Big Band Music – “The Escorts” of Central Florida are a great band!

Got together with my friend Willa of Witch and Wizard last night, at Holly & Dolly’s, our favorite watering hole.  There was a great “Big Band” playing — “The Escorts.”  They drew a huge, very enthusiastic crowd and everyone had a lot of fun!

I mention it because I know there are lots of other Goths out there who, like me, really enjoy the Big Band sound and the music of the 30s and 40s, particularly.  The Escorts played Glenn Miller, a McGuire Sisters number (with reference to Arthur Godfrey, who discovered them), “New York, New York,” and at our request played “Moonlight Serenade” and a medley that included “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me” (one of my favorite WWII tunes and particularly poignant with everything that’s going on in Iraq.  They also played Tony Orlando’s “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” earlier in the evening).  They closed the evening with a Dixieland number that brought the house down.  Couples were up jitterbugging, people were singing along, and one overenthusiastic lady kept shouting her request for “Torpedo Junction” (and kept shouting it, even though several of us tried to correct her and let her know that what she wanted was “Tuxedo Junction”).

The band members are all tremendously endearing, and their soloists are quite something! They have a woman playing sax and another on the keyboard; most of them are well over 50 and one member is a WWII vet who has been married for 61 years — both of which drew tremendous applause and cheers from the audience.  The bandleader delighted in making corny jokes, and when he moved from a 40s number to a 50s rock and roll piece, his comment was, “from the sublime, to the silly.”  He said they were very happy to be at Holly & Dolly’s that night.  “But then, at our age, we’re happy to be anywhere!”  That old chestnut got such a laugh that he threw in “Take my wife — please!” for good measure.  I think that was his dryly witty way of commenting on how old the first joke was!

The Escorts unfortunately no longer have a website, but I spoke to the bandleader and got their phone number if anyone from the central Florida area would like to book them.  They were a big hit, and drew a huge crowd, so particularly if you own a venue I highly recommend you book them for a gig.  The leader’s name is George Skeet and his number is 407-239-1521.  Tell him I sent you.

BB,

Vivienne

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