15/10/11 - We had a great night out last night along with with the rest of the people who made it a full house at The Marine Hall in Fleetwood for the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Mike Lovell's Six in a Bar with vocalist and musician Rosie Harrison, opened the proceedings in a cracking polished style with Stevedore Stomp, which was to set the pace to come. Ten numbers in 45 minutes, some of which, like the good old days, would have fit on a 78 record no problem. Personally speaking I loved these short solo numbers for a change. Mike certainly tailored Willie Entwistle's first class arrangements for the mixed audience that was there, and Rosie Harrison has firmly established herself as a fine reed player as well as a first class vocalist with the band. The PDRO never fail to entertain and please the crowd, but it was a strange feeling at the end of the night for the lights to stay low, with people starting to leave, and nobody shouting for "More". As someone said to me, "Well it is well past cocoa time".

18/10/11 - Dear Fred, I have just been reading the review of the Pasadena's concert at Fleetwood and the civilised end of the evening. The finale of nearly every jazz concert down South is now greeted with cries of "Encore, More, More", standing ovations and worse of all drumming of feet. So now bandleaders tend to announce the second last number as the last just to keep these annoying "fans" happy. What is wrong with these people? Why can't they accept that this is the end of the programme as the musicians planned it? Why do the management keep the lights low until the band comes back from their mock finish? Am I the only concert goer that gets sick of this ritual? Sorry about the rant Fred.

Sid Bailey.

19/10/11 - Re Pasadena concert- I had a look at the set list backstage and the last number of the concert was Pasadena which they didn't play so it didn't end as they had planned it. I thought it was a shame that they didn't get an encore (being as they had one planned!) but as you pointed out originally, our audiences are not getting any younger! ! The chap who commented from down South seemed a bit cross about people asking for an encore! 11pm is late for people to be out. I wasn't overly thrilled driving down the Dock Road at midnight!   Definitely had the car doors locked!!

Rosie Harrison

19/10/11 - Hello Fred.

Blimey! This is controversial stuff about the end of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra's part of the concert! The PRO always (well, whenever I'm with them) has an encore ready - if required. On the evening in question, after the final number - My Blue Heaven/Singin' In The Rain, we bowed , left the stage and hovered in the wings for a few moments. The audience appeared satisfied, didn't ask for an encore and so, not wishing to outstay our welcome, we buggered off! Simple as that.

Regards,
Tony Jacobs.

 19/10/11 - Just a comment regarding the rant of Sid Bailey about audiences wanting encores. This, as I have always understood it, means that the audience loved what they have just heard, beautifully played!, and would like some more, please. Popular bands and other entertainers experience this, and bad ones, "leave the stage to the sound of their own footsteps!"

As I am sure you know as well as I do that the great, late lamented, George Melly used to finish his concerts in this manner, but used it to his advantage, by declaring it. On returning to the stage, to thunderous applause, after his departure at the end of the penultimate number, he would say "That was what is known in the trade as a False Exit!" - and get a terrific laugh.

The very last time I ever saw my old friends George with John Chilton and the Feetwarmers was in October 2002, - in Preston of all places. Happy Days. Rest in Peace George.

Thank you again, Fred, for all the wonderful work you do for jazz.

Very Best Wishes,
James Hall (In Mallorca)

19/10/11 - It is just a thought on Sid Bailey's comment. With our band we follow that old music hall adage "Leave them shouting for more!"

It's what we do, and its not bad psychology either, because the last thing the promoter will hear and REMEMBER while he re-books you, is the paying punters shouting for more.

Plus, if you've left a show on a high., you will look forward to the next time (and tell your friends)

Regards
Pete Jezard - ('The Blackwater Band')

20/10/11 - Hello Fred,

I entirely agree with Sid bailey's comments on encores. In the 1950s the playing of When The Saints Go Marching In was usually the last number and indicated to the audience that the entertainment was over. In a similar way, the judicious playing of The National Anthem at other types of non-jazz musical event precluded the playing of any encores. This week I went to a performance by the Moscow Philharmonic at the Bridgewater Hall and there were no less than 3 encores (Seemingly by chance, the orchestra had the music !). Incidentally, at the end of the concert there was a solo jazz piano performance in the foyer by a young Chetham's School of Music student called Dominic Degavino. His playing was sensational and so inventive. I think in years to come we will hear a lot of him.

Barrie Quilliam