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Review by Jim Kennedy
Copyright: Encore Magazine : The Light Entertainment Magazine for the Theatre Professional
Eccentric
Rhythmical Brilliance
I knew it was to be something special half way down
London's Argyll Street, on route to the Palladium a classic American car with a ghetto-blaster fastened to the roof and
parked right outside the main entrance to the world famous theatre, blared out Big Band Swing, setting the mood for the crowds
that were gathering for the evening performance whilst extras kitted out in the clothing of this special musical era, happily
mixed and mingled.
And if that scene setting cameo was to prove a hard act to follow, no one had told the band
on show. Fronted by one of the UK's top (female) musical directors, DEBBIE CURTIS, her RADIO BIG BAND roared into their
opening number - 'Hawaii 50' - with power and precision. Miss Curtis, however, takes some quite getting used to for
her approach appears somewhat impulsive and spontaneous - even, it must be said, a trifle zany. She uses the full area of
the stage, striding imperiously and conducting the orchestra by waving her arms around like a windmill in a gale. Her blonde
locks cascade to her waist and she chatters away, inaudibly at time... even once admonishing one of the sax section for not
paying attention to her spoken word. 'What did I just say?' she bellows at the unsuspecting musician. He looks suitably
embarrassed but the moment passes in roars of laughter and it is obvious that the whole ensemble love her to bits. And before
long, we do too. Pure camp...and how we respond!
The HOBSONS CHOICE DANCERS come on and off stage whenever a band
arrangement induces a jive and the afore-mentioned RE-ENACTORS, showing off the wardrobe of the post war times, wander on
and off willy-nilly, disconcertingly at first until you get used to it but, through it all, the band swing like crazy, carried
away by the sheer joy of it all. Some wonderful arrangements including 'In the Mood', 'Heart & Soul',
'Brazillia' and 'Peanut Vendor' and including great solos from the brilliant GEOFF EALES (Piano), MARTIN SHAW
(Trumpet), LEE HALLAM (Trombone), EDDIE MORDUE (Sax) and a quite superb drum sequence from stick man, BOB HOWARD.
Two guest vocalists contribute a great deal to the presentation - Scotland's IAIN EWING and, particularly, Norwegian
star COREY CONRADI, whose velvet voice was joy to listen to. The fact that he looks good and tap dances a dream is quite incidental.
But make no bones about it, this is some Big Band, featuring a powerful rhythm section, fluid saxes, driving trombones
and a crisp trumpet ensemble that make the rafters ring. A band that swing in tight precision and led by a brilliant but mildly
eccentric front lady that truly knows her business, both musically and in the art of entertaining an audience. Big Band fans,
take note... this is a class outfit with a capital C, playing a style of musical entertainment that will certainly put a lot
of bums on a lot of seats in the years ahead. I can't wait to see (and hear) them again.
Other Big Bands Beware!
Jim Kennedy
Encore Magazine
Encore Website www.encoreextra.com
London Palladium 2008 Comments Add your own comment with the form at the
bottom of this page.
Debbie Curtis -
MD & Vocals
Corey (Kare) Conradi - Featured Vocalist
Iain Ewing - Band Vocalist
Piano: Geoff Eales,
Bass: Andre Messender, Drums: Bob Howard, Guitar: Hans Mathisen,
Trumpets: Bob Cutting, Martin Shaw, Mark White, Mike
Nickel,
Trombones: Lee Hallam, Dave Pearce, Keith Hutton, Robin Turner,
Saxes: Loren Hignell, Scott Garland, Eddie
Mordue, Paul Jones, Ronnie Mackie
Dancers & Re-Enactors: Colin White, Amanda Jones, Iain Dawson, Laura Strecker,
John Brighton, Mickey Barr, Richard Owen, Rob Osborn, Lyn Osborn, Steve Wooder, John Turner, Ziggie Ward, Chloe Gratter, Daisy
Fosater, John Scoines, Sharon Scoines, Derek Webber, Victoria Hunt, Charlotte Robbins.
