Taken from the 1976 Regis Records album "Big Band Swing" (DROY5001). Garry Allcock started his long career on the drum stool in the mid 1950s and spent the next two decades working regularly with bands of all kinds on the Mecca and Rank ballroom circuits at every venue within easy reach of Birmingham. As well as featuring in many recording sessions and radio broadcast bands, Garry also secured regular appointments for TV work at the BBC Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham. During this time, Garry got to know all of the best players in the Midlands, many of whom would be doing sessions during the day, but wouldn't have any work lined up with regular bands for the evenings. A gap in the market for a top-line big band was apparent and the 'All-Stars' were formed in 1974. Low key gigs quickly turned into top-line appearances and over the years, right up to the present day, the All Stars have enjoyed a series of high profile residences and engagements, such as work aboard the QE2 and other Cunard cruise liners. The strong regional association remains, and the All Stars featured in the festival marking the re-opening of Birmingham town hall in July 2008. Thoughts of recording an album came about in 1975 while Garry was compere of a jazz festival in Northamptonshire. The promoter had connections with Regis records and agreed to front up the cash for the sessions and an album that remains the only LP to be recorded by the All Stars throughout their long history. Sadly, Garry has always been a little disappointed by the mix of the LP undertaken by Radio DJ Brian Matthew. He recalls that Norwegian Wood featured in the contemporary set of his long-time hero Buddy Rich. The arrangement featured here came courtesy of Jack Dabbs, producer of the Radio Two Big Band Special show. When the band were in London recording for the show, Jack would let Garry take a rummage through the book of arrangements specially commissioned for the show, and on one occasion he was lucky enough to take home the score for the beautifully laid back rendition that features on this compilation. |
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