The Townsend Hall hosts a Jazz Extravaganza

A packed Townsend Hall was treated to a memorable concert of music presented by the Internationally acclaimed Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra and the equally well known Clare Teal.

Music by Matt Cattingub and Pat[nbsp] Williams started the[nbsp] concert followed by Tom Coppins ‘Street Scene’ featuring lead trombone Tom Coppins, this was then followed with a Flugel solo by Nick Dewhurst and music by Bob Florence the MYJO finished the first part of the concert with the well known arrangement by Sammy Nestico of ‘A Tribute to The Duke’.

Clare Teal in her own magic way treated the audience with her interpretation of ‘That Old Black Magic’, ‘Skylark’, ‘Cheek to Cheek’, and ‘Folks Who Live on the Hill’ all wonderfully backed by John Ruddicks’ Midland Youth Jazz[nbsp] Orchestra.

The second part of the concert featured music by Gordon Goodwin, Slow Boat to China arranged by Martin Williams featuring Nick Dewhurst and Ben Gaskin. Alex Woods (alto) featured in the Pat Metheney piece ‘Always and Forever’,The Orchestra finished with music from Bob Florence and ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ Gordon Goodwins arrangement of the Gershwin classic.

Clare’s programme included ‘Bright Side of the Road’,[nbsp]‘Get Happy’,’I Just Wanna Make Love To You’ ‘Feeling Good and Messing with Fire’

The audience, not content with all the great music they had heard, applauded for several minutes and were rewarded with 2 curtain calls.

Comments after wards included ‘the band is so talented that, even to someone who’s music of choice would not be a big band, they are exciting and thrilling.’ ‘I thought Clare had an amazing voice which coupled with her tremendous personality made the whole event an evening not to be forgotton.’

Chairman of the trustees Geoff Ridgway commented it was the best concert the trustees had organised to date and had raised valuable funds for the restoration project and thanked all those who had supported the Townsend Hall’s efforts.

[nbsp]