FOR THE DANCE BAND LISTENER

New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 264, 14 July 1944, Page 13

FOR THE DANCE BAND LISTENER

HE listener for whom life only begins to be interesting when dance music comes on the air, may have noticed some changes in’ the studio dance sessions of the YA stations. For instance, that there is now a regular studio dance band’ playing in each centre, providing a compered session’ that is not to be confused with the ordinary relay from a dance hall of an existing band. The four: sessions now being heard are not all new — 1YA’s "Fashions in Melody" session has. not been altered; nor has 4YA’s "Melody Cruise" (Leader; Dick Colvin), beyond the recent addition of the vocalist Martha Maharey, who has. been off the air for some time. But two new compered sessions are now on the air.

At 2YA "Symphony Moderne," with a 13-piece band under Newton Ross, will be heard at 8 p.m. on Thursdays. It began on Thursday, June 29. It is a newly-assembled band, and _ includes four strings, Featured soloists are the singer, June West, and the pianist, Frank Robbins, Cedric Gardiner is the compere. A new programme has just begun on 3YA, too-Martin Winiata and his Music, each Tuesday evening. This band, of 11 pieces, has been picked from leading Christchurch: musicians, and two soloists are featured with it, the pianist, Allen Wellbrock, and the vocalist, Coral Cummins. This ensemble will concentrate on "sweet"

music as distinct from swing: Its leader, Martin Winiata, came originally from Levin. He plays saxophone and clarinet sometimes both at once, to amuse the audience-and makes his own arrangements. Another new dance programme is 2YA’s half-hour relay from the Majestic Cabaret at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays, when Cliff Jones presents his "Tune Parade" a programme in strict dance tempo, featuring the singer Lolita, and two pianists, Jack-Thompson and Allan Shand. The photographs of June West and Cliff Jones are by Spencer Digby.