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BUTTONHOLE & TAILS THE NEW FOXTROT SERENADERS |
EM RECORDS EMR CD072 [43.56]
Musicians :
Graham Wright, bandleader, trumpet, vocals and banjolele
Paul Williams, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and clarinet
Nicolas Charles, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, and clarinet
Richard Pywell, trombone
John Elliott, sousaphone
John Beaumont, piano
Rupert Marshall-Luck, violin
Kevin Miles, drums and percussion
1. Mad Dogs and Englishmen Sir Noel Coward (2:02)
2. Dance, Little Lady Sir Noel Coward (2:24)
3. Poor Little Rich Girl Sir Noel Coward (2:27)
4. Love Is The Sweetest Thing Ray Noble (4:15)
5. We’ll Gather Lilacs Ivor Novello (3:26)
6. Smile When You Say “Goodbye” Harry Parr-Davies (3:20)
7. First World War Medley Harry Parr-Davies (2:57)
Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag
It’s A Long Way To Tipperary
8. Could You Please Oblige Us With A Bren Gun? Sir Noel Coward (2:36)
9. Keep The Home Fires Burning Ivor Novello (3:42)
10. Wish Me Luck (As You Wave Me Goodbye) (3:17)
Phil Park and Harry Parr-Davies
11. Flanagan and Allen Medley (4:10)
Run, Rabbit, Run
We’re Going To Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line
If A Grey-Haired Lady Says “How’s Yer Father?”
Nice People
Hey Neighbour!
Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr. Hitler?
12. Leaning On A Lamp-post Noel Gay (3:05)
13. Goodnight, Sweetheart Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell, and Reg Connelly (3:46)
14. We’ll Meet Again Ross Parker and Hugh Charles (2:21)
TOTAL PLAYING TIME [43:56]
The New Foxtrot Serenaders is a popular 8-piece vintage dance band created by Graham Wright and the late John Ashworth (1943-2019). The group has been together since 1997, and is a favorite at the English Music Festival and many other events. This disc contains a mix of light music numbers, novelty tunes and some forgotten gems from yesteryear, including ten world premier recordings, all arranged by John Ashworth. Graham Wright is the chief vocalist for the group, and his many other duties include trumpeter and playing banjolele. His cheery tenor voice and entertaining delivery add plenty of sparkle, and he usually sings a verse or two in the middle of each song, sandwiched between instrumentals.
Sir Noel Coward (1899-1971)) composed hundreds of songs, and one of his best is Mad Dogs and Englishmen, written in 1931 during a road trip in Vietnam. The tune is a humorous mix of lyrics, rhythm, and musical key changes, all performed in a jolly oom-pah style. He also wrote two Charleston show pieces included here; Dance, Little Lady, which appeared in the 1928 revue This Year of Grace, and Poor Little Rich Girl, used in 1925 in Charlot’s Revue. The first features drummer Kevin Miles performing percussion effects using an interesting assortment of sticks and cowbells. Bandleader and composer Ray Noble (1903-1978) wrote Love Is The Sweetest Thing in 1932, which became a huge hit for singer Al Bowlly and many others. The creative arrangement features pairings of different instruments repeating the verses, and the band smoothly blends and balances combinations of saxophones and clarinets with trombone and piano.
Ivor Novello (1893-1951) was a Welsh composer and entertainer who wrote Keep The Home Fires Burning in 1914 at the dawn of the War. The band performs the tune at a slow, sentimental march tempo and finishes with an up-beat swing ending. Ivor composed We’ll Gather Lilacs for the 1945 musical Perchance To Dream. John Ashworth’s fabulous arrangement helps the band create a soft and swaying love song, with intriguing key changes and memorable sax and trombone solos. Fellow Welshman Harry Parr-Davies (1914-1955) wrote many popular tunes for musicals and films. Smile When You Say “Goodbye” appeared in the 1937 film The Show Goes On. The tune features fine keyboard work by pianist John Beaumont. Harry also composed Wish Me Luck When You Wave Me Goodbye, with lyrics by Phil Park. The song appeared in the 1939 film Shipyard Sally, and features outstanding violinist Rupert Marshall-Luck. Rupert also solos on the tune We’ll Meet Again to close the show.
This music was recorded at The King’s School, Canterbury in December 2019. Oscar Torres was the Recording Engineer, and Rupert Marshall-Luck served as Recording Producer. The Em Records Executive Producer is Em Marshall-Luck. A 38-page booklet is included with the disc, with photographs and detailed notes. The sound quality is excellent.
Bruce McCollum