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REVIEW:
Les Browns Band of Renown - Big Band - Big Talent
by
Suselit, posted on Getawaysaver.com Forum
There
were several things about the Les Browns Big Band Show that
surprised me.
The first was how it
REALLY is a BIG Band. So many horns and sax and trumpets and
trombones and other instruments that create a rich full sound that
is unequaled anywhere in Branson or anywhere else.
The second thing that surprised me was just how hip and funny Bob
Anderson is. He is what people used to call a
"Crooner". Bob Anderson mesmerizes all the women when he
sings. I can prove that statement within my own group. We ranged
from ages of 20s, 40s, 50s, and 60s and as we sat there on the front
row we were giddy and giggly while Bob "became" Tom Jones
and Englebert Humperdink and Bobby Darin and other great Singers. We
are all going to see his Show so we can see more!
The third thing that surprised me was Janna
King Evans. Every Big Band needs a Girl Singer and Janna
captured that era of the sweet voices like former Les Browns Band
Singer Doris Day. Janna added much to the overall enjoyment of Les
Browns Show. She is a Major not a minor talent. I think she should
be nominated for Branson Female Singer of the Year.
A great bonus was how personable Les
Brown Jr. was. He shared wonderful anecdotes of the Big Band Era
and of his father and other band leaders and song writers. I found
it truly interesting to hear about how things were then. It made me
wish I had been alive during that romantic time of Dance Palaces and
Ball Rooms and Radio and Swing Music. But at least I got a taste of
it today. And I loved it. I heartily recommend this piece of living
musical history. It's clear why the popularity of Big Band Music has
endured...it's fun!
REVIEW:
Les Browns Band of Renown - Big Band Bonanza!
posted
by Lindsey, on Getawaysaver.com Forum
Can't
say enough about this show! If you even think you might like
Big Band music, you should love this show. Les Brown is full of
stories and little trivia about the music, but the music is the
highlight. You can even dance in the aisles! And many people do!! We
did!
Email
to Les and the Band
Caught the show in Branson...WOW!
Man what a great band! I have not been to a show or concert like that since the Forties.
Met Les Jr. after -- what a genuine person. Bought the CD and the video.
I hope this band really scores in Branson. We are there twice a year and I will go both times.
I will end by saying to Les Jr., thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing your band to Branson!
- J. Gaines, Texas |
"So
many... instruments that create a rich full sound that is unequaled
anywhere in Branson or anywhere else"
"Can't
say enough about this show! If you even think you might like
Big Band music, you should love this show."
"Man what a great band! I have not been to a show or concert like that since the Forties." |
I just returned from a dazzling evening of music with Les Brown (Jr.) and The Band Of Renown at the James
Armstrong Theater, Torrance Cultural Center, Torrance, CA and had to share
my exuberance! Tickets were sold out. Crowd age
15-90.
First impression, with the exception of a few, most musicians were
60+...and showed their age…in experience! What a BEAUTIFUL tight sound!
The horn section was SEAMLESS. Wedged tight and hair of white.
Les Brown
Jr. (having a strong resemblance to his late father who just passed away a
few weeks ago at age 88) was introduced and counted off into the theme
'Leap Frog' and played it in it's entirety. In fact let me give you the
set list (see below).
HIGHLIGHTS:
A perfect arrangement of 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm', and the horns
were 12 walk-in' like one. Like listening to fine tuned pistons!
88 year old vocalist Butch Stone, who
joined the band in 1941, legally blind, swing dancing, sending the
audience in stitches with his routine, and practically putting on a one
man vaudeville act. Humping the curtain for laughs.
There were plenty of solos and all were
applause-getters. Smoothing through Lil' Darlin' and again,
walking in each others footprints.
Les Jr., gave the audience lots of
background on each song, relating well, and led with exuberance and
smiling in bliss…you could tell he was having a blast leading herd on
this fine, fine orchestra, sometimes leaning backwards like he was resting
on the wall of sound being blasted. When his uncle, Les' brother Stumpy
(nicknamed for being 'vertically challenged') hobbled up to sing 'Opus
One', I was quickly reminded of the relevance of the song to this band,
the vocals contain a reference to 'Mr. Les Brown and his Band Of Renown!'.
Stumpy is also the band's Manager and Booker.
This was a night of ageless fun, excellent
musicianship, and great songs.
Missing was 'Joltin' Joe DiMaggio' from the
repertoire, but let's save that for the next time! Les is up there at the
pearly gates smiling, the band lives on!
SONGLIST
Leap Frog (Theme)
I've Got You Under My Skin
Opus One [Stumpy Brown vocals]
Tenderly
Floatin'
I Only Have Eyes For You [Les Brown Jr. vocals]
What A Wonderful World [Les Brown Jr. vocals]
The Lady Is A Tramp [Les Brown Jr. vocals]
Benny Goodman Medley:
Let's Dance
Stompin' At The Savoy
Don't Be That Way
Take The 'A' Train
Sentimental Journey [Liz Rhody vocals]
S' Wonderful [Liz Rhody vocals]
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
A Good Man Is Hard To Find [Butch
Stone vocals]
Bad Bad Leroy Brown [Butch Stone vocals]
- Intermission -
Little Brown Jug
Lil' Darlin'
Just In Time
When Dreams Come True
It Had To Be You [Liz Rhody vocals]
The Shadow Of Your Smile [Liz Rhody vocals]
It Could Happen To You
Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven [Butch Stone vocals]
Old Man Time [Butch Stone vocals]
Leapfrog (Reprise)
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"This was a night of ageless fun, excellent
musicianship,
and great songs."
Les Jr., gave the audience lots of
background on each song, relating well...and smiling in bliss.
You could tell he was having a blast, sometimes leaning backwards like he was resting
on the wall of sound...
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