His Octet And Orchestra - Bill Holman

Advantages: Great music, fantastic value for money and fine performance
Disadvantages: Onepiece with slightly overbearing clarinettist...?

...into this recording both from a musical point of view and also because the discs features various instrumental chamber music ensemble combinations of either septets or octets. The Performers: The Melos Ensemble had a long and illustrious concert and recording career lasting from 1950 to 1974. It was set up by a group of top British orchestral and solo musicians who wanted to bring together a flexible but regular group to play some of the more unusual chamber music repertoire. Founding members were violist Cecil Aronowitz, clarinetist Gervase de Peyer, flautist Richard Adeney, and cellist Terence Weil - all ofwhom apart from Mr Adeney appear on these CDs. The musicians enjoyed major careers in their own rights - with for example Gervase de Peyer being the principal clarinettist of the London Symphony Orchestra for many years and other members... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: great big band music
Disadvantages: none

...The Glenn Miller Orchestra UK was founded by Ray McVay in the 80's . This was done after talks with the Glenn Miller Estate, who had listened to many of Ray McVay's tracks. Who is Ray McVay? Ray McVay was born in the late 30's in Scotland. He became a professional musician at the tender age of 13 as a rocking sax player. In the 50's he became a music director for many big names such as Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Conway Twitty and Billy Fury. As Rays name got bigger and better known in the music industry, and fronted his own show band known as the Ray McVay Orchestra. He started to play for the Mecca Organization playing around the country before headlining at Mecca's big venue, the Lyceum Ballroom in London's west end.. Ray McVay then became a household name in the UK when he was featured on the TV... Read review

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Advantages: N/A
Disadvantages: N/A

...I would like to make some comments to Lucifer regarding his review that I read the other day (ref. Lucifer-sun-of-the-morning, 12 February 2006). Lucifer, With a name like ‘The Guitar Orchestra’, intelligence would tell anyone with an ounce of it that this is an album concentrating on the use of guitars, and with the exception of percussion, that is exactly what it achieves. Nowhere do the credits say ‘Chris Baylis and the Guitar Orchestra’, nor is he calling himself an orchestra – the guitars are the orchestra (there’s a clue in the name if this is confusing). He merely plays the guitars that make up this orchestra. Furthermore, the album is dedicated to the memory of Leo Fender, NOT the Bamboo Man. If criticisms must be made, at least get the facts straight. To say this is self-indulgent is correct – how else would a serious... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic