Music Review: Tommy Sampson Big Band and the Singers

Published on Thursday 31 July 2008 19:33

COMPERE Stephen Duffy's closing assertion that the big band music we had just heard should not be regarded as simply nostalgic but judged by excellence was rather undermined by Tommy Sampson calling that most nostalgia-linked tune of all, We'll Meet Again, as the penultimate number.

THE HUB, EDINBURGH

You could see the point that Duffy was trying to make, though, and the music pretty much backed up his claim.

Subtitled "snapshots from a life in music", the concert celebrated some highlights from the 90-year-old band leader's career, and his big band sounded in splendid fettle throughout.

Sampson was well enough to attend and talk – and did he ever talk – following the heart attack he suffered in April, but not to direct the band. He left that to singer and musical director Elliott Murray, although much of the time this well-disciplined unit operated comfortably with minimal intervention.

The line-up also featured a range of singers, including band stalwart Rona Hughes, Arleen Davidson, both Elliott and George Murray, and a cameo from Duffy, as well as a multi-tracked recording of Sampson from 50 years ago.

They sailed through arrangements from a variety of sources, including Sampson and Murray, but also Neal Hefti, Billy May, Edinburgh's Johnny Keating, Edwin Holland and trombonist Jay Craig.

Guest trumpet soloist Bruce Adams hit his high notes with his usual aplomb, but the focus was very much on arranging and ensemble playing rather than soloing.