There was snow on the ground. There was a cold icy chill in the air. What do we need as a warm tonic? The Glenn Miller Orchestra (UK) with Ray McVay.
Despite the weather, the venue was full to capacity and as the lights dimmed the Orchestra struck up as the curtain lifted and we had 60 minutes of the best music around. The first half included many of the usual classics; 'American Patrol', 'In The Mood', Caribbean Clipper', 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'.
The Orchestra were in brilliant form and the singers - Jan Messeder and Colin Anthony were in fine form and had the audience singing along. The second half provided more gems from the Orchestra and the Uptown Hall Gang. The show closed with 'Adios', a fitting number to end a great show on a very cold night. The show was over two hours in duration and if Ray and the Glenn Miller Orchestra are at a venue near you, don't miss them as it was sheer bliss and joy. The Big Band sound and Ray McVay are up there with the best!
J. Haberman.
Over here, overpaid and over-sexed. That’s what they said - and no wonder, for this was indeed the soundtrack for seduction, 1940s-style.
The great numbers tumbled over each other. Pennsylvania 65000, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Tuxedo Junction… a sea of grey heads swayed and nodded to the music that had provided the accompaniment to a wartime stolen youth.
The Moonlight Serenaders, led by vocalists Colin Anthony and Jan Messeder effortless evoked the period, at times taking us into the 1950s with generous doses of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. But it was only towards the end when Ms Messeder’s generous medley of Vera Lynn tunes brought the capacity crowd to its feet that the real feeling of a great nation on its backfoot almost became reality once more.
And I’d like to think that those two old ladies would raise their sweet sherry glasses to that…
John Phillpott
