You may have heard of karaoke, but Bandaoke?

Apollo Big Band Bandaoke

Sutton Hall, Stockcross

on Friday, November 1

Review by KEV DYSON

YOU may have heard of karaoke, but ‘Bandaoke’?

This ‘compelling phenomenon’ involved five local singers who had proclaimed they would like to sing with a big band.

Sutton Hall was packed out and Apollo musicians assembled in their ranks and opened with Strike Up The Band – a well-rehearsed, tight performance with great dynamics.

Apollo’s Les Bruce introduced our MC for the show as none other than Kennet Radio presenter Martin Dixon, whose background as singer of two local bands – Quartz and Uptown Traffic – stood him in good stead for this role and he became the first of the guest vocalists to sing Sinatra’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin.

Tonight’s show interspersed each singer’s three songs with band instrumentals.

Kerry Smith, who sings with Midwest Big Band from Swindon, was next, singing songs from the 1930s era; Summertime and Lullaby Of Broadway.

Maia Hendrickx then sang Nina Simone’s Feelin’ Good and a great adaptation of Carole King’s Natural Woman. I’d heard that Maia didn’t have a chance to rehearse her songs with Apollo, but her performance was faultless!

Apollo followed with instrumentals Hot Toddy, featuring a great ‘animated’ baritone sax solo from Lorna Mountford and Emily, with Diane Prince’s poignant trombone solo.

Nick Gow next, with his excellent rendition of Bobby Daren’s Beyond The Sea stirring musical memories. (congratulations to Apollo’s drummer Nick Tipper for his very authentic fills as on the original recording).

Martin introduced Danielle Killick who sang Get Happy with great presence and her vocal was certainly ‘on point’.

Apollo began the second set and Martin returned with Sinatra’s New York New York.

Danielle’s final two songs, Valerie and Shirley Bassey’s Big Spender were performances of the night for me.

Maia followed with Halleluja I Love Her So, sung extremely well and Nick concluded with Bublé’s Moondance and Feelin’ Good.

The last two vocals of the evening were Blue Moon from Kerry and Martin’s Bad Bad Leeroy Brown.

I would say all who sang with the Apollo Big Band and everybody else watching at the gig really enjoyed this unique evening.

Perhaps ‘Bandaoke’ might become an Apollo annual event?

Congratulations to all who performed.