Pasadena Roof Orchestra

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra (commonly abbreviated to PRO) is a contemporary band from England that specialises in the jazz and swing genres of music of the 1920’s and 1930’s, although their full repertoire is considerably wider. The orchestra has existed since 1969, although the line-up has frequently changed. It has achieved success outside of the United Kingdom, most notably in Germany.

Brief history

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra was formed in November 1969 by John Arthy, a baker who moonlighted as a BBC session bass player. Arthy discovered a cache of original musical arrangements dating from the 1920’s in an attic and on the strength of this find decided to form his own band. The name of the band was inspired by Harry Warren’s (Home in) Pasadena. There was a strong revival movement for music of the 1920’s at the time (known as the Trad/Rad movement; other rival bands included The Temperance Seven); however, Arthy moved this new band in a different direction to most of the revivalists: away from humour and towards more serious, dedicated renditions of the music.

The orchestra's first vocalist was John "Pazz" Parry, an old friend of Arthy's (the two had both been members of The Water Rats Jazz Band). With Arthy as Bandleader and also performing on the double bass and sousaphone, the PRO soon grew in popularity.

The orchestra became professional in 1975. Their first LP was recorded in Autumn 1974 and released the following Spring, premiering at the Midem music fair in Cannes. The orchestra followed this by touring West Germany (where the revival movement was incredibly popular) in the Autumn of that year.

The orchestra toured the US in 1993 and 2001 (their 25th Anniversary album cover featured a photo of the band in front of the Ambassador Theatre in Pasadena, California). They have worked with musical luminaries such as Robbie Williams (in 2005) and Bryan Ferry (in 2000).

Although John Arthy retired in 1997, the band continues to tour and record with bandleader and singer Duncan Galloway. In 2009, the orchestra will be touring Great Britain and Germany.

Orchestra members

• John Arthy (founder, double bass, bandleader, sousaphone; 1969–1997)
• Charlie Baker (vocals; 2002)
• Clive Baker (trumpet; c.1976-84)
• John Barron (banjo, guitar; c.1977)
• Malcolm Baxter (trumpet; c.1991-1993)
• Peter Beresford (violin; c.1972-75)
• Barrie Williams (violin; c.1975-1978)
• David Berry (double bass, sousaphone, tuba; c.1998-2002)
• John Bright (banjo; c.1972-75)
• Tom Colbert (piano; 1972)
• Tony Cooke (trumpet; c.1969-75)
• Louise Cookman (vocals; c.2002)
• David Ford (trumpet; c.1996-2002)
• Robert Fowler (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet; c.1987-1998)
• Duncan Galloway (vocals; 1988-1994 and 2002–present)
• Keith Gemmell (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, vocals, arranger; c.1983-1997)
• Josephine Gurr (clarinet, alto saxophone; 1969-72)
• Dan Hammerton (trumpet; c.1996-2002)
• Michael Henry (trumpet, cornet, flugel horn; 1978-1990)
• Michael Holmes (vocals, piano; c.1987-1991)
• Bob Hunt (trombone; c.1977 and 1988)
• Ken Hughes (alto saxophone; c.1972-75)
• Stan Ivision (piano; c.1974)
• Paul Jones (alto saxophone, clarinet; c.2002)
• Derek Jones (drums; c.1974)
• Andrew Kuc (banjo, guitar; c.1999–2002)
• Sean Moyses (banjo, guitar; c.1990)
• James Langton (vocals, musical direction, production, bandleader; 1996-2002)
• Chris Macdonald (clarinet, tenor saxophone; arranger; 1969-74)
• David Manning (trumpet; c.1974)
• Robin Merrill (vocals; 1979–1988)
• John "Pazz" Parry (vocalist; 1969-1976 at least)
• Clive Payne (tenor saxophone; c.1974)
• Nik Payton (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet; c.1998-2002)
• James Pearson (piano; 2002)
• Dave Price (banjo; c.1969-71)
• Andy Pummel (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, penny whistle, arranger; c.1972-1996)
• Bob Renvoize (trombone,arranger; c.1972-1987)
• Graham Roberts (tenor banjo, guitar; c.1991-1998)
• Albert Sadler (banjo; c.1972-75)
• James Scannell (alto saxophone, clarinet; 1997-2001)
• Stephen Shaw, (vocal trio, trombone; c.1989-2002)
• Jake Spalding (trumpet; 1969-73)
• John Sutton (drums, bandleader; c.1985–2005)
• Enrico Tomasso(trumpet, cornet, flugel horn, vocals; c.1987-1993)
• Simon Townley (piano, arranger, bandleader; 1992–present)
• Barry Tyler (percussion/drums c.1970)
• Peter Warren (banjo, guitar; c.1989)
• Oliver Wilby (tenor saxophone, clarinet; c.2002)

