDLK4181

EVENING IN PARIS Mademoiselle de Paris, Love’s last word is spoken, My prayer, Vous qui passez sans me voir (Why do you pass me by?), Pigalle, La vie en rose, Boom, Ca c’est Paris, J’attendrai, Valentine, Clopin clopant, La Seine, Parlez moi d’amour, Can-can EVENING IN ROME Santa Lucia, Serenade in the night, Mattinata, Luna rossa, Tell me you’ll not forget, Mamma, Come back to Sorrento, La montanara, O sole mio, The echo told me a lie, Catari catari, Vieni sul mar, Anema e core, Funiculi funicular Frand Chacksfield and his Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4167

TRIBUTE TO RON GOODWIN CD 1: Jet Journey, Blue Star, Skiffling Strings, Lingering Lovers, Colonel Bogey and the River Kwai March, Summertime in Venice, Red Cloak, The Melba Waltz, The Messenger Boy, The Girl from Corsica, Swedish Polka, Under the Linden Tree, Concetta, On the Waterfront, The Headless Horsemen, Midnight Blue, The Song of the High Seas, The Laughing Sailor, Tropical Mirage, Handyman, Three Galleons, Guadalcanal March, The Little Laplander, Wagon Train, When I Fall in Love, Bluebell Polka, Song from the Moulin Rouge, Josita, Elizabethan Serenade. CD2:original Ron Goodwin compositions and film scores – final tracklisting still to be confirmed as we went to press Ron Goodwin and his Concert Orchestra EMI [full details in Journal Into Melody – June 2003]

NAT KING COLE Love Songs When I Fall in Love, Unforgettable, Very Thought of You, Too Young, Let’s Fall in Love, The More I See You, Stardust, These Foolish Things, etc… 24 tracks EMI 581 5132

TED HEATH AND HIS MUSIC

Hits I Missed & Al Jolson Classics Vocalion CDLK4168

Great Film Hits & Pop Hits Vocalion CDLK4170

BOB SHARPLES ORCHESTRA Contrasts in Hi-Fi & Dimensions in Sound Vocalion CDLK4169

MANTOVANI ORCHESTRA Italia Mia & Verzaubter Klang als Germany Vocalion CDLK4173

SYDNEY LIPTON ORCHESTRA Sweet Harmony & Dancing at Grosvenor House Vocalion CDLK4175

THE LATEST TONY BENNETT CHRISTMAS ALBUM

News of the latest repackaged reissue of Tony Bennett Christmas Music did not reach us until the end of November, which was far too late to catch our December issue. This was a pity, because it is an attractive collection, which features some fine tracks that Tony recorded with Robert Farnon.

The following numbers come from that great "Snowfall" LP, first released in 1968: My Favourite Things; The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire); I Love The Winter Weather/I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm; Winter Wonderland; White Christmas

There are also some arrangements that Robert Farnon did for Tony’s Hallmark CD that appeared in 2002. This time the London Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Don Jackson, and a choir was added to Bob’s scores – not entirely to his liking: Deck The Halls; O Little Town of Bethlehem; O Come All Ye Faithful; Silent Night.

Other tracks feature Tony singing arrangements by Bill Holman, Torrie Zito, Jorge Calandrelli, Lee Musiker and a previously unreleased What Child Is This (Greensleeves) arranged by Marion Evans.

The catalogue number is RPM Recordings / Columbia / Legacy 88697 955762. You might like to order a copy now to save for next Christmas, but maybe yet another Tony Bennett collection of reissues may come along later this year?!

It seems that Tony Bennett is never out of the news, and last September he received a lot of publicity for the release of "Tony Bennett: The Complete Collection", issued to commemorate his 85th birthday. It comprises 73 CDs and could cost you around £260 in the UK if you shop wisely! Undoubtedly good value at £3.56 a disc, provided that it doesn’t duplicate too much of your existing collection. The bonus, of course, is the inclusion of everything he has done with Robert Farnon, some of it previously unobtainable on CD. 

THE BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2012

BBC Radio 2 is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the famous BBC Concert Orchestra with an 11-part series of "Friday Night Is Music Night". From Friday 20 January until late in March, Ken Bruce is hosting a well-deserved tribute to one of the most famous radio orchestras in the world, broadcast on Radio 2 at 8:00pm.. Hailed as "a worthy instrument" presenting a "brilliant new era of entertainment music", they made their first broadcast on 11 September 1952. But their story began 20 years before, when they were known as the BBC Theatre Orchestra (conductor Leslie Woodgate), whose main role was to provide incidental music for radio plays, but who also gave light music and opera concerts. In 1949 for a few years they were renamed the BBC Opera Orchestra, conducted by Stanford Robinson. The series of eleven programmes features a different archive show each week, with performances from light music giants Sidney Torch, Vilem Tausky, Robert Farnon, Eric Coates and others. There are also performances with famous singers and soloists who have appeared with the orchestra, and interviews with players and conductors. Today the BBC Concert Orchestra is widely praised for its regular broadcasts on radio (both Radio 2 and Radio 3), its appearances at prestigious events such as the BBC Promenade Concerts, and its continually growing number of superb compact discs. 

Once again Edinburgh’s music lovers will soon be treated to some of the finest light music, courtesy of RFS member James Beyer, conductor of the Edinburgh Light Orchestra. The next Concert will be on Saturday 26th May 2012 at the usual venue - The Queen's Hall, commencing at 7:30. The booking office opens on 26 March – Queen’s Hall booking hotline 0131 668 2019; bookings direct from Edinburgh Light Orchestra 0131 334 3140. Ticket prices range from £9.50 to only £6.00 – an absolute bargain these days! More on the orchestra’s website: www.edinburghlight orchestra.moonfruit.com. Guest soloist will be the Baritone Bruce Graham who is an old friend of James. Bruce was born and educated in Edinburgh and played in many local amateur productions before beginning his professional career in 1978. He joined the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company with whom he played many of the Gilbert and Sullivan character roles. Since his spell with the D’Oyly Carte, Bruce has appeared in a number of shows in London’s West End, such as ‘Me and My Girl’ and ‘Cats’. Other aspects of Bruce’s work have ranged from film and television to Old Time Music Hall and pantomime; and he has appeared all over the world as a principal with the Carl Rosa Opera Company. 

Tony Bennett was interviewed by Aidin Vaziri for the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday 11 December 2011. We repeat below one of the questions, and Tony’s reply:

Q: Barring the present moment, do you have a favorite Tony Bennett era?

