An Evening with the Vintage Masters of Swing
Sing, sing, sing sing everybody start to sing…
Although the heyday of Benny Goodman and his compatriots was long before my time I was lucky enough to grow up in a family with a strong appreciation of the music of the era. Glen Miller, Kay Kyser, Artie Shaw and many others have long been part of the soundtrack of my life. Recently, I was invited to the performance of The Vintage Masters of Swing at The Broad Stage. Featuring legends of the era it sounded like an amazing performance. So one recent Saturday, Shannon and I headed down to Santa Monica to take in the show.
The Vintage Masters of Swing was the inaugural event for the recently formed Musicians at Play Foundation. This foundation aims to bring live music to the community through concerts and outreach programs. After attending the concert I would say they started out with a bang!
Prior to the show we were treated to a champagne reception where we could mingle with the performers. Now, I’m a little on the shy side so most of the hour was spent chatting with my sister. That is until we caught sight of Richard Sherman. You many recall my writing about his appearance at the 2014 TCM Film Festival. It had been such a special experience that I really wanted to tell him how much I enjoyed it but I was just too shy. Luckily, Shannon is also a fan of his work so she encouraged me to go with her to say hello to him.
What a lovely man! I was able to tell him how much I loved Mary Poppins and how I appreciated his appearance at TCM. He couldn’t have been more gracious and kind and was happy to snap the above picture. As you can see from the grin on my face I was pretty happy, too.
Soon the show began and what a show it was! We were treated to a live big band playing a variety of classic tunes and new compositions. From Strike up the Band to I’ve Got You Under My Skin to the recently composed Cell Talk it was a swinging affair.
photo courtesy of Musicians at Play
Now, don’t go think these were just any old versions of the songs. Each piece was arranged by a legendary musician such as Ralph Carmichael, Bill Holman and Sammy Nestico. To make it even more special most of them appeared onstage to conduct their pieces! Add to that special appearances by notable singers such as Michael Feinstein and Tierney Sutton it was a magical night.
Truly magical. To be able to see these legendary performers doing what they loved, to hear amazing vocals, to witness a fantastic big band was so wonderful. It was a night I’ll never forget.