Discography

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra

• The Pasadena Roof Orchestra (Transatlantic; 1974)
• Good News (Transatlantic; 1975)
• On Tour (1975; live album recorded in Germany)
• A Talking Picture (Transatlantic; 1978)
• Anthology (Transatlantic; 1978)
• Isn't It Romantic(Transatlantic; 1976)
• Show Must Go On (?)
• Happy Feet (Pasadena Records, 1987; CD PRO 1)
• ...Steppin' Out (Pasadena Records, 1989; CD PRO 2; live album recorded in England
• 42nd Street (1990)
• Breakaway (Pasadena Records, 1991; CD PRO 3)
• The Collection (Castle Music UK; 1992)
• 25th Anniversary Album (Pasadena Records, 1993; CD PRO 4)
• Rhythm is our Business (Pasadena Records, 1996; CD PRO 5)
• The Best of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra: Lullaby of Broadway (Castle/Pulse, 1997)
• Home in Pasadena: Very Best of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra (Castle/Pulse, 1998)
• Swing That Music! (Pasadena Records, 1998; CD PRO ?)
• 30th Anniversary (Pasadena Records, 2001)
• Here & Now (Pasadena Records, 2002; CD PRO 7)
• Roots of Swing (Pasadena Records, 2008; CD PRO 8)

Singles

• Pennies from Heaven/Back in Your Own Backyard (1978; 7" single)
• Paddlin' Madeline Home/Nagasaki (Island; 7" single)
• Me and Jane in a Plane/Pasadena (Transatlantic; 7" single)
• Looney Tunes/Nobody's Sweetheart (Reward Records; 7" single)

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra and The Swing Sisters

• Take Me Back (Emporio 627, 1993)
• Sentimental Journey (MCI, 1993)

DVD releases

In 2003 the Pasadena Roof Orchestra released a DVD of the 30th Anniversary live concert at Regent’s Park, London, with guests. This DVD is only available in Region 2 format.

This DVD is the first ever release to feature a double sided DVD which plays in glorious colour and digital stereo on one side, and the flip side plays in vintage Sepia-tone, with authentic Phonograph style mono audio.

In August 2005 another DVD, Dance the Night Away appeared, but only in Region 1 format. This DVD was not sanctioned by the orchestra and was recorded from a 1979 German TV show.

Trivia

• The PRO has worked on the soundtracks of several films, including The Comedian Harmonists (1997) (although many sites claim all the music in this movie was original 1930’s recordings, this is not true) and Just a Gigolo (1979) with David Bowie and Marlene Dietrich.

• On October 1, 1975, the PRO appeared on the first episode of the second season of Twiggy, a BBC2 variety show hosted by the model Twiggy, with whom they performed Everything Stops for Tea.

• In the 1990’s, the orchestra appeared in two six-part BBC Radio 2 half-hour comedy series. The premise was that the orchestra played themselves, despite the series being set in the 1930’s. Each series would feature the band travelling the world and foiling the plans of villains and evil masterminds, always finding the time to play some music too. Duncan Galloway took the fore, supported by traditional British radio actors and comedians such as June Whitfield and Roy Hudd.

Quotations

• "It is said that if some Pasadena Roof Orchestra tunes are floating past her window, the Queen is not displeased." The Daily Telegraph
• "For the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, I have nothing but praise, they brilliantly evoked an array of 20’s and 30’s musical styles." The Sunday Telegraph

See also

• The Temperance Seven
• The Swing Sisters

External links

• Pasadena Roof Orchestra official website