A: Wow, that is a tough question. I loved the time I lived in London in the '70s, as I got to work with the master Robert Farnon.

Our thanks to Forrest Patten for sending this to JIM.

Colin Berry did Light Music fans proud on his BBC Three Counties Radio shows over the Christmas period. He made good use of the Guild ‘Christmas Celebration’ CD. On Christmas Eve his listeners heard Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Boston Pops), It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Billy Vaughn), Christmas Alphabet (George Melachrino) and Nazareth (Mantovani). For his Christmas Day show Colin selected Christmas Sleigh Bells (Angela Morley) and Sleigh Ride (Boston Pops). 

Last Christmas we didn’t get another TV show from the John Wilson Orchestra like "Swingin’ Christmas" in 2010, but we did enjoy a repeat of the "Hooray for Hollywood" Prom and a semi-documentary about great Hollywood dancers that included some fascinating glimpses of John recording the music in the famous Studio 2 at Abbey Road. The subject of the 90-minute programme (first shown on BBC 2, then repeated a few days later on BBC Four immediately before John’s Prom) was the famous ballerina Darcey Bussell who stepped into the shoes of her Hollywood heroes to celebrate the enduring legacy of classic dance musicals. To quote from the BBC’s own publicity: "In the age of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Streetdance 3D’, Darcey, one of Britain's greatest living dancers and Hollywood musical superfan, discovers that the key to understanding where this dance-mad culture comes from lies in classic movie musicals. She takes famous dance routines from her favourite Hollywood musicals and reveals how they cast their spell, paying tribute to the legends of the art form and discovering the legacy they left. Darcey pays homage to Fred Astaire in an interpretation of Puttin' on the Ritz; plays Ginger Rogers in a rendition of Cheek to Cheek; pays tribute to the exuberant Good Morning from ‘Singin' in the Rain’; and stars in a new routine inspired by Girl Hunt Ballet from ‘The Band Wagon’. Darcey works with leading choreographer Kim Gavin and expert conductor John Wilson, who has painstakingly reconstructed the original scores, as she discovers how dance in the movies reached a pinnacle of perfection and reveals how the legacy of the golden age lives on."

Readers with internet access will know that there are many interesting sites out there at the click of a mouse. Nigel Burlinson has recently discovered that the 1945 film "I Live In Grosvenor Square" is available to watch at http://goo.gl/cnhhu. (Alternatively just visit YouTube and type in the title of the film). This was the film that featured Robert Farnon and the Canadian Band of the AEF, and it could be said to have firmly launched his working partnership with Anna Neagle and Herbert Wilcox. Only a few years later this produced "Spring In Park Lane", one of the most successful British movies of the last century.

Brian Reynolds has advised us of some interesting concerts during the next few months:

BBC Elstree Concert Band - Sunday 3rd April at 3.00pm Maida Vale (Studio 1) in a programme of music that would have been broadcast from the Maida Vale studios during their halcyon years.

Alassio Concert Orchestra - Sunday 10th. April 2.45pm at Worthing Assembly Hall. A programme entitled 'The Soul of Spain'. Programme to include Moskowski's Spanish Dances, Amporita Roca (Texidor), Tango in D (Albeniz), Le Cid ballet music (Massenet) Prelude to Act 1 Carmen (Bizet) and Espana (Chabrier)

Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra - Monday 30th May 2011 at 2.30 pm. Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill, London, N6

Top film composer John Barry died on 30 January following a heart attack. A full tribute to this outstanding composer and arranger will be included in our June magazine.

BBC Television is currently working on a documentary for BBC Four about the musicians and sound engineers involved in quality easy listening music from the 1960s onwards. We understand thatRobert Farnon will be featured in the programme, which is provisionally titled "Music For Pleasure".

EMI is now 100% owned by its bankers, Citigroup, having been unable to pay its debts.

Last October BBC Four screened a series of programmes with a railway theme, and from subsequent feedback we know that many RFS members in Britain found them most enjoyable. Prompted by the 40^th anniversary of the fateful ‘Beeching Report’ which forced the closure of around one-third on the railway network, the programmes were rich in nostalgia – especially to steam enthusiasts. British Transport Films were featured on 23 October (with later repeats) and members who regularly attend our London meetings will have spotted Alan Willmott towards the end of the programme. Alan was with BTF for over 30 years, and he has presented selections of their vast film library (over 700 titles) at RFS meetings. Much of their appeal to us lies in the orchestral scores that were commissioned from leading composers. Sadly the programme did not mention this important aspect, but maybe this was due to only 40 minutes being allocated to what is a vast subject. Alan tells us that his part of the programme was filmed at the National Railway Museum last July, and it would be nice to think that – one day – another producer will give us a more satisfying study (perhaps lasting around two hours) of the work of the BTF. But as a taster Alan’s programme was most welcome and enjoyable, and several BTF films were screened in their original form while the ‘railway season’ was running. 

As we mentioned briefly in our last issue, Brian Reynolds has been providing a lot of interesting information about broadcasting orchestras for the Whirligig internet site – www.whirligig-tv.co.uk.. This started as long ago as 1999 by Terry Guntripp, who tells us that he had virtually stopped adding new information to his site because the supply of fresh material had virtually dried up – until Brian Reynolds took an interest! Details of vintage themes available on Guild ‘Golden Age of Light Music’ CDs have also been featured on a new page in the radio section – click on ‘Radio Days’ in the left hand column, and then ‘Audio Sources’ in the strip at the top of the new page. Because he has so much new material to add about broadcasting orchestras, Brian Reynolds has now been given his own website ‘Masters of Melody’: www.mastersofmelody.co.uk. 