For Corey Conradi: Andre
Danielsen
DCRBB Crew & Management: Nigel Ward, Alan Mileham, Phil Galligan, Andrew Galligan, Patrick Coulson,
Jonathan Hilder, Bob Broeder, Roger Smith, Andrew Brown. Principal Palladium Crew: David Draude, Robert Evans, David Beckham
Debbie such energy! It was fantastic. Gosh Eddie would have
been proud of you. Oh what memories it brought back. Tony Rundle also greatly impressed. Our love to you, Peter and Eileen Moreton
Well, we
did make it to the Palladium: The band was great, and it was an unexpected bonus that Ian was there too. Keep it up, and we
look forward to seeing you again before too long. Thank You.
David Hutton
Hello debbie and your fantasic band!
thanks for a very enjoyable evening
- much laughter and top fun. Great drum solo and Iain Ewing was a fantastic singer. Keep up the energy and the wackyness.
From Conrad, Emma, Linda and Neil x
Swinging the Blues!
I never felt more like swinging the blues, I never thought, I'd ever lose
those feelings, Why'd you do me this way? I never felt more like jiving all night, Nothing is wrong, everything's right - with you, You got me Swinging
the Blues! The
moon and stars come out to shine, The love is back I knew was mine, Nothing left for me to do - But smile, smile, smile, smile over you. I never felt more like
coming out to play, Why should I go? I wanna stay, beside you, You got me Swinging the Blues!
(With grateful thanks to Debbie Curtis and
the Radio Big Band and apologies to Tommy Steele!)
Hey Debbie
You Guys Really Rock!!!! Sorry Swing
B____y
Brilliant, Do It Again, Do It Again!!!
Im still jiving in the memory of the best gig I've been to in years!!!
Terry Gibbons
Excellent night, thank you, Loved Corey, What a Find Debbie, You sure do know how to find them,
I was there last year when your last great find Iain debuted, keep swinging girl! You're the future of swing!
Janet
Harding
"Another FAB night on Sunday at the London Palladium, thanks Debbie! Look forward to seeing you all again
real soon. Linda
xx"
"Hi Debbie.
Great show on Sunday. It was nice to see you perform live for first time. Hopefully we'll
be able to work together in the not-to-distant future. Jamie Frasier www.jamiefrasier.com"
Hello Debbie and Everyone
Loved Corey Conradi, please have him back another time. Great show as you always do although
it gets more exciting every time. Corey had me in stitches with his fake Norwegian accent at the start, brilliant gag,
fooled everyone. Your biggest fan in the world!
Sarah Bartlett
Debbie and to all concerned, thank
you so much for a wonderful evening on Sunday. So great to hear
a big band sound. Anne Greenslade.
Hi there,
I just wanted to thank you so much for the show last Sunday at the London Palladium. Please
send my thanks and my congratulations to Debbie, her Big Band and the dancers as well… that was such a wonderful experience
to be there, everything was fine and the music so powerful. I just wanted to take my hat off to all of you… Best of luck for the
future and many thanks again, Florent Deroullede
We thought the show was fantastic, Well done Debbie Curtis, Well
done Corey Conradi, Well done Iain Ewing, Well done band, Well done dancers, Well done actors. Well done everyone. Brilliant
evening!
Tony
Burness & Jane Cooper
''The Debbie Curtis Big Band performance was unique and fantastic,
the Big band really
is a Big Band, one to watch out for''. Richard Anderson Breakfast Show Presenter Liberty Radio
I just wanted to say we really enjoyed the show on Sunday. We loved
Debbie’s energy and the band was just awesome (and I don’t even like Jazz!!). My partner enjoyed every second
of it and we wanted to thank you for the opportunity. Also, one part of the show which we both thought was great was the dancing
and all the extra “characters”, as it made it the whole show more interesting than if it was just the band playing.
Corey Conradi had a really nice voice and was quite witty.
Please give our thanks to Debbie and wish her good luck with future performances. All the best Morgana Fulcheri
Thanks for another
great night at the palladium. we were there last year, great to see the fabulous geoff on piano, and lovely to hear ian again,
he's a proper crooner. the band really are something special, but you know that!
Kate Shaw
Hi Debbie and Co!
I thought that I would
thank-you for a terrific night at the Palladium – we all really enjoyed the show and shall be followers now! Thank-you again and
enjoy your recovery Anna & Matt Quick
Last nights how at the palladium was the first time i have seen you. It was a terrific
show and my family and i thoroughly enjoyed a great performance. Well done, all of you.
