The Boys and all that jazz

The London Jazz Festival in November had some "big guns" performing, including Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, Herbie Hancock and Courtney Pine. But top of the bill were undoubtedly Laurel and Hardy! Let me explain. . . The Barbican was one of many venues being used for the week-long celebration and on Saturday 15th November, Stan and Ollie were on screen in three silent films, Sugar Daddies, Double Whoopee and Wrong Again. Now "silent" isn't quite the correct word on this occasion, for the films were accompanied by a nine-piece jazz group, Millennial Territory Orchestra (fortunately shortened to MTO) and led by ace trumpet player and composer, Steven Bernstein. The New York based band are all very accomplished musicians and their lively interpretation of Bernstein's score to the three Laurel and Hardy films has already caused quite a stir for American audiences. Now it was the opportunity for a UK audience to see what the fuss was about. In front of a packed audience, including a large number of children (and, as far as I could see, about a dozen Sons from The Live Ghost and Saps at Sea Tents), MTO added a new dimension to the comedy. What a performance and how wonderful to hear the laughter of several hundred people enjoying Laurel and Hardy silent films again. Roger Robinson Steven Bernstein