The following report dated 13 October 2008 comes from The Canadian Press, Toronto: Tony Bennett says it was the genius of the late Toronto-born composer Robert Farnon that led to his long break from producing Christmas albums. Bennett's new record "A Swingin' Christmas", being released this week, is just his second holiday album. The first was 1968's "Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album", and the iconic crooner says the 40-year gap is a result of Farnon's superb orchestrations on that disc. 'When I did ("Snowfall") it was such a work of art, as far as I was concerned, that when Columbia/Sony ... would say to me every year, 'You've got to do a Christmas album because that's our season to really sell an album,' I said, 'No, no ... that's the album,' you know, it was very complete,' Bennett, 82, said in a recent interview. He explained that Farnon was widely revered in music circles and nicknamed 'The Governor' by Frank Sinatra. Bennett changed his mind about doing a second festive album earlier this year after his son/manager, Danny, proposed doing one that 'isn't as serious or religious as the first "Snowfall" album.' 'He said, 'Just a swingin' album, let's do one for parties ... it's such a festive time of the year. Just do an album that just has a good beat to it,'' Bennett said in his raspy New York accent, dressed to the nines in a slick, navy-blue pinstripe suit. "A Swingin' Christmas", recorded onstage at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in New Jersey, comprises old favourites including Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmasand Winter Wonderland. The album reunites Bennett with the Count Basie Orchestra, with whom he performed in the 1950s. Some of the orchestra members are the same ones Bennett recorded with back in the day, he said. 'I was the first white singer that ever sang (with them), when it was shocking to have a white artist with a black band,' said the balladeer, who has won 15 Grammy Awards. 'It was great, it worked right away, there wasn't any problem at all but the corporations always questioned it because the black music never really sold down south in bigoted areas of the States and they would discourage it. They wouldn't promote it because of sales.' 

On 29 October 2008 BBC Radio-3’s "Performance on 3" featured a concert of light music from the Colosseum in Watford. The BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Gavin Sutherland and they were certainly on top form. The varied programme included both modern and ‘classic’ pieces of light music, confirming that today’s composers are still attracted to the genre. Highlight for many people will have been the inclusion of Haydn Wood’s Violin Concerto brilliantly performed by Tasmin Little. The concert featured the following works: Joie de Vivre (David Lyon), Lakeside Idyll (Ernest Tomlinson), Violin Concerto (Haydn Wood), London Salute (Philip Lane), Kaleidoscope (Peter Hope),Summer Afternoon (Eric Coates), In The Moonlight (Albert Ketèlbey), The Night Has Eyes (Charles Williams), Jubilee Dances (Paul Patterson) – plus an encore Knightsbridge (Eric Coates). It was good to hear Gavin Sutherland interviewed during the concert and, although this was a radio concert, you were able to view it afterwards, on the BBC iPlayer for seven days via your computer … let’s hope the idea catches on! Unfortunately we were not advised of the concert until after our September magazine had gone to press, but we did include details in the Latest News section of our website, so we hope that some RFS members will have been alerted. 

Filmharmonic 2009 takes place at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday 8 May commencing at 7:30pm. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by Paul Bateman, and the concert includes music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Superman and Jurassic Park. There will also be a special tribute to great TV Themes Dallas, Dynasty, Cagney and Lacey and L.A. Law. Tickets £50 - £10. Telephone bookings on 020 7589 8212; online bookings: www.royalalberthall.com. 

ROBERT FARNON BASSOON CONCERTO 
World premiere Sept. 13, 2009
Legendary arranger/composer Robert Farnon dedicated his final composition of a jazz-oriented bassoon concerto to Daniel Smith.

Titled ‘Romancing the Phoenix’, this ground-breaking concerto, with improvisation included throughout the three movements, calls for enlarged wind sections as well as a jazz rhythm section on stage alongside the orchestra.

The World premiere will take place Sept. 13, 2009 at the Forum Theatre in Malvern, England, with the Chandos Symphony Orchestra, Michael Lloyd conducing. Warner Chappell has published the score and parts with Robert Farnon’s dedication to Daniel Smith on the title page. 

The note in our last issue (page 74) about the last time Tony Bennett and Robert Farnon were together in the recording studios prompted calls from Fred Wadsworth and Mark Fox. Christmas in Herald Square was included as a final ‘hidden’ track on the Bennett CD "The Playground" – US Columbia CK69380. Sixteen tracks (mainly to appeal to children) were listed on the album, but when you continued playing the CD at the end a seventeenth track appeared. This was a gimmick used on a number of CDs released around this time – the late 1990s. Maybe readers are aware of other examples? 

There are now many internet sites which could be of interest to readers, and one recently brought to our attention is that operated by the British music magazine Gramophone. It now contains a massive amount of information, including reviews going back decades, and those of you with access to the internet should take a look at: www.gramophone.net One word of warning: once you start surfing this site you won’t want to stop! 

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have taken over the management of the BBC Big Band. The connection here is that the RPO's MD, Ian Maclay, was formerly General Manager of the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Big Band. Hopefully this will do nothing but good in ensuring the survival of the Big Band, which currently only gets 25 minutes a week on Radio 2 plus the odd Radio 3 broadcast. It should get more outside concerts for a start. 

Anne Shelton’s niece, Kelly Richards, is promoting a special concert on the 15^th year (to the day) of her death on Friday 31 July. It is in aid of Anne’s favourite charity, the Not Forgotten Association, and will take place at The Winter Garden Theatre, Eastbourne, commencing at 7:30pm. Tickets cost £15 - £17; box office telephone 01323 412000. The New Squadronaires will be performing many wartime favourites, and they will be accompanying many singers who are adding their support. 

The newly-formed Eric Coates Society (appropriately launched in the composer’s birthplace) is now up and running, and we wish it every success. Many people regard Coates as the finest English composer of Light Music during the first half of the last century, and this tribute to his memory is long overdue. In the Robert Farnon Society we will continue to keep our members aware of his great achievements, and all new recordings of his music will be publicised. Many of our loyal members also belong to other music societies, and we are sure that some of you will also want to be associated with the efforts being made to keep the music of Eric Coates alive in the 21^st century. The person to contact is the Secretary, Peter Butler, 47 Farleys Lane, Hucknall, Nottingham, NG15 6DT, England. The subscription is £10 and cheques should be payable to ‘The Eric Coates Society’. 

RETROSPECTIVE RISES FROM THE ASHES OF LIVING ERA
When Sanctuary Group was taken over by Universal in 2007 the Living Era label was a casualty. Under Ray Crick’s guidance it had become one of the UK’s leading nostalgia catalogues, and by carefully choosing the repertoire it had also achieved success in the USA. Some of the artists were little known in Europe, but their popularity in the USA ensured healthy sales. Ray also commissioned several collections of light music, including Robert Farnon, David Rose, Sidney Torch, George Melachrino, Peter Yorke, Percy Faith and Louis Levy.

After various new projects failed to materialise, Ray Crick launched the Retrospective label last October. Some of the best Living Era collections have been reprogrammed and subjected to fresh digital restoration by Alan Bunting, and the result is an exciting series that is quickly gaining a reputation for quality. Peter Dempsey (who compiled many collections and wrote numerous sleeve notes for Living Era) is also on board, and the initial releases included 2 CD sets by George Formby, Fred Astaire, Humphrey Lyttelton, Nat King Cole, Paul Robeson and Tony Martin, and single discs by Alma Cogan, André Previn, Eartha Kitt, Louis Armstrong, Perez Prado and Sammy Davis Jr. From January plans are for the label to release ten discs per month covering both Nostalgia and Vintage Jazz.

