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Edinburgh deserves the best… Both tracks on this Radio Big Band recording were arranged and conducted by Scottish born arranger/Conductor Barry Forgie. He made this CD one for big band fans who have never heard of Edinburgh! Barry, who has been regularly conducting the Radio Big Band since 1977, has worked as Musical Associate on several Hollywood films; he conducted Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Song And Dance" in the West End and his own compositions include the 50-minute "Beatles Symphony." The recording session in the Pebble Mill Studios was nothing short of electrifying. Nothing about this needs any hype, least of all the performances. As we said from the start, Edinburgh deserves the best and that's what you get from these guys! The Radio Big Band have received the British Jazz Award for Best Big Band in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2001. They have worked with artists as varied as Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Cleo Lane, George Shearing, Arturo Sandoval, Clark Terry, Van Morrison, Cybill Shepherd and now our own John Scott. |
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A review from the music editor for EdinburghGuide.com "The Radio Big Band has a long, distinguished track record. So when a new CD comes our way, I know that it's got to be good - and when its two tracks are called Fascinating City and That Old Forth Bridge and Me - then how can we not listen? "From its very first bars, Fascinating city, sets the scene as firmly in the Big Band, American songbook tradition. The very word 'Edinburgh' isn't easy to set to music, never mind incorporate it into a tribute song, so the band's done wonders in capturing the city's upbeat 21st century essence as "the greatest show on earth". John Scott's crystal clear words evoke images which are enhanced by the rise and fall of the melody lines. Track 2 is a very nostalgic hymn to that world engineering icon, the 19th century the Forth Railway Bridge - a truly unexpected subject for a song. The words tell of the memories and emotions the singer feels at the sight of its three great cantilevers and the music's triple spiky rhythms underpin that. However, both songs are very upbeat and don't at any point invoke the more serene, luminous, haunting beauty of Scotland. "Both songs
deserve to be picked up by Edinburgh's City Fathers and seriously
considered as emotive musical ambassadors. But they need to be played
and sung by many more interpreters to embed them in the big band
tradition. For £1.99, you get two brand new songs about Scotland's
two world icons, you get music to swing to, you get top quality,
bang up to the minute recording and engineering (cut on 10 and 11
February 2003 in the BBC's Pebble Mill Studios) and a CD to take
to play whenever you need or want to impress folks about Edinburgh's
allure. Top quality, good price, would appeal to ex-patriate Scots
anywhere!" A review from mainlybigbands.com "The fact
that there are good, well schooled band singers out there, is a
relief. John Scott, who may have listened to a Sinatra album
or two gives us all hope. Regardless of what the charts cynically
indicate, to be an impressive vocalist is not that easy, it takes
a belief in good music, being blessed with genuine talent and hard
work. There are two tracks on this CD and the concept is an appreciation
of Edinburgh and the Forth Bridge. The genesis of the treatment
may lie in Sinatra's homage to Chicago or New York. Arranger Barry
Forgie has done two excellent arrangements that allow the band to
swing mightily as big bands should." |
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of Edinburgh Castle and The Forth Bridge copyright © Peter Stubbs,
www.edinphoto.org.uk Our thanks to Peter, for his permission to use these images and thanks also to Janelle for all the other Edinburgh photos. |
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