Above: Enjoying a swinging time at St Germans Memorial Hall.
Picture: ROY WILLIAMSON (00/11/110/32A)
Three groups of local musicians made Saturday night's Lynn Corn Exchange audience realise what a wealth of talent exists locally.
The West Norfolk Youth Choir, musical director, Pat Pressling, young ladies from the age of eight, the Fiona Marshall Singers (slightly more mature and including some young men) combined with the Centre Stage Swing Band, directed by George King (standing in for indisposed musical director Roger Lines), to present a musical evening, singing and swinging.
The choirs, singing both together and seperately in a variety of languages, presented a wide-ranging selection of items from That Dixieland Sound, through Haydn's Gloria and the finale of Les Miserables.
Throughout the band played superbly, again with a wide selection of pieces such as Birdland, Music to Drive By and the Glenn Miller favourite Pensylvania 6500 (here the audience were asked to join in).
My companion, who had not heard them before commented that they produced a very pleasant sound.
Solos from choir members and the band (plus a dance duet) and some imaginatively-staged numbers all combined to give us a delightful and memorable evening. Both choirs sang from memory and were well disciplined with excellent diction.
All the forces united in the final item, It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing.
I don't profess to be knowledgeable about this kind of music but I do know that I enjoyed every minute, as did the audience judging from their response.
David Johnson Lynn News, Friday, 26th January, 2001 www.lynnnews.co.uk
Around £200 was raised for the Lynn branch of Arthritis Care at a 1940’s-style dance on Saturday.
Music was provided by the Centre Stage Swing Band and there was also a raffle and an auction of items, including a water colour painting, sets of wall plates ans a vase donated by Caithness Crystal.
Organiser and group member Mrs Yvonne Friend said: "It was very well supported and the band was wonderful. I’d like to say thanks to all who helped."
Arthritis Care meet every second Monday at the St Raphael Club, Gaywood. Anyone interested in joining can contact the club chairman, Iris Burton, on 01553 841241.
Lynn News, Friday, November 10, 2000 www.lynnnews.co.uk
Above: Enjoying a swinging time at St Germans Memorial Hall.
Picture: ROY WILLIAMSON (00/11/110/32A)
The walls of Snettisham parish church usually resound to the strains of hymn singing and organ music.
However, it was music of a different kind that rang through those old walls on July 6, when the Centre Stage Swing band gave a concert of big band classics ranging through items by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Glenn Miller.
The musical items, interspersed with witticisms and humorous quotes, were introduced by musical director Roger Lines being received with delight by the appreciative audience.
David Johnson, Lynn News, Tuesday July 18, 2000. www.lynnnews.co.uk
The Centre Stage Swing band, directed by Roger Lines, brought vitality, virtuosity and cheer to a highly appreciative audience at Smithdon High School, Hunstanton.
A varied programme included swing favourites by Basie, Ellington, Hefty and Glenn Miller. A bright stage set and red and black outfits helped the sense of fun and style.
The band had tremendous swing and rhythm, as well as good control, shown in both uptempo and slower numbers, and smooth section playing (in all of which the infectious energy of Christopher Gutteridge on trombone was symptomatic).
There were good solos, notably Chris Kirk’s bell-like trumpet tone. His partner was Anna Baines.
Youngster Nick Carter’s gutsy baritone sax solo on Don’t Mean a Thing was much appreciated, as was the solo from Emily Brittain, while Kevin Reed (tenor sax) and Susannah Mitchell took fine solos on Swing Street. Susannah’s partner on alto was Jayne Thomas.
Trombonist Catherine Johnson’s piccolo solo was fun, as was the synchronised swaying of trombones - well played by Jothan* Steed - and saxes in some of the section playing.
George T King** occasionally emerged from the rhythm section of David Grimston (bass) and Colin Mason (drums) to give a piano solo, and was also the source of Roger’s more consequential patter: “George has achieved a lifetime ambition of playing Basin Street Blues on the corner of Basin Street, New Orleans, and his middle name is Tiberius.”
You listened to this well-rehearsed and well-conducted band with tapping feet and a smile on your face. Hire them. And I’m not related to the conductor.
Gareth Calway, Lynn News, Friday May 26, 2000. www.lynnnews.co.uk
*Mis-spelt as Jonathan in original article
**Mis-spelt as Key in original article (Incidentally, George's
middle name is in fact Thomas. 'Tiberius' is just one of Roger's little jokes - actually
one of his better ones!)
The Centre Stage Swing Band came to Leziate on Saturday and blew away all those winter cobwebs. The tone was set with their intro number, the theme from the Muppet Show, and for the rest of the evening we had great music interspersed with anecdotes and jokes from Roger Lines, the musical director.
The 15 member band played with all the smooth power of a 3 litre Jag giving us classic swing numbers from Miller to Basie but also mixing in more modern music from Fleetwood Mac etc. Together they were very impressive but we were also treated to some wonderful solo playing and during "In the Mood " an excellent duet -it could have been Candy Dulfer and Kenny G playing for us.
The last time I visited a big band concert was to hear the Danish Big Band at the Barbican. The CSSB are just as good and I didn’t have a 3 hour drive down the M11 to hear them. An enthusiastic audience, including the odd Canon, seemed to agree as they demanded encore after encore. Next time they are here be sure to book your ticket and enjoy an evening to remember.
PS. note to the Village Hall committee - check the Hall roof - it was raised at least once during the encores.
Steve Williamson,
Voice of the Villages, April 2000.