Edinburgh Fringe 2024
In The Mood – A Tribute to Glenn Miller and the Music of the 40s
Jon Ritchie and That Swing Sensation
Genre: Jazz, Live Music
Venue: Edinburgh New Town Church
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
This was an evening of big band music from one of Scotland’s best known (and busiest) exponents of this genre, John Richie and That Swing Sensation. The two set programme concentrated on well known hits of Glenn Miller and his Army Air Force Band with a nod in the direction of other greats. The big band sound was beautifully captured giving a real, authentic, even nostalgic feel to the evening.
Review
To the Edinburgh New Town Church for an evening of big band music from one of Scotland’s best known (and busiest) exponents of this genre, John Richie and That Swing Sensation. Church acoustics lend themselves to a good audio experience and this one is no exception, it’s walls providing the perfect surface off which to bounce notes from the wide variety of instruments in the ensemble.
This two set programme concentrated on the well and slightly less well known hits of Glenn Miller and his Army Air Force Band but there was still time for a nod in the direction of other greats, including Tommy Dorsey, Hoagy Carmichael and The Andrews Sisters.
And the big band sound was beautifully captured by a combination of clarinet, saxophones of varying pitches and of course, the brass, incorporating powerful trumpet and trombone sections. Completing the ensemble, a la Miller, we had piano, double bass and, naturally, percussion.
There was a real, authentic feel to the evening too, as a lot of digging into various archives has unearthed the original 1940s arrangements performed by Miller, many of which are different from some that you might have heard either live or even on recordings.
There were other subtle nuances too. The Andrews Sisters hit “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree” was normally performed by Miller using a male/female duet, for which amended lyrics were written. But we were royally entertained by the mellifluous Swell Belles who provided more than a passable impersonation of that original iconic trio, their rich, powerful voices resonating whether singing in unison or, more often, using pitch perfect harmonies.
Tunes familiar to most of the warmly appreciative audience included In the Mood, American Patrol, String of Pearls, Skylark, Pennies From Heaven, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Tuxedo Junction, Volga Boatman and Moonlight Serenade, Miller’s famed signature piece.
There was even time to fit in several excellent demonstrations of lindy hop from the Glasgow Lindyhoppers. And this ended up being nifty footwork in a space about the size of a postage stamp, given that the band and the audience were occupying most of the auditorium.
Male vocals for Miller classics including “At Last”, “Skylark” and others were provided by Paul Rasmussen – pleasant enough in voice but apt to lose volume at the bottom end of his range.
Overall, this was a performance had a lot to recommend it – great tunes, a band of consummate musicians who were clearly enjoying what they were playing and the real show stealers in those Swell Belles, their rendition of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” being particularly memorable. This was, however, a one-off Fringe performance but the band tours Scotland regularly so if you fancy an evening of music with a hint of nostalgia thrown in, look them out.
