The
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
Happy
Days Are Here Again
…
For
nearly thirty years
The Pasadena Roof
Orchestra has prided
itself on being
among the foremost
organisations involved
in breathing new
life into the music
of the 1920's and
early 1930's. One
German review trumpeted
"If you want
to be in, you must
hear this band."
The orchestra's
music and entertainment
value has led to
two radio series
and many television
appearances in Britain
and the Continent.
The current hit
German film production
The Comedian Harmonists
used the band (combined
with a full string
orchestra recorded
in Hollywood) to
create the period
feel for its soundtrack.
The
orchestra performs
on the best concert
stages, such as
the Queen Elizabeth
and Fairfield Halls
in London, the Hamburg
Musikhalle and the
Berlin Schauspielhaus,
as well as making
club appearances,
such as Ronnie Scott's
club. They also
tour the around
the world from Hong
Kong to the USA
(where the orchestra
made an extensive
tour in 1993). More
significantly though,
over the period
of its development
the orchestra has
become world renowned
for its entertaining
'band show' which
combines hot jazz,
early swing and
the sublime dance
melodies with novelty
tunes and comedy
routines. As American
critic Scott Yanow
wrote, "The
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
presents a fun concert
with the emphasis
on superior hot
dance tunes of the
era…. The
authentic sound
of the band, the
superior repertoire
and some inspired
humour make this
a delightful show".
Rhythm
Is Our Business
….
When the Pasadena
Roof Orchestra sounded
its first chords,
its musicians were
a collection of
enthusiasts, bringing
together their offbeat
interest in a kind
of music unheard
for forty years.
Today's band is
a little different.
Each musician has
a solid background
(most in jazz and
show music as well
as a college training)
added to their love
for the music. Above
all, this is a young
band, vigorous and
exciting. But you
can't survive professionally
on enthusiasm alone.
No less than sixteen
recorded albums
and twenty-eight
years of touring
mean the band has
played in all kinds
of places, all over
the world (from
famous concert halls
to smoky night clubs)
and before top politicians,
royalty and star
names.
The
orchestra knows
how to put on a
show, to amuse and
entertain. The elegant
'Hollywood' panache
(a rare jewel today)
is its stock-in-trade.
As you will see
and hear, the musicians
are skilful and
'in the style'.
Led by vocalist
James Langton (who
came to the orchestra
after appearing
on Broadway, but
is also a clarinettist
and saxophonist
trained on the jazz
course of London's
Guildhall School
of Music), close
attention is paid
to period detail.
The style is a blend
of classic scores
played with good,
old-fashioned gusto.
Crazy Words, Crazy
Tunes . . . .
So where does the
music of The Pasadena
Roof Orchestra fit?
It isn't 'pop' (though
some of it was)
or 'rock'. It isn't
contemporary 'jazz'
though its roots
are in jazz and
dance music. It
isn’t 'classical'.
yet it draws on
the past for its
material; classic
jazz repertoire
from Duke Ellington
(long featured on
BBC Radio 3), show
tunes from Gershwin,
Porter, Berlin,
Kern, which have
become 'standards'
in their own right,
as have good songs
from Ray Noble,
Hoagy Carmichael
and a host of famous
names, this music
is as good as the
twentieth century
has had to offer.
In its way, this
is the classical
music of the twentieth
century. Listen
to the sounds that
grew out of New
Orleans, New York
and the 1920s Europe.
The growling trumpet,
the muted trombone,
the wailing saxophone
and the clarinet
glissando over the
chonk-chonk of the
rhythm section.
The spotlight, sharp-focused
on the vocalist
at the microphone,
crooning "Whatever
hearts may desire/Whatever
fate may send …".
You'll hear the
sweet side in Paddlin'
Madelin' Home and
Me and Jane In A
Plane, but now Cotton
Club Stomp heats
up the atmosphere
before the supercharged
sound of Cab Calloway's
Minnie the Moocher
brings the house
down.
Some
of our arrangements
are note for note
as played by Ellington,
Fletcher Henderson,
Noble, Jack Hylton
or other classic
outfits of the period.
Most are our own
special arrangements,
crafted in the style.
It takes a special
skill to change
the attitude from
a twenties 'Charleston'
sound to the dirtier
'uptown swing' of
an arrangement from
Duke Ellington or
Fletcher Henderson
from the early '30s.
Of course, it helps
to have the right
kind of period instrument
and to have painstakingly
researched the style.
But it is the jazz
spirit and the passion
of each member of
the orchestra, which
brings the music
alive.
It
Don't Mean A Thing
(If It Ain't Got
That Swing) . .
.
But is it all nostalgic
recreation? Not
if nostalgia is
merely a wistful,
sentimental yearning
from times past.
This isn’t
slavish recreation,
with a hushed tone
and a straight face.
What the orchestra
vividly captures
is an atmosphere,
a mood which is
stylish and elegant,
yet forceful and
vivacious; above
all, life-affirming
good fun.