Ray Crick says: "I am delighted to be involved with RETROSPECTIVE because it gives me the chance to create CD programmes that will bring alive the finest recordings by those wonderful vintage entertainers of yesteryear, both popular and jazz, for people to enjoy here and now. The first 25 sets out our stall, with music stretching from the music hall to jugbands to rock ‘n’ roll! We anticipate that the entire project will total more than 400 releases, each with a smart series design, making for a highly collectable range."

RETROSPECTIVE is a joint venture between Wyastone Estate Limited and Retrospective Recordings Limited. All sets will be manufactured in the UK and the USA using the Nimbus disc and print 'on demand' production services and distributed world-wide by Wyastone Estate Limited. The in-house production facility ensures that titles are never overstocked or out of stock and that they can respond immediately to market demand. Website: www.retrospective-records.co.uk

The next concert by The Edinburgh Light Orchestra conducted by James Beyer will take place on Saturday 24 May in the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh. For more information telephone 0131 334 3140.

Plans are still progressing for the premiere performance of Robert Farnon’s Bassoon Concerto.Daniel Smith tells us that he now hopes that this will take place in the spring of 2009, and we will naturally keep RFS members informed of developments.

Kym Bonython writes from his home in Adelaide to send warmest regards to his RFS friends, and say that he has started to write a sequel to his 1979 autobiography "Ladies Legs and Lemonade". His friend Barry Humphries suggested that it should be called "In ever decreasing circles…" probably alluding to the fact that Kym (born in 1920) has been forced to give up riding his beloved Agusta motor cycle. It has been sold to the Headmistress of a girls’ school in Britain! From being a highly decorated pilot in World War 2, Kym became one of the greatest jazz promoters in Australia, and he has also been an important patron of Australian art.

The inclusion of the BBC recordings of "Oranges and Lemons" on the Guild ‘Musical Kaleidoscope Volume 1’ collection prompted our good friend Frank Hare to remind us that using this piece to introduce the day’s broadcasting on the Light programme was following an established tradition. This traditional melody was also a ‘call sign’ for the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme, which commenced broadcasting on 7 June 1944 - one day after D-day. It then consisted of about 12 seconds of the tune repeated over and over again, with a short break between each, and played in single notes by the famous organist Charles Smart on a Novachord with a sustain. This can be heard at the start of the RFS CD featuring Captain Robert Farnon and the Canadian Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces – still available from us for £6 (which includes p&p).

From Volker Rippe who discovered it in a German calendar for people learning English: Why is ‘our kind of music’ banned from radio and television? Too much sax and violins! (Say it out loud to yourself a few times and you’ll get the joke!)

Our thanks to Ann Adams who has sent us some nice colour photos taken at her Kensington Gardens Concert last summer. This time our colour reproductions had to be reserved for last November’s London meeting, but we hope to let you see Ann’s Ladies Palm Court Orchestra in the next issue.

Debbie Wiseman will be conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert of her Favourite Film and TV Moments at London’s Cadogan Hall on Sunday 30 March. Telephone bookings: 020 7730 4500.

Mort Garson (born 20 July 1924), the composer of the popular song "Our Day Will Come" died in San Francisco on 4 January 2008. During a long and successful career he worked with the likes of Doris Day and Mel Torme.

Thanks to the efforts of David O’Rourke, Robert Farnon’s How Beautiful Is Night was performed in a concert at New York’s Lincoln Center last November. James Beyer is planning to include the vocal version in his Edinburgh Light Orchestra’s concert on 26 May at the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (for more details telephone 0131 334 3140). 

The following text is taken from Warren Vache’s website, and dates from around April 2005: This has been a terrible month for trumpet players. We have lost such lights as Tutti Cammerata, Robert Farnon, Benny Bailey, Kenny Schermerhorn, and Danny Moore. Alison Kerr of the Glasgow Herald asked me to say a few words for an obit on Robert Farnon she will be doing, and the process of writing re-awoke all the awe and inspiration Mr. Farnon’s writing never failed to instil in me. He had accepted a commission to write one arrangement for me and the Scottish Ensemble for our recording this July (2005), and was not able to complete it. I thought I would include my thoughts here. Robert Farnon was simply one of the most musical, creative, and intelligent arrangers and composers to have graced the world. He was and will remain the apex of that genre, and an inspiration to anyone with the drive to write for orchestral settings. The more you look into his work, the more there is to see and hear. And with all that skill and intelligence, there is always a feeling and a beauty that is absolutely gut wrenching. He was a tone painter like no other. I remember doing a concert with The New York Pops, and sitting in the soloists section in the middle of the orchestra. Now, there are few sounds in the world as exciting for me as a full orchestra, and the sound of a live orchestra is an experience that cannot be reproduced by any recording equipment. Well, they began to play a Farnon setting of Harold Arlen’s ‘What’s Good About Goodbye?" It began with an oboe solo over a lush and surprising string background, full of wonderful, and unusual voiceings, and a very creative harmonic treatment. The oboe was a lone voice in a wonderland, and I wanted to be in that wonderland. As if that weren’t enough, at the bridge, the colour changed to four horns! It was such a dramatic and startling change, as if the sound of the horns rose from under all those strings to take the beauty to a higher level. Imagine the light changing on some far off mountain. I was a puddle of tears it was so moving. It is a gift indeed to live in this veil of tears and be able to see through all the pain and dirt to the beauty Farnon envisioned. The world will not see his like again, and for me, a great source of inspiration and a window to the beautiful has been closed. Hearing a Farnon setting was like love without the heartbreak, and it doesn’t ever get better than that. We are grateful to Malcolm Frazer for discovering this for ‘Journal Into Melody’. Paul Clatworthy reviews Warren’s CD in ‘Keeping Track’.

David Mardon has written to point out that Haydn Wood’s Soliloquy played by the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon was not in the Chappell Recorded Music Library, but only on a Decca 78 (F 9265) and 10" LP (LM 4508). David also explains that the Radio Four Theme was initially recorded by the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra under Fritz Speigel (part composer), and there was an agreement with the Musicians’ Union that it was to be re-recorded every five years. As the ‘Northern’ is now the BBC Philharmonic, the last version was under Rumon Gamba. 

