1. The Stars and Stripes for Ever
2. Makin’ Whopee
3. Li’l Darlin’
4. Samba De Los Gatos
5. The Pink Panther
6. Frankie & Johnny
7. Route 66
8. Drink Tolly Only
9. Yankee Doodle Dandy
10. Moonlight Serenade
11. American Patrol
12. Hot Toddy
13. Georgia
14. Take the A Train
15. Stardust
16. Rabble Rouser
17. Swing Low
18. Cruisin’ for a Bluesin’
Don Lusher (trombone); Emer McParland (vocals)
The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Plymouth/Captain
J R Perkins
Services Bands have always
been one of the main entry points into the
music business in the UK. My experience has
been that on nearly every occasion the musicians
produced have been very well trained and capable
of more than holding their own in the profession
at large. This band demonstrates the point
well with a faultless programme of Big Band
Classics that should delight the many fans
of this type of music.
The programme is very well
chosen with some charts which will always
be musts for such a programme, but a nice
selection of others that are of more recent
origin. These include the Maynard Ferguson
band arrangement of Cruisin’ for a Bluesin’,
which is a challenge for any band to play
well … and they succeed!
The two guest artists Don
Lusher on trombone and Emer McParland on vocals
sound very comfortable with the support they
receive and each makes a useful contribution
to an enjoyable album.
Makin’ Whoppee has solos
from Gordon Carter (alto) and Ivan Hutchinson
(trumpet). The trumpet solo on Li’l Darlin’
is played by Steve Williams, Pink Panther
features Michael Miller on tenor. Frankie
and Johnny has Don Lusher playing his
own arrangement. Emer McParland is the vocal
on Route 66 and Martin Dale is the
alto soloist on Drink Tolly Only.
Baritone player Bob Johnson
handles the featured riff admirably on Hot
Toddy; the trumpet solo is played by Hugh
Williams. Emer returns for Georgia and
Richard Fenwick solos on The A Train.
Don Lusher plays a delightful Bill Geldard
arrangement of Stardust. Rabble
Rouser is taken really fast and is well
played throughout. Swing Low is the
Billy May arrangement and it features Ivan
Hutchinson on trumpet.
Cruisin’ is taken
right up to speed and is played well by all
involved. The saxes are particularly clean
in their execution of this difficult piece.
Overall a very enjoyable
Big Band, proving that the services are still
producing a fine crop of musicians capable
of playing in many styles including a rhythm
section that swings with the best.
Don Mather
CD Reviews
CLOVELLY
CL CD10796
