RAGTIME to SWING
Live at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL
23 September 2000
The Cotton Club Band
Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen
The All Stars
 Robinwood Productions RWP0007
CD
Crotchet
CD1
Cotton Club Band
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Give Me Your Telephone Number
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The Ragtime Dance
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Vo Do Do De O Blues
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West End blues
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At the Jazz Band Ball
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Minnie the Moocher
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I've Got My Fingers Crossed
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I Cover the Waterfront
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Truckin'
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The Joint is Jumpin'
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Leaning on a Lamppost (With Nicky Martin)
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Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
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So Do I.
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At The Jazz Band Ball
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Someday (You'll Be Sorry)
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Fur Elise
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Saturday Night Function
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Old Man Mose
CD2
The All Stars
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Another Fine Mess
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The Big Butter and Egg Man
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In a Sentimental Mood. (tribute to Bill Skeet by Tommy Whittle)
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Avalon
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Blues for Kenny Baker ( tribute by Digby Fairweather, Kenny Ball, and Enrico
Tomasso)
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As Long As I Live (with Carla Valente)
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I'm in Love Again (with Carla Valente)
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Swing That Music
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Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
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Georgia Swing
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It's All Right with Me
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Them There Eyes
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St Louis Blues
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Swing Low Sweet Chariot
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All You Need is Love
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Woodchoppers Ball ( All the Bands and Nicky Martin)
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What a night this was, over 3000 people packed into the Albert Hall for a
night of dancing and listening to the best of British Jazz and Swing. The
two CD's have really caught the atmosphere, if you're having a party and
want some ideal music, this is it!
The Cotton Club Band opens the evening in great style with an interesting
programme, which features everyone in the Band. For me the Alistair Allan's
Trombone solo on I Cover the WaterFront stole the show, but all the
soloists are all excellent and the overall balance and ensemble playing is
of a very high standard.
Next up is the Kenny Ball Band, probably the most professional of the UK
Trad. outfits. The Band has very well rehearsed routines that make for excellent
entertainment as well as good jazz. The rhythm section of this band would
be just as capable as a backing unit for any jazz soloist and the front line
are all top men. I liked Nick Millward's drumming particularly.
The All stars line up had Roy Williams on trombone, Tommy Whittle on tenor,
Dave Shepherd on clarinet, Digby Fairweather on trumpet, Roger Nobes on vibes
and an excellent rhythm section of John Pearce piano, Len Skeat Bass and
the legendary Ronnie Verrell at the drums. They all justify their billing
as 'All Stars', my particular favourite was Tommy Whittle's playing of In
a Sentimental Mood as a tribute to the late Bill Skeat. There is also a nice
tribute to the late Kenny Baker by the three Trumpeters Ball, Fairweather
and Tomasso. Carla Valente chips in with a couple of stylish vocal offerings
and it is obvious that she has done this kind of work before!
After this its back to Kenny Ball and by this time in the evening in the
word's of the song, 'The Joint is Jumpin', if you like your jazz happy, relaxed
and with a feeling that everyone was enjoying themselves, this is for you!
Don Mather
Don Mather is a saxophone player and Bandleader in Coventry
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