AGE DANCE BAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 67, 24 April 1945, Page 6

AGE DANCE BAND

VISIT TO WHAKATANE

EDUCATION IN MODERN MUSIC

Whakatane attained' a new ] height in musical entertainment on Tuesday evening when the Civic Winter Garden at present on a New Zealand tour played in the Winter Show Buildings. The hall was well filled, the floor was good, and the music an education in itself. Dancing commenced at 8 p.m. and continued till 1 a.m. The tunes were played in the very latest style, and almost without exception were top numbers of the Hit Parade. Although the majority of those who attended found the music difficult to dance to at firstthey soon became accustomed to the tempo and before long were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Perhaps the most popular of the players; was the band leader himself i Mr Freddie Gore who could apparently make a piano do everything but climb stairs. Such numbers as 'Cow Cow Boogie' and other requests attracted such a number of .spectators from the dance floor that the piano almost groaned be,neath the weight of onlookers, while the string bass right next to the piano, had scarcely room enough to even wriggle his eyebrows. In these numbers, piano, drums and bass predominated, and a to use 'jive' language, they certainly 'sent & sweet, solid and eight-to-the-bar.' Another first class number was 'Twelfth Street given out by Reg. Gould on the clarinet. At this stage the number of spectators had increased to almost half of all those present. A popular feature of the evening was the introduction of half a dozen local singers selected on Tuesday afternoon after twelve or fourteen voices had been tried. The vocalists were Mrs Thomson, Miss Keepa, Miss Jean Armstrong, Miss' Gay Burt, Miss Romela Winstone, Miss Rangi Hohapata and Mrs Smith (Opotiki). Such numbers as 'It Had To Be You' 'As Time Goes By' and 'Stormy Weather' were among the favourites heard. The band itself consisted of two trumpets, two trombones, n lleet of three saxaphones piano, drums. string' bass and guitar, together with Reg Munro, who, as the vocalist caught on immediately with the crowd. Extras during a brief spell half way through the evening which the band utilised to recuperate in readiness for the second half, were supplied by a young and energetic, if not totally accomplished quintet. Altogether, the evening was an unqualified success, and the. band may rest, assured, that if Whakatane is ever treated to a return visit j the fullest support from the district can be expected.