Derek Cottey
Well what a night! Jackie and myself would like to thank you and your Band for
a very enjoyable night at the Palladium.We have now been to 3 of "your nights" and enjoyed them all. Just a pity
that we were not able to see a little more of Ian, he is such a great performer. Anyway thanks. Really great
Steve & Jackie
Summerley
Hi Debbie
My friend Patrick Lunt told me about your concerts... so a group of us came
along to the Palladium last night...and we had an absolutely fabulous evening. Thank you so much for a great evening out. Chris Doggett
Hello Debbie
and band, great idea this comments page, thank you for Sunday, it was amazing, my husband and two children also went and are
now Big Band fans!!! We thought Mr Conradi was very very smooth and clearly very talented. We enjoyed everything about it,
it was so exciting!
Deborah Reynolds
A really big thank you for last night's wonderful performance at The
London Palladium, it was fantastic! Heather & Derek Hollamby
Hi Debbie et al,
Just a quick e-mail to say thank
you so much for a great performance at The London Palladium last night. It was the 1st time we had seen the band live and we were very impressed
with the whole show. We all arrived at 5pm as arranged and managed to dance at the Palladium entrance and hope we
added something to the atmosphere. Thanks again Grahame & Lyn Quigley
Just to thank you for the opportunity to listen to the band last night.
It was wonderful and we really had a great
time. All
of them were excellent performers. Janaki Mahendran
Just to say 'thank you' once again for a very enjoyable evening
at the London Palladium last night. Debbie was great as usual, and the Band sweet, sweet perfection!
Iain sang my kind of songs just the way I like to hear 'em sung! With elan and a dash of professional
flair.
The dancers were super,
but would like to give a special mention to Victoria and James who I spoke to in the bar, and afterwards. Their
own version of 'Lindy Hop' - more true to the '40's style and 'freestyle' interpreting the music as
they went along - was truly inspired. And they asked me to ask Debbie for the chance to dance - some more!
And I am doing so with much pleasure.! As for the inclusion at the opening of the show with line
dancing! Great! All dancing goes well with Debbie's music, but the real stars of the night - were Debbie
and her amazing musicians. What stars! Well done! Best as always, Linda x
A big thank you
for such a wonderful evening!
We’ll certainly be returning again to see the band. Kalok Bonar
I just wanted
to say thank you for last nights show. The band itself was absolutely fantastic, really really amazing.
Kind regards Louise Delany
Good morning
Just a quick e-mail
to say thank you for last nights show at the London Palladium, the drum solo was fantastic. Regards Paul Lomas
Hi Debbie,
I
thought you and the band were brilliant Very best Jackie
Dear Debbie
I had to write to thank you for the opportunity to see your band Sunday night; it was a thoroughly
enjoyable evening. Kind regards Brian Paice
Dear Nigel
Debbie Curtis is a fantastic and energetic entertainer and band leader.
The band is fantastic, the performance very entertaining and we have a very enjoyable evening at the Palladium despite the
weather. Very best regards Mr C
H Kim
Morning,
Just to say thank you
very much -I had a GREAT time. Many thanks, Rachael Willis Fleming
A big thank you for a wonderful show.
James
Great Show, really enjoyed it, Debbie is an amazing character
and the band fantastic. Corey Conradi was superb as was Ian Ewing. We thought the dancers and re-enacters were a great feature
of the concert and can see now why you call it a show, not just a concert. Brilliant night.
John & Georgina Elmwood
Thanks for a fantastic show, I took my daughter and we had a great time (but couldn’t
get tunes out of our heads and we kept singing and humming in the tube on the way home).
Barbara
Dear Debbie
Everybody enjoyed the
show very much. Regards Sally Ainsworth
Hi,
Not long home from the fabulous performance this evening at the London Palladium. Wow what a
night.!!!
Myself and friends want to say a
huge thank you. We will be looking out to see if you have any performances near enough for us to visit again. Regards Sheila Ambrose
Brilliant night at the Palladium. Will be looking out for further performances. Brenda
Really enjoyed the
show. Many thanks. Les Elliott
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