MUSIC REVIEW: Chetham's Big Band Concert - The Stoller Hall, Manchester.

Not everyone enjoys pantomimes and Christmas-themed theatre, and not everyone wants the carols and hymns also inextricably linked with this time of year; and so Chetham's Music School students performed jazz and Big Band pieces instead! 

The Music School houses the Stoller Hall venue, and their students have the unique privilege of being able to perform on that stage and call it their own. Various groups from the different scholastic years came forward this evening, showcasing a side of music training which can be somewhat overlooked. I would imagine most people's understanding of such an establishemnt would be that it is simply highbrow training only (classical music / opera), and forget that other more popular or mainstream music genres require just as much training and skill. And Chetham's gives the students an all-round music education allowing the students to find their feet in whichever music genre/s they should prefer, all the time making sure they have the best and most up-to-date tuition. 

I love the sound of a Big Band - the traditional one that is. The more modern and avant-garde the music, and the more it transgresses from the Miller / Dorsey / Basey etc sounds the less likely I am to like it. But the same goes for my interest in classical music too...!

However, back to the concert; and the first group to grace the stage were The Jazz Collective. A group of year 9 students, who, with the help of their tutor on piano, performed two great pieces. The 'Pink Panther' Theme (Mancini), and 'The Soul Bossa Nova' (Quincy Jones). Lovely standards to start the evning off, and were played very well indeed. 

Following this, and one of the students, introduced as Ed, came on to play a solo piano piece called, 'Caravan' which he did quite expertly; and this was followed by a trio of students (violin, guitar and double bass), who played two jazz pieces. This was interesting as I don't think I have ever seen the violin used as a solo jazz instrument before.

The Middle School Big Band then took the stage for the remainder of the first half of the concert. And with pieces such as 'Cruise Control', 'Killer Joe', and finishing with Mancini's theme from 'Peter Gunn' it was a delight. Sandwiched in the middle of these pieces, one of the band came forward (I believe he was introduced as Olly), and sang 'The Girl From Ipanema' with Big Band accompaniment.... smooth!

After the interval and it was the turn of the Senior School Big Band, and they showcased 5 excellent pieces, whilst sandwiched in between them were two pieces performed by The 6th Form Improvisation Group. (again featuring a violin and also a flute - instruments not normally associated with the jazz ensemble). Both of these pieces allowed each instrumentalist to imrovise a riff and it was undoubtedly an important learning experience for these young but talented musicians.

It has to be said though, that the concert waited right until the very end to showcase the best two pieces of the evening. Moreover if I were to understand the condutor / MC / tutor correctly, then these two were also composed by him. Wowsers, I absolutely loved both these pieces! I think the first was called 'Sunday Song' which was a slower, more lyrical and mellow piece, and this was followed by 'View From Table Mountain' which was a bravura showpiece featuring the band singing a section of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'... genious!

Congratulations to all the performers this evening, especially the soloists. Apologies, but without a programme I am unable to credit anyone any further or remember (or even know) the titles of the other pieces played. A super way to spend a Saturday evening in pre-Christmas Manchester. Fabulous!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 20.11.21