Dankworth tribute is worth a million dollars

Feb 3 2011 All That Jazz With Tony White, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

THERE is a rare opportunity this weekend to hear, in its entirety, a suite written by one of Britain's greatest jazzmen, the late Sir John Dankworth.

His Million Dollar Collection is not very often performed in its complete form but on Sunday, Alec Dankworth will bring the Million Dollar Big Band to Berkhamsted's Civic Centre for Berkhamsted Jazz.

The suite was inspired by the works of a collection of famous artists, including Modigliani, Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso and

Hogarth and, unlike in his previous suites What the Dickens and Zodiac Variations, Sir John used 12-tone writing in parts of the work.

Among the players in the Million Dollar Big Band are Henry Lowther, Sammy Maine, Tim Garland, Julian Siegal, Robin Aspland, and Jim Hart, in addition of course to Alec himself.

Other music associated with Sir John will be featured, too, along with part of the requiem Why Cry?, written by Berkhamsted Jazz president Michael Garrick and recorded with Dankworth for the Open University.

At other local venues, a game of catch-up is being played. Musicians booked during the period just prior to Christmas when snow brought the country to a near standstill, will be hoping for a clear run this time.

They include Gary Potter's Hot Club with Jack Emblow appearing at the Royal British Legion for Marlow Jazz Club on Tuesday, February 8, and John Barnes booked for Merlin's Cave, in Chalfont St Giles, on February 27.

Jazz diary

**Jazz in the Barn, Merlin's Cave, Chalfont St Giles, Sundays, 12.15-2.30pm. The Peter Hughes Trio with guests: February 6, Mike Piggot; February 13, Alex Garnett; February 20, Steve Fishwick; February 27, John Barnes.

**Red Lion, Bradenham Village, High Wycombe. Sunday, February 6, Vasilis Xenopoulos with the Bobby Orr Trio.

**Berkhamsted Jazz. Civic Centre. Sunday February 6, Tribute to Sir John Dankworth, with Alec Dankworth's The Million Dollar Big Band.

**Dinner Jazz at Va' Pensiero, Beaconsfield. Monday, February 7, Eriko Ishihara with Colin Oxley and Simon Thorpe; Monday, February 21, John Etheridge, Ben Castle and Alec Dankworth.

**Marlow Jazz Club, Royal British Legion, Marlow. Tuesday, February 8, Gary Potter's Hot Club with Jack Emblow.

**Royal British Legion, Marlow. Thursday, February 24, The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Big Band.