Long live the KZN All Stars Big Band! (Review by Barry
Meehan)
There is nothing quite like the sound of a big band,
swinging into numbers with gay abandon. And the KZN Big Band certainly lived up
to their “All Stars” label at the 2018 Hilton Arts Festival.
Consisting of keyboards (Melvin Peters at his consummate
finest), bass, lead guitar, drums, percussion, four trumpets, four trombones
and five saxophonists, the band was tight, together, and obviously enjoyed
displaying their craft to an appreciative audience.
Under the very able direction of band leader Duncan
Wooldridge, the band, composed of members of various bands and orchestras
within KZN, took us back to the golden era of big band music with numbers like:
It Don’t Mean A Thing, Sweet Georgia
Brown. Moonlight Serenade, Pennsylvania 65000, A Night in Tunisia, Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy, amongst many others.
Guest soloist Shelly McLean joined the band for numbers such
as All Of Me, Route 66, Cry Me A River
and the Stevie Wonder classic I Just
Called To Say I Love you, performing admirably, along with a ballroom dance
pair who added immeasurably to the show. Two other “guest performers” in the
form of 5/6 year old youngsters were brought up from the audience to join in,
proving that big band music appeals to all ages!
The concert was over far too soon, but enthusiastic applause
and calls for an encore brought about Fever.
But of course, no Big Band concert could ever be complete without the Glen
Miller classic In The Mood which
brought the proceedings to a swinging end. Long live the KZN All Stars Big
Band! - Barry Meehan
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