Tony Foster tells us that the Daily Mail (Saturday 2 December) gave away a free DVD of the film "The Slipper and the Rose". As JIM readers will know, Angela Morley was the Musical Director on this film, and she worked wonders with her arrangements of the Sherman Brothers’ songs, as well as adding her own incidental music. 

One of our USA members, Jesse Knight, has written an interesting article on Light Music for a website. If you have access to the internet, you are strongly urged to visit the Aristos site atwww.aristos.org and click on to Jesse’s article which is appropriately called "The Joys of Light Music". 

Peter Burt asks us to correct a mistake which crept into his "Back Tracks" article in our last issue. He says: "it must have been the Little People and not gremlins that caused me to write that Vincent Youmans was Dublin born. It was, of course, New York. So not Vincent O’Youmans after all!" 

The Secretary recently provided the National Theatre in London with a recording of Robert Farnon’sOpenings and Endings – the music which introduced "Panorama" when it first appeared on BBC Television back in the 1950s. It will be used in the play "The Reporter" by Nicholas Wright which went into rehearsal in January. The National Theatre had been unable to find a recording, and contacted us through our website. Readers may remember that this music was included on the Conifer 2-CD compilation of Robert Farnon’s compositions released in 1996 and long deleted. 

On Tuesday 17 October the Coda Club honoured Angela Morley with their Burt Rhodes Award for lifetime achievement in music. Unfortunately Angela was not well enough to travel from her home in the USA to London to receive the award personally, so it was accepted on her behalf by John Wilson. As readers will know, John has recorded a number of Angela’s compositions and arrangements for Vocalion in recent years, and he said that he felt honoured to receive the award on her behalf.

■ Mrs. Judith Walsh, the daughter of Robert Farnon and his former wife Joanne, wrote recently to tell us about her son Thomas who seems to be following in the family’s musical tradition. Tom was 14 last June, and during the summer holidays he was busking on Colchester High Street every Friday afternoon playing jazz trumpet. On one of those occasions, Thomas was playing outside the George Hotel, and he was heard by a jazz double bassist who happened to be a committee member of the Association of British Jazz Musicians (ABJM). The man was Eddie Johnson, who was visiting from Southend to enjoy an anniversary dinner with his wife. While in their hotel room, Eddie happened to hear Thomas playing on the street below. He went down to have a good listen, and contacted Bill Ashton (director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra) to recommend Thomas. So now Thomas is in his element, playing at NYJO rehearsals every Saturday morning, along with his trumpet and flugelhorn. He has joined the Musicians’ Union, using the name Tom Farnon-Walsh in honour of his famous grandfather and their shared love of the trumpet! 

■ RFS member Brian Luck presented a Tribute to Robert Farnon at Hornchurch Library last November. 

■ James Beyer continues to spoil the good people of Scotland’s capital city with excellent concerts performed by his Edinburgh Light Orchestra. Last November he included a tribute to Robert Farnonwith Derby Day, The Westminster Waltz and Portrait Of A Flirt. The concert programmes for these events are always a mine of information about the music and the composers. The next concert will be on 27 May, and details are available from James Beyer, 4 St John’s Gardens, Edinburgh, EH12 6NT. 

■ RFS member Mike Carey hosts a popular weekly radio show on BBC Radio Derby, at 4.00pm every Sunday afternoon. "Memorable Melodies" can now be heard throughout the world via the nternet: www.bbc.co.uk/derby. The show includes light music, big bands, great vocalists and soundtracks from Hollywood, Broadway and West End musicals. Mike would be delighted to hear from fellow RFS members and play their requests (if possible!). He was one of several RFS members featured in last year’s BBC Four documentary "Music for Everybody". 

■ RFS member Alan Willmott has recently produced a new film for his Windjammer Films company. Entitled "Along The Curved And Narrow", it tells the story of the progress of the privately operated steam hauled narrow-gauge passenger carrying railways around the British Isles. Eight of the eleven railways featured are situated in Wales, and can trace their origins to mining areas and quarries. Alan tells us that a DVD release is possible later in the year, and we will naturally let you have details if this happens. 

■ Towards the end of last year Ray Purslow was concerned to learn that a rumour was circulating saying that his Record Store in Birmingham was closing down. Ray assures us that this is not true - in fact he has recently signed a new three-year lease. Ray is now one of the few retailers still offering expert advice and a first-class service to regular clients. 

■ Our Canadian representative Pip Wedge usually covers local concerts in his regular column, but we would like to add our own congratulations to Charles Job and his Palm Court Orchestra following a splendid concert last September/October. The guest conductor was another Canadian RFS memberMarc Fortier, who waved the baton for some of his own compositions, as well as works by the likes of Haydn Wood, Clive Richardson, Eric Coates and Leroy Anderson. Robert Farnon was represented with A La Claire Fontaine. As a local paper reviewer reported: ‘Marc Fortier certainly kept the orchestra on their toes all evening, in the process evincing some of the finest playing I’ve yet heard from them – lush and full-bodied, with every instrument making its presence felt and ensemble as tight as one could wish.’ 

■ The winter issue of Classic Record Collector mentioned the Leslie Jones recordings of Robert Farnon’s music in a long article. An accompanying photo showed Leslie and his son holding a copy of the Farnon LP. [Thanks to Nigel Burlinson for this information]. 

■ In April Taragon Records will be issuing a 2 on 1 CD containing the two extremely rare albums originally made for the Japanese market KOGA MELODIES and RYOICHI HATTORI MELODIES. The original LPs were never issued in America although KOGA MELODIES had a limited release in Europe from CBS Holland. At the same time Taragon will issue the only other Faith album not already available on CD - FOOTBALL SONGS (also known as TOUCHDOWN!) Alan Bunting has been a driving force behind these reissues. 

■ Around the time that you receive this issue, a new Dutton Vocalion CD will be released featuring the music of Anthony Collins. Among many rarities on this must-have CD are Festival Royal Overture, Symphony for Strings, Louis XV Silhouettes and film scores such as Victoria the Great, Odette and The Lady with a Lamp. Naturally Collins’ most famous piece Vanity Fair is also on the list. The sessions took place at Watford last September, with John Wilson conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra (Vocalion CDLX7162). Other releases in the same batch feature a cycle of music byRichard Arnell (CDLX7161) and the Lochrian Ensemble performing the romantic String Quartets of Edgar Bainton and Hubert Clifford (CDLX7164). Details of a further selection of Easy Listening CDs for release this March were not available as we went to press, but no doubt we will have a lot of good news for you in June! 

