LONDON LIGHT MUSIC MEETINGS GROUP

AUTUMN GATHERING
19th October 2025
at the Lancaster Hall Hotel

It was October 19th and time for another feast of light and popular music at the Lancaster Hall Hotel. The attendance was expected to be affected by a very unfavourable weather forecast, but in the event, a number of regulars were unable to come due to health issues or family commitments.

As usual, Tony Clayden opened proceedings with some light music favourites. Firstly, we heard the famous Spike Hughes' arrangement of Oranges and Lemons, which the more mature members of the audience will recall, opened up proceedings on the BBC Light Programme in the 1950s. This was followed by Robert Farnon's En Route – a piece associated with BBC demonstration films. Next, a favourite of mine – Ronald Binge's delightful A Flash of Strings. Then, from the Guild CD 'Musical Kaleidoscope' came another once familiar number called The Jay Walker by Maurice Grew. Tony said he didn't have any details about this composer, but a regular member of our audience – Jan Mentha – believed it to be a pseudonym of Ronald Binge. Tony then concluded his presentation with Montague Phillips' Villagers' Dance from his operetta 'The Rebel Maid'.

Next we welcomed one of our regular presenters, former BBC Producer Anthony Wills, to the stage to talk primarily about Cleo Laine, who died recently at the age of 97. However he also spoke about two other nonegarians, playing examples of their work.

As Johnny Mathis achieved his 90th birthday as recently as 30th September, Anthony played his 1958 recording of A Certain Smile from the film of the same name. This was followed by Wouldn't It Be Loverly [from the film My Fair Lady] by Julie Andrews, who has just reached 90. Julie continued with You and Me by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse, in which she was joined by Robert Preston.

Other performers who have attained the age of 90 are Jack Jones and Frankie Valli. Great Britain's Petula Clark is 92 and still performing!

Anthony then turned the spotlight on Cleo Laine. Johnny Dankworth (subsequently to become her devoted husband) changed her name to fit on his band's posters. Her birth name was Clementina Dinah Bullock! Apparently her vocal range spanned four octaves!

First of all we heard her sing Perdido, in which she was joined by Johnny. Then, together with Elizabeth Welch, she sang Raise a Raucus. Johnny and Cleo were then heard in If Music Be The Food of Love by Michel Legrand. Next, Cleo sang Strictly for the Birds, in a duet with Dudley Moore, who wrote the piece. Finally, in Gershwin's Lady Be Good, Cleo was joined by other artistes.

This concluded Anthony's presentation and we went to tea with one of Tony's favourites –Runaway Rocking Horse, by Edward White, in the original full-length recording.

Fully refreshed, we sat down to listen to the presentation by our special guest, Shima Kobayashi - the very last pupil of the legendary harmonica virtuoso, the late Tommy Reilly.

It opened with a short filmed message of welcome from our good friend, Sigmund Groven, one of the world's greatest exponents of the harmonica and someone who has often travelled from Norway to support our meetings when engagements permit. He apologised for being unable to be present in person this time.

Harmonica archivist, Roger Trobridge, who was also present, spoke about the history and technical details of the Chromatic harmonica and its exponents – such as Larry Adler.

During the course of the presentation, Shima also played several pieces –accompanied at the piano by her husband Andrew Melvin. These included The Sunshine Rag and Age of Innocence, a composition by Tommy Reilly's son, David.

The whole presentation – including film extracts and musical performances-was beautifully executed by Shima. Her deep respect for her mentor Tommy Reilly was evident.

At the end, there was a surprise Zoom call from Sigmund offering his congratulations !

Afterwards, I spoke to Shima about an incident involving Tommy, which she confirmed was true. This related to a performance of a serious work for harmonica accompanied by an orchestra. The strings were struggling with a particular passage and Tommy was having to correct them. Finally, one player lost his temper and said "You are just a mouth-organ player – you don’t understand how difficult this is for a violinist". At this point, Tommy quietly took the player's violin and played the difficult passage with ease!

Following a second and shorter interval, we continued with part three and it was my turn to come to the stage and play some 'Radio Recollections'.
I opened with two items from one of the most popular orchestras from the mid 20th century – Bernard Monshin and his Rio Tango Band – the sparkling Festa Valesta by José Mendoza and Consuela by John Logan. We then turned to the BBC Midland Light Orchestra for a composition by their conductor Jack Coles – Fantan, followed by his arrangement of the standard – A Fine Romance by Jerome Kern.

When Louis Mordish wasn't playing the cinema organ he often broadcast with his 'players', a delightful eight-piece ensemble. We listened to two of the maestro's compositions Can-Can Polka and Spectre on the Spree. I concluded my presentation with another popular broadcasting orchestra from my youth- Raymond Agoult and his Players with their conductor's rumbustious Honouring the Haggis. At this point I vacated the stage in favour of Tony Foster who was to present a big-band feature.

His first two items were from Ted Heath and his music. Opus One –a number originally recorded by Tommy Dorsey, followed by East of the Sun.

We then listened to a Neil Hefti arrangement of The Good Earth, performed by the Woody Herman orchestra and Billy May's arrangement of You're Driving Me Crazy -played by his orchestra.

Tony Foster concluded his programme with the Don Lusher Big Band playing There'll Always Be Another Spring and finally Glenn Miller's Caribbean Clipper from the Syd Lawrence orchestra.

Tony Clayden thanked all the participants for their contributions. It was also hoped that there would be a better attendance on 10th May 2026, when we shall do it all again.

© Brian Reynolds, October 2025

The next LLMMG meeting will take place at the Lancaster Hall Hotel on Sunday 10th May 2026 – All are welcome, please tell your friends !