Pasadena Roof Orchestra
January 22, 2008
Leeds Town Hall was transformed into a vision of the 1920s and 30s by the irrepressible charms of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Specialising in pre war dance band music the band appear in their trademark dicky-bows and tuxedos with orchestra leader Duncan Galloway in rather dapper black tails.
They kick off with a Duke Ellington number (Double Check Stomp?) and while Duncan admits he can’t dance he does put in a nice bit of scat for good measure. Speaking of dance, Irving Berlin’s Change Partners follows, made famous by Fred Astaire, a cheeky tale of romantic rivalry.
An even looser take on relationships appears in Berlin’s No Strings, No Connections, allowing Stephen Shaw to display his prowess on trombone. The crooning continues with a number always associated with Bing Crosby, Some Day, Sweetheart, before upping the tempo with a wild rendition of Sydney Bechet’s Polka Dot Rag. Read more