■ Gary Williams was in the Abbey Road studios from 6-9^th February recording his latest CD "In the Lounge with Gary Williams".

Alan Bunting has reported that he is investigating a claim that some of his restorations of Percy Faith recordings, currently available on Living Era's DELICADO 2CD set, and in which he holds the copyright, may have appeared on another label without his or Living Era's permission. 

Glenn Adams likes the music of Albert Sandler, and wonders if many of his recordings have been reissued on CDs. He is aware of two, as he explains: "I have two and you may be interested in them for other members of the society.  They are both excellent, one is "Albert Sandler with The Palm Court Orchestra and his Trio" It's on the Music and Memories label No MMD 1058 PO Box 99, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 3YD. The other one I have is "Albert Sandler & His Orchestra at the Park Lane Hotel, London" with Jack Byfield, piano and Reginald Kilbey, Cello. This one is on the Pearl 'Flapper' label from Pavilion Records Ltd, Sparrows Green, Wadhurst, East Sussex,England. It is excellent and has some lovely old recordings, one of my favourites being "With you" a fox-trot with a vocal solo by a lady called Marjorie Stedeford who had a really lovely voice." 

The long running legal disagreement between EMI and Naxos in the USA has been settled, according to a report in the March issue of ‘The Gramophone’. The result is that a large number of Naxos CDs will no longer be available in the USA. The losers are going to be music lovers, and it is a warning to us all about what will happen if the present 50-year copyright on sound recordings in the UK is extended.

■ The Sidney Torch feature in the centre of this issue is thanks to Lew Williams, who has great admiration for Torch as a cinema organist before World War II. Lew also has plenty of admirers himself: as our member Robin King tells us, "Lew is a superb, very much respected musician. He is one of the world’s finest organists – both classical and theatre – equally well-known in UK organ circles as in the USA. He is resident organist at Organ Stop, Mesa, Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix) which has the world’s largest Wurlitzer housed in a public place … 5 manuals and 77 ranks. Awesome! There is more information (and some audio samples) at www.organstoppizza.com "

The March issue of The Gramophone included a full page article on Light Music by Andrew Lamb.Guild and Vocalion CDs were specifically mentioned. 

A major light orchestral hardback biography is on its way, hopefully out in time for the centenary of Mantovani's birth on 15 November next. "Mantovani – A Lifetime In Music" tells of Mantovani's relentless quest for perfection in a musical career that lasted over 50 years. Written by Colin MacKenzie and to be published by Melrose Books, it follows the maestro's musical career in detail, from his early days as an aspiring classical musician, his dance band days of the 1930s, his activities as a musical director in the theatre and his successes in America and worldwide in the 1950s and up until his retirement in 1975. The author has had unique access to the Mantovani family, his record producers, arrangers, musicians and fans from various parts of the globe to provide a very detailed portrait of his life and times. It's the "full Monty", of interest to Mantovani fans everywhere, but also to anyone interested in light orchestral music and the history of popular music in the 20th century. More details as and when we have them.

Derek Boulton tells us an amusing story from Russia. In last September’s JIM we told you about the Russian singer Willi Tokarev, who is infatuated with the music of Robert Farnon. Willi lives in a block of flats in Moscow, which has been renovated from former army barracks. The old public address system is apparently still intact, and wired to all the flats. Each morning Willi wakes up his fellow residents to the strains of either Portrait of a Flirt or Westminster Waltz!

Paul Barnes is back on Saturday evenings. His radio show "Gold for Grown-Ups" from BBC Radio Norfolk (beamed to many BBC local stations in Eastern England) is no longer on Sundays (where it failed to reach its potential target audience) to Saturdays between 6.00pm and 9.00pm. Check the frequencies in Radio Times and tune in next week. Alternatively you can listen via the internet on the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk

Former BBC Radio-2 producer Anthony Wills now runs Golden Sounds Productions, but radio isn’t his only passion. He is also the Chairman of the National Piers Society, which publishes a fascinating magazine. If you’d like to know more, drop a line to the Membership Secretary: Phil Johnson, 26 Weatheroak Close, Webheath, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 5TF, England. 

Allan Bula has previously reported on the Hastings Light Orchestra, and the latest news is that it will join the Waldron Light Orchestra to perform a joint open-air concert near Lucas Hall, Waldron, on Sunday July 10^th from 3.00pm onwards. Waldron, an ancient village approx. three miles east of Uckfield, East Sussex, is in the Domesday Book as Waldrene (from ‘the forest house’) and acquired its modern spelling in 1336. 

John Wilson conducted the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on April 21^st at London’s Royal Albert Hall before a capacity audience (reports Tony Clayden). The Classic FM Live concert included popular items by Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Handel and Walton; the latter’s Spitfire Preldue and Fugue was given a particularly spirited performance. Two compositions by Saint-Saens were featured, the Carnival of the Animals and the finale of the Third Symphony, which showcased the recently rebuilt RAH organ. The programme concluded with Elgar’s Cello Concerto, with Julian Lloyd Webber as soloist. John has now done a lot with the RLPO, and the synergy between conductor and orchestra was most evident. 

We are pleased to report that Ann Adams has been invited to play once again in a London park this summer. The venue is Kensington Gardens, on Sunday 31 July and as we go to press the concert is expected to start at 2.30 pm. If you plan to attend, you may care to ring Brian Reynolds beforehand (telephone number on inside front cover) to check that there have not been any last-minute changes. 

Shelley Van Loen has just released a new CD – "In The Shade Of The Palms" - on her own PalmCourt Records label. Full details, plus a review, will appear in our next issue, but if you would like to order a copy before then you can telephone Shelley on 01869 351990. 

Sound Copyright – the battle goes on! In April a New York Court of Appeal found in favour of Capitol in a dispute with Naxos. Initially this raised alarm bells since there seemed a prospect that record companies reissuing recordings over 50 years old could be prohibited from selling in the USA. However this appears to have been an over-reaction, and the suggestion has been made that Capitol’s win could prove to be a Pyrrhic victory. It is alleged that the judgement only applies to record companies with an office in New York (such as Naxos of America). Another complication is that a query has arisen as to whether EMI could assign rights to its Capitol subsidiary in recordings that had already fallen out of the 50-year copyright in Britain, and were therefore in the public domain. Clearly there are going to have to be even more court cases in an attempt to clear up what is becoming a very messy situation. One speculates as to how any judgement in one country could prevent the world-wide trade in CDs that now exists via the internet. The best answer for the major record companies would seem to be to exploit their own catalogues by bringing out reissues themselves, competitively priced, so that there would be no point in independents such as Naxos trying to gain a share of the market. 

