Stokes Nicholson Big Band

FROM THE FIRST evocative chords of any big band performance, you are somehow transported back to an earlier – and gentler – time.

Movie soundtracks use this ploy significantly well, and when they want to take you back to the 1940s, you are instantly “there” with only a few key chords from a big band.

The Stokes Nicholson Big Band was formed in Townsville 32 years ago specifically to perform that beloved music of a bygone era, but - as this performance more than demonstrated - the repertoire has definitely not been frozen in time.

Playing to a large and appreciative audience, Les Nicholson led the band through a diverse collection of tunes which saw this community orchestra tackle many jazz-influenced gems from the composers of popular music history.  While there was traditional swing fare represented by the music of Cole Porter, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington, we also had arrangements of songs by Manhattan Transfer, Henry Mancini, Isaac Hayes, Paul McCartney and Jimmy Webb.

Contemporary highlights included Mancini’s “Peter Gunn”, the up-tempo version of “The House of the Rising Sun”, Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft”, and a version of “Leave Us Sleep” from the pen of Australia’s own Ed Wilson.

All of these – and a number of the traditional swing numbers - demonstrated the quintessential big band sound. This contrasted with the delicacy shown in the three arrangements of Nicholson’s beloved Count Basie-  “Dawdlin”, the Latin-influenced “Black Orpheus” and “Shiny Stockings”.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon’s diversion and featured outstanding solo work from Camden Mellick (saxophone), Jeffrey Bird (trumpet), and Russell West (trombone).

Trevor Keeling

Next month’s Townsville Music Centre concert on Sunday 20 November is called “Homegrown” and will feature a range of work written by Townsville composers.