ARTICLE: THE BRITISH CONCERTS - UK PROGRAM TOUR 1981
- THE BRITISH CONCERTS -
We in Britain have long since taken James Last and his music to our hearts. For anyone fortunate enough to have caught at least one previous concert appearance by Last and his cream-of-the-crop musicians in this country - and it most certainly might well be you, dear programme reader! - there is no need of a reminder of just how potent the Last Sound can be... and at anytime, anyplace. It is indeed a sobering thought that it is now over 10 years ago he first toured this country. The response to that inaugural meeting was phenomenal - and, of course, nothing has changed since then.
Thankfully, James has been a more or less regular visitor to these shores. And on each successive trip the personal charisma of the man has been well-and-truly matched by the irresistible force of his music. All of which has combined to attract the keenest attention of another large number of newcomers to the already impressive total of the well-established fans.
James Last fans, let it be added, tend to be really special fans. They aren't fickle or picky. Once they get the Last message, they're sold - for life, most of 'em will not doubt agree! Which is absolutely right. For the music of James Last is substantial, in every way. It refuses to be dated. It is like a real musical kaleidoscope. It encompasses practically any kind of musical performance is the antithesis of form you'd care to mention. It steadfastly refuses to be categorised - let's face it, it's surely beyond category.
But whatever the context - be it classical themes, Lehar waltzes, disco favourites, rock'n' rol hits, beach party singalongs or Spanish standards - one thing is unchanging: the music is always the music of James Last and no-one but James Last...
Such is the vastness of his repertoire, that no James Last concert can be guaranteed to be like any one other. An absolutely colossal record-seller, James ensures that an already bulging book is added to at the earliest opportunity. He must surely spend as much time looking for and checking out new material for his magnificent orchestra and splendid singers as most other bandleaders would spend in actual playing and rehearsing. Which is why tonight's predictability. It's impossible to guess as to how many musical forms the concert tonight will cover, let alone trying to work out which individual numbers he'l be featuring! Certainly, though, there will be addition to the repertoire that wil be brand new to British concertgoers.
