Date:
16 August 2003 at 8.00pm Reviewer: June Heywood |
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Duke Ellington declared that "Vancouver was the prettiest city in the world". Judging by the billboards displayed on the backdrop on the final evening of Festival Vancouver 2003, the Duke returned often.
There was a loud, screaming, thrilling solo from a trumpeter and a lone alto sax player gave us a slow and stately piece. Another alto sax player gave us fine, fast finger work that rose to a final crescendo.
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Host and featured vocalist, Jennifer Scott, sang "Rocks in my Bed" and the number to jitterbug to, "Jump for Joy". Her voice was high and sweet. She changed her speed and volume and her scat singing also attributed to a fine performance. Introducing the star of the show, Ms Scott said, "All musicians try to play the right notes. Clark Terry plays all the good notes." This august, elderly gentleman, carrying his trumpet, painfully walked across the stage on the arm of his attendant. Seating himself he said, "Don't let anyone tell you different, "the Golden Years suck!" Then with amazingly fast finger work, Mr Terry made his instrument sing as he played such Ellington standards as, "Take the A Train", "Squeeze Me But Please Don't Tease Me", and the bluesy, muted trumpet favourite, "Mood Indigo".
From the LP "Brown, Black and Beige", Terry sang "Mumbles". He made this hugely funny with scat singing, nonsense sounds, facial expressions, parts of conversations, and hand wobbles. Mr. Terry and his audience were having great fun. The conductor wandered off the stage. Our star said, "We'd like to give you another short number." He played one note. Finally, there was a brief taps piece and the stage was cleared.
© 2003, June Heywood |