The ARC, St John’s Arts Centre, St John’s Walk, Market St, Old Harlow CM17 0AJ
Saturday 25th May @ 3pm
Admission £12
Details: 01406 365 731 e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The swing era and in particular, the music of Benny Goodman, returns to the ARC on Saturday featuring John Petters Swing Band - with Duncan Batchelor, clarinet and sax, Colin Bray, vibes, Jim Douglas, guitar piano, Keith Donald, bass and the leader on drums
The show will feature such evergreens as “Airmail Special”, “Seven Come Eleven” and “Memories of You”.
The show starts at 3pm and admission is £12.
Further details from John Petters on 01406 365 731 or www.traditional-jazz.com
Delighted with a review by Barry Clare, of Swing That Music - Ben Holder - John Petters Swing Band CD, in this month's Just Jazz Magazine.
Here's a few quotes from a thoughtful and long review:
Jazz violin isn't to everyone's taste - it seems to provoke the Marmite reaction. I would have to admit that it was something I grew into loving. In Ben Holder, we have a brilliant violinist, who happens (for a jazz musician) to be young. I find this heartening, especially as Ben is one of those people, who also happens to be energetic and enthusiastic, which tends to shine through everything he does. The lead duties in this quartet are shared between Ben and Jim Douglas, and Jim is certainly not a Manouche-style guitarist; his playing of the electric instrument is a far more languid affair. He provides a rich and lyrical carpet, ideally suited to showcase the energy in Ben's playing. Jim, as the long-time guitarist with Alex Welsh, is adept at providing the solid rhythmic heartbeat to a swinging group as well as providing, when required, an alternative soloist.
Ben Holder has a good vocal style, which I have found has grown on me: of course, the choice of tunes helps. He tends to confine his vocals to the mid-tempo gentle swingers and reserve his most romantic string work for the wonderful ballads here, such as Body And Soul, Over The Rainbow and Out Nowhere. I mentioned at the beginning the violin and its place in jazz: what is certainly true of the instrument is that it covers two of the most diverse moods, romance and energetic swing with equal effect. Listen to John Petters and the bass and guitar generating real intensity and note how it spurs Ben to raise his game on Crazy Rhythm, Swing That Music and Found A Baby.
This is a real 'feel-good' CD played to perfection by a great quartet. For 'Marmite-lovers', thoroughly recommended: for the undecided - give it a go! Barry Clare Rose Records are available from: https://traditional-jazz.com/shop/swing-that-music-detail