Within ten days of the news of Robert Farnon’s passing, Sanctuary Living Era advised all their dealers of the CD "A Portrait of Farnon" originally released in February 2004. 

BRAVO MARK STEYN!

For all the 49-odd years that our Society has existed, we have come to expect snide, derogatory comments about ‘our kind of music’ from musical snobs who wouldn’t recognise a tune if it jumped up and slapped them in the face. Give them atonal cacophony and they roll over with their legs in the air waiting to be tickled, just like the Editor’s black cat Mamba. But to admit to enjoying melody …?

Therefore it’s all the more pleasing when, occasionally, a columnist does have the courage to admit to liking something musical which gives pleasure to the majority. Even more surprising, is a columnist who takes his fellow writers on the same newspaper to task.

This is what Mark Steyn said in his Daily Telegraph column on 3 May:

"It's the little things in the paper that drive you nuts. I made the mistake of reading Thursday's obituary of Robert Farnon on a plane and the following sentence caused my mouthful of coffee to explode over the guy in front of me and set his hair plugs alight: ‘He also did some suitably syrupy arrangements for the crooners Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne and Vera Lynn.’

Good grief. There's nothing "syrupy" about Farnon's arrangements for Sinatra. If you listen to his work on Sinatra Sings Great Songs From Great Britain, the guitar coda on "Garden in the Rain" and the trumpet obligato on "If I Had You" are worth the price of admission alone.

I felt rather depressed at the thought that "syrupy" should be my paper's final judgment on the greatest Canadian orchestrator of popular music ever, especially when you consider that "Now is the Hour" (the "Maori farewell song") was co-written by Clement Scott, the Telegraph's drama critic from 1872 to 1899.

It remains the only song by a Telegraph journalist ever recorded by Sinatra, at least until the lost tapes of Frank Sinatra Sings the Boris Johnson Songbook are discovered.

So I dusted off the Great Songs From Great Britain CD and was reassured to find the Farnon arrangements as ravishing as I remembered them. The key line is from "Garden in the Rain": "a touch of colour 'neath skies of grey." That's what Farnon's orchestrations brought to even the dullest material, like "We'll Meet Again", whose stiff-upper-lip sexless stoicism Sinatra can't get his head around at all.

We'll be hearing "We'll Meet Again" rather a lot this VE anniversary week. Looking back at that Sinatra/Farnon album, you're struck by how - in 1962 - so many of the numbers they chose are wartime songs, either from the Second War - "We'll Gather Lilacs" - or the First - "Roses of Picardy".

One of the reasons why it's effortlessly easy to "commemorate" the Second World War is that popular culture had signed up for the duration. It was the war that brought Robert Farnon to Britain, to lead the Allied Expeditionary Force's Canadian band, as Glenn Miller and George Melachrino led the American and British bands."

Bravo, Mark Steyn! We need more writers like you to bring some commonsense to the blinkered musical establishment.

■ Last Christmas a BBC-1 ident showed young children bouncing in the snow on Christmas puddings. Several British members contacted us to ask about the attractive music heard in the background. It sounded like vintage mood music, but no one could identify it. Eventually Ralph Thompsonmanaged to track down a lady at the BBC who said that it was simply called "BBC Ident" and was published by the BBC. It was specially written by Peter Lawlor; we wonder if any readers know of him – has he composed any other music like this? 

■ Allan Bula tells us that Herbie Flowers says the Hastings Light Orchestra could rise again this Spring. 

■ Thanks to Sigmund Groven, we can report that the ‘Warren’ who composed Martinique (the Ray Martin version on a Decca 78 was included on the Guild CD GLCD5101), is actually Norman Warren, an arranger and composer who was a backroom boy active on the London music scene from the 1940s to the 1960s. Martinique was also recorded by Tommy Reilly on Parlophone R3560. Warren and Reilly also co-composed Blow Man Blow and No Dice which Tommy recorded on a Philips single in 1962 (BF 326 543).

And on the subject of mysterious composers, Brian Reynolds has told us that the ‘Stewart’ who wroteThe Whistling Boy on the recent Mantovani Guild CD was not Ian Stewart as we had been informed, but a Colin Stewart (perhaps a pseudonym?). 

■ The American record company Reference Recordings has experienced problems in recent years, partly due to a change in ownership. The Gramophone magazine has been listing some of their CDs among their details of new releases, including Robert Farnon’s ‘Concert Works’ (RR-47CD). Since this has deleted some while ago, we were hoping that it would be available once again, but so far it does not appear on any distributors’ lists. 

■ The Royal Marines CTCRM Band are planning a disc of the Music of Ron Goodwin – expected release date August 2005 on their own ‘in house’ Chevron Label (writes Roger Hyslop). 

■ Ena Reilly has recently launched The Tommy Reilly Appreciation Society in honour of her late husband, regarded by many as the finest harmonica player in the world. The special event took place towards the end of last September, involving performances at the local Royal British Legion and Tommy’s church at Frensham. Paul Lewis (who worked with Tommy for many years on the TV series "Woof!") acted as compere, and some of Tommy’s former pupils from as far afield as Japan attended a masterclass in his honour. If any readers would like more information, they are welcome to contact: Mrs. Ena Reilly, Hammonds Wood, Frensham, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 3EH, England – telephone 01252 792422. 

■ Alan Bunting tells us that Quantegy, the world’s last remaining manufacturer of ¼" and professional recording tape, unexpectedly closed down over last Christmas and filed for Chapter 11 (in the USA this is often a prelude to a business ceasing trading). 

■ Forthcoming Concert dates:

John Wilson conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus in "Cinema Classics" at the Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 12 May at 7.30pm. The concert will be recorded for BBC Radio-2’s "Friday Night is Music Night". Tickets from RFH box office 08703 800 400.

The following day (Friday 13 May), John Wilson will be at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham, withGary Williams and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in a Tribute to Nat ‘King’ Cole. Box office 0121 780 3333.

Robert Farnon has decided to call his new Bassoon Concerto "Romancing The Phoenix". It is dedicated to the American virtuoso Daniel Smith (see page 5 in this issue). 

As we went to press, we learned that the new work dedicated by John Fox to his dear wife Joy was due to be recorded at Whitfield Street Studios on 22 February. Gavin Sutherland conducted the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, and we will naturally give further details when the CD is released. 

