[Dixielandjazz] Kenny Ball

[PATRICK LADD]

By contrast, at this Sydney concert Chris Barber showed that he had lost little of his legendary talent.>>
 
Hi All,
 
Saw Barber last year with his new band (I don`t know how longs its been `new`). A great concert but very different from his previous bands.Barber said that he was happier with this band than any of his previous  ones. They were certainly very good.
 
Pat

--- On Mon, 8/2/10, Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au> wrote:


From: Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
Subject: Kenny Ball
To: "Robert Ringwald" <rsr at ringwald.com>
Cc: "Pat Ladd" <pj.ladd at btinternet.com>
Date: Monday, 8 February, 2010, 21:15


Dear Bob,
The last time I heard Kenny Ball, was at a "Kenny Ball - Chris Barber" jazz concert here in Sydney about 5-6 years ago.
Ken had been ill, but seemed fine when we chatted with him backstage.
He had brought a trumpet player with him and his onstage performance was limited to vocals and the occasional solo and hot last chorus.
By contrast, at this Sydney concert Chris Barber showed that he had lost little of his legendary talent.

However, a recent letter in the British 'Just Jazz' magazine (November 2009, page 19) reported in part:
"Legend Kenny Ball, even at the age of 79, blew an absolute storm, and his charisma kept a packed audience not only entertained with some wonderful jazz, but also amused at the on-stage banter that comes when an icon in the world of jazz joins up with a semi-professional band. With no safety net in sight, Ken hit the high notes of classics in the form of "West End Blues" and "Blue Turning Grey Over You", and included numbers that he was so successful with in the 60s - "Samantha", "Hello Dolly", "Once I Lived The Live Of A Millionaire" and "So Do I". For anyone doubting the ability of  this 'Great Man of Jazz' this concert surely proved that there is still incredible life - and music - in Ken."

DJMLers John Petters, Ken Mathieson, Andy Ling, or Judy Eames, all nice and reliable people (as is my mate Pat the Ladd), may be in a position to provide a further update on Kenny's current performing ability.

Herewith their contact addresses:
john petters <jdpetters at btinternet.com>
Ken Mathieson <ken at kenmath.free-online.co.uk>
andy.ling at quantel.com
Judy Eames <jude at judyeames.co.uk>

Very kind regards,
Bill.