Spectactular Performance Proves Genius Never Dies Someone once laughingly said nostalgia is a thing of the past. But judging by the age range of people who came to hear this legendary orchestra last night, there are no time limits on good music. And their appreciation of the programme was palpable.
That Glenn Miller's music can evoke such a warm response has been an international phenomenon for more than half a century. And when it is played by first-rate musicians under the direction of a master technician, Ray McVay, it graphically demonstrates that while musical fads come and go, genius never dies.
The 16-piece band was in spectacular form. The precision, intonation, phrasing, dynamics and perfect tempos were exactly as Miller had laid them down in the 1940s. In addition to these attributes, the band really swings. Led by a flawless rhythm section, the rest of the orchestra jumped right on every number and proved that tunes more than five decades old can sound as clean and fresh as the day they were written.
Classic arrangements, coupled with the intricate free style of the solos blew the house down one minute and were soft as a whisper the next. The Miller standards expected by the audience were all there: Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo, String Of Pearls and Little Brown Jug. In addition, the band incorporated a few more modern numbers into the performance; though these tunes had been carefully selected to lend themselves naturally to the miller style and sound.
Also on the bill were vocalists Jan Messeder and Colin Anthony, along with singing group the Minting Sisters, who made an impressive job on several numbers, in an Andrews Sisters vein. To attempt to single out any particular musician for special mention would be unfair, since every single one of them played their heart out. But as anyone who has ever worked in a big band will tell you, holding it all together is a work of art. Thus, it is worth noting that drummer (and Scotland's own) Bobby Orr kept the band firmly on a swinging course when not soloing on such cornerstones as St. Louis Blues March.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Ray McVay sounded to me very much like the Glenn Miller Orchestra as directed by Glenn Miller. And you can't say better than that. - - - -
Pat Quinn