We were saddened to note the death of actress Virginian Mayo on 17 January aged 84. It was for her role as Lady Barbara in "Captain Horatio Hornblower" that Robert Farnon composed one of the most beautiful love themes ever heard in a film. 

Finnish Television is making a documentary on the famous ‘Moomin’ cartoon character called "Moomin’s Memoirs", which will be shown in 2006. Robert Farnon has been invited to be interviewed for the programme; readers will recall that Bob composed the catchy Moomin back in the 1950s when the newspaper cartoons became popular in Britain. Bob often used to turn up at early RFS Meetings wearing a tie with little Moomins all over it! 

Consuelo Velazquez, composer of the popular 1940s hit Besame Mucho died on 22 January in Mexico City, aged 88. She began her career as a classical concert pianist, but later became a singer and one of the best-known composers in Mexican history. 

There will be an exhibition of works by Benedetto at the Catto Gallery, Heath Street, London from 5 to 24 April. The artist is better-known as Tony Bennett. 

Universal has issued a 2-hour TV documentary featuring Bert Kaempfert on DVD. The film by Marc Boettcher is based on his biography on the bandleader, and includes rare footage and photographs from private archives, as well as interviews with friends, colleagues and musicians. There are also excerpts from Kaempfert’s stage and TV appearances. Also included is a special bonus CD with 20 complete tracks where the music in the film is only heard in part. There is an English soundtrack, as well as German. The DVD is called "Strangers In The Night: The Bert Kaempfert Story". 

Sessions will take place this year towards a third Campion CD of original compositions by Matthew Curtis. Once again Gavin Sutherland will be conducting the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, A few tracks were actually recorded last July, and titles selected so far include On the Move, Flute Concerto (soloist Jennifer Stinton), Five Dances for String Orchestra, At Twilight (strings and harp), Partita andDivertimento Concertante for clarinet and small orchestra (soloist Verity Butler – who also happened to be Mrs. Gavin Sutherland!). 

If you have one of the RFS pens that have been available at some of our recent London meetings, you may like to be reminded that standard rollerball refills from W H Smith will fit (make sure youonly buy the WHS own brand, not others such as Parker which are a different shape). 

James Cahall (from Louisville, Kentuckey) sent us an amusing cutting from his local newspaper. It informs that "Westport Road is closed just east of Herr Lane, but motorists may detour via Bob Farnon Way and Lyndon Lane! 

The March issue of ‘The Gramophone’ includes an article on Light Music by Andrew Lamb. The Guild ‘Golden Age of Light Music’ series is mentioned, along with some recent Vocalion CDs. 

The next concert of The Edinburgh Light Orchestra will be on Saturday 28 May, at the Queen’s Hall Edinburgh as usual. Conductor James Beyer hopes that some RFS members will come along to join the capacity audience that these concerts now regularly attract. Further details from James at: 4 St John’s Gardens, Edinburgh, EH12 6NT. 

Composer Adam Saunders was in Prague at the end of January, recording come of his latest works for a Chappell CD "Epic Choral" with the City of Prague Philharmonic. The choir is the Brighton Festival Chorus (overdubbed in England). 

Philip Farlow is continuing to be involved in the regional BBC South, South East 'evening share' programme on Fridays that he instigated mid-1998 called 'Big Band & Swing'. Nowadays Philip mainly gets involved in ‘specials’; he ceased doing it regularly in December 1999 as all the time spent producing a 'proper' programme was de-focussing him from his Audio Services work. Philip’s ‘slot’ was admirably filled by Grant James, but Philip now goes into the studios to do 'specialised' presentations which he regards as being quite prestigious – especially as there is a large audience over the Solent, Southern Counties, Kent, Berkshire and Oxford transmitters area. Some while ago Philip interviewed John Wilson and he would like to discuss his career with him again – if he can be fitted in with John’s very busy work schedule. Just before last Christmas Philip compiled a 'Glenn Miller in England' documentary which he understands from the subsequent feedback was received very well. "Big Band and Swing" can be heard on Friday evenings between 9.00 and 10.00pm. For those who live outside the areas covered by the local transmitters the programme can, of course, he heard via the BBC website on the internet. 

NEW RELEASES

As usual, there will be many new CDs to tempt us to open our wallets during the coming months, but as we go to press we only have very sketchy details of some of them. No doubt we will be able to provide much fuller information in our next issue.

First of all, on the Film Music front we have heard whispers that we can expect collections featuring film scores by Stanley Black and Mischa Spoliansky.

Mike Dutton has many attractive new releases lined up for the Spring, among them a new CD from the John Wilson Orchestra called "Dance Date" featuring scores by Roland Shaw and Pete Moore. From the vaults of Decca and EMI, Mike promises vintage albums by Victor Silvester, Ray Martin, Guy Lombardo, Eric Jupp (including the often requested "Music for Sweethearts"), Mantovani, Frank Chacksfield, Stanley Black, Ronnie Aldrich and Winifred Atwell.

Mike Dutton is also planning a new series of single LP reissues from Decca Deram, and one of the first will be the Robert Farnon / Tony Coe collaboration "Pop Makes Progress" (originally on the Chapter One label).

In February, the Dutton Epoch label issued a second volume of "British Light Music Premieres and Arrangements" (CDLX 7151) with works by Philip Lane (Overture on French carols), John Field (Concertino for flute and small orchestra), Haydn Wood (British Rhapsody), Rimsky-Korsakov (Variations on a theme of Glinka), Anthony Hedges (Festival Dances), Richard Addinsell (Harmony for false lovers) and Carlo Martelli (Romance, Greensleeves, Aubade).

Other Epoch releases include the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Barry Wordsworth performing music from Ballets associated with Sir Frederick Ashton (CDLX 7149), and a notable premiere of Sir Edward Elgar’s Piano Concerto (CDLX 7148).

Mantovani fans should be in seventh heaven with a new 4-CD box set from Jasmine containing 99 tracks. The period covered is 1951-1954, and inevitably there will be many duplications with CDs already released by several other companies. There is not room for a tracklisting here, but no doubt we will have a review in our next issue. If you cannot wait that long, you can order direct from: Jazmail, Unit 8, Forest Hill Trading Estate, Perry Vale, London, SE23 2LX, England (major credit cards accepted). The set is reasonably priced at £17.99 and UK postage is £1.00; Europe £1.50; rest of the world £2.80. Coming soon from Guild is a second collection of Mantovani – By Request, but you will be glad to know that this should be all material not previously on CD. Another Spring release from Guild will feature a second helping of Great American Light Orchestras. Full details – of course – next time!