Georgie Fame at the Cheltenham Festival broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 FM "Friday Night is Music Night" 2013-05-03


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He's an icon. A jazz and blues legend; a songwriter and composer; and a stormin' player of the Hammond organ. This year, at the prestigious Cheltenham Jazz festival, Radio 2 presents a Friday Night Is Music Night special, celebrating the 70th year of Georgie Fame. With special guests Madeline Bell, Zoot Money and Alan Price.

Georgie looks back on a career that has included hit records; rhythm and blues classics; and jazz standards. From The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde to Yeh Yeh; from Rosetta to The Old Music Master; from the influences of Hoagy Carmichael to the magic of Ray Charles. Georgie and his guests will tear through some of the greatest feel good music of all time, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Guy Barker Big Band, conducted by Guy Barker.

Georgie Fame is one of Britain�s most well-known rhythm and blues musicians, releasing over 30 albums in his career. In this epic 2 hour show, he charismatically led the audience through his adventurous life, the people he has met and his love of jazz, blues, R&B and rock and roll. I loved the vibe in the circus like Big Top tent, it was buzzing from the moment I stepped in; full of the bustle of the musicians preparing and the audience rushing around finding their seats, set to the varying sounds of 60s grooves right through to the Mingus big band.

Despite being one of the youngest audience members, after having heard the band and orchestra soundcheck from outside the Big Top all day, I was excited to see the show up close and personal and witness the world-class musicianship for myself. Admittedly, being a jazz nerd, I was perhaps more excited to see The Guy Barker Big Band than anything else, and they didn�t disappoint. Accompanying Fame through his myriad styles effortlessly, at some points reminiscent of Sinatra and Basie at the Sands and at others a fully fledged 60s rock and roll and rhythm and blues orchestra. Barker had written all of the arrangements himself and to his credit, utilised both the dynamic of his big band and BBC Concert Orchestra effortlessly and in a very musical way; the big band could really swing and at an instant drop down to allow the strings to sing a gentle melody at the quietest of volumes.

Review by James Banner

After an eventful medley of instrumental tunes, Fame strutted onto the stage and sang a blues accompanying himself on piano, and was then joined by Price, Bell and Money, who throughout the evening joined him in vocal exchanges and duets. Fame took the audience through his musical career, which is a lot more varied than I initially realised. He sang everything from pop ballads to Charlie Parker solos, even singing Chet Baker�s trumpet solo on Everything Happens To Me with incredible accuracy. I thought that Price, Bell and Money were a great addition as it really gave a personal connection to the tribute to Fame, however I felt as though they were missing a lot in the second set, and due to this the latter half of the show felt a little half hearted. Nevertheless, Fame knew how to work his audience, singing many of his hits including Yeh Yeh and The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde, and the audience showed their appreciation with a standing ovation at the end of the show. Overall, having not heard much of Fame�s music myself, he proved himself to be both an amazing musician and impressive showman at the same time, over 50 years after the peak of his career. This was matched by the incredible musicianship of The Guy Barker Big Band and BBC Concert Orchestra, who for me really made the evening what it was.

Music performed:

BBC Concert Orchestra/Guy Barker Big Band cb Guy Barker
Georgie Fame Overture/High School Confidential
Artist: Georgie Fame

Alan Price
What'd I Say
Artist: Bbc Concert Orchestra Artist: Georgie Fame Artist: Guy Barker Big Band Artist: Madeline Bell Artist: Zoot Money

Georgie Fame/BBC Concert Orchestra/Guy Barker Big Band CB Barker
King Pleasure Medley

Georgie Fame/Zoot Money/Guy Barker Big Band
It Should Have Been Me

Georgie Fame/BBC Concert Orchestra/Guy Barker Big Band CB Barker
Everything Happens To Me

Alan Price
Flamingo All Nighter
Artist: BBC Concert Orchestra Artist: Georgie Fame Artist: Guy Barker Big Band Artist: Madeline Bell Artist: Zoot Money

Georgie Fame/Guy Barker Big Band/BBC Concert Orchestra CB Barker
Yeh Yeh

BBC Concert Orchestra
Sunny
Artist: Georgie Fame Artist: Guy Barker Big Band

Georgie Fame
Seventh Son
Artist: Guy Barker Big Band

Alan Price
Rosetta
Artist: BBC Concert Orchestra Artist: Georgie Fame Artist: Guy Barker Big Band

CD 2

BBC Concert Orchestra
Sweet Georgie Fame
Artist: Guy Barker Big Band Artist: Madeline Bell

Georgie Fame/Guy Barker Big Band CB Guy Barker
The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde

BBC Concert Orchestra
Entertaining Mr Sloane/Eros Hotel Medley
Artist: Guy Barker Big Band

Georgie Fame/Guy Barker Big Band CB Guy Barker
The Singer

Georgie Fame/Madeline Bell/BBC Concert Orchestra/Guy Barker Big Band CB Barker
The Old Music Master

Madeline Bell/Georgie Fame/Piano
Nearness of You, The

BBC Concert Orchestra
Get Away/Little Red Rooster/Rhythm King
Artist: Georgie Fame Artist: Guy Barker Big Band

BBC Concert Orchestra
Funny How Time Slips Away
Artist: Georgie Fame Artist: Guy Barker Big Band

Ensemble/BBC Concert Orchestra/Guy Barker Big Band CB Barker
Saturday Night Fish Fry

Georgie Fame/BBC Concert Orchestra/Guy Barker Big Band CB Barker
When My Dreamboat Comes Home