Big Band In Inverness
The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Big Band was playing at Eden Court in Inverness tonight and not even the freezing fog could keep me away. The performance was being recorded for the Jazz Line-Up programme we produce for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3. Another edition of the programme will go out live from Eden Court tomorrow afternoon.
It was a terrific night and featured Scotland's own - in fine voice - and also a lively rendition of Comin' Thro' The Rye which fused jazz with bagpipes. The finale mirrored the line-up of the 1938 Benny Goodman concert that had orginally been in the Carnegie Hall in New York.
In the interval I went backstage for a chat with producer Keith Loxam. His only worry was that the applause was lasting so long it was throwing out all his timings.
Not the worst worry in the world and it says something that so many people would brave a cold February night in Inverness to hear live jazz. There was actually one person too many in the audience if you ask me. I'm talking about that person who thought it was a good idea to rustle a sweetie packet at the start of every number.
I mean, honestly!
