The Villages Pop Chorus and The Villages Swing Band took a sentimental journey Monday that stretched from Chattanooga to Broadway. The groups combined for the first time ever during two concerts at North Lake Presbyterian Church.
Bill Davis, director of the chorus, and Jean Butler, director of the Swing Band, helped pull off this unique musical bonding without a hitch. And it was for a good cause as part of the proceeds went to charity.
Logistics were a challenge. The stage was crowded with over 150 people, including the chorus of about 140 singers. Davis said the two groups had only two rehearsals. “We didn’t have much time and there wasn’t much room on stage,” Davis said.
Despite the crowded performance area and little practice time, the chorus and the band fit together as neatly as wine and roses. In fact, they combined to pay tribute to Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer with a cover of their famous and bittersweet song, “The Days of Wine and Roses.”
Somehow, 140 voices and the Swing Band became one.
“This worked because these people care so much about music and work so hard,” Davis said. “It’s a unique experience to play face to face with the Swing Band. Working with Jean Butler is a pleasure. It’s very difficult to find arrangements for the chorus and the band, and she did a lot of work to make it happen.”
Butler praised the cooperation of Davis and the chorus. “We enjoyed doing this and it was a lot of fun.”
It didn’t take long to whisk the audience into a high-flying musical mood. As the chorus members were marching towards the stage, the Swing Band was romping through a rousing version of “Sing, Sing, Sing,” straight out of Benny Goodman.
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Drum man Rich Roeske was pounding away with glory keeping the beat. “It’s a great song but it’s kind of hard marching to it,” said Chorus Member Karen Martin.
Once on stage, the chorus and the band combined for a Sinatra standard, “Come Fly With Me.”
Next up was another big-band foot stomper, “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” that had many of the chorus members shaking and baking on the stage.
It was that way throughout the 90-minute concert. The chorus seemed to pick up the band, and vice-versa. They rocked, they rolled and did just about everything in-between.
They also found time for some poignant and tender numbers. The chorus sounded angelic on “Send In the Clowns,” and “Since I Fell For You.” Davis has a knack for creating a vocal symphony.
Butler’s Swing Band also had its moments. They did justice to the Glenn Miller classic, “In the Mood” and displayed a more contemporary sound on music from the Broadway play and movie hit, “Chicago.” The band truly did swing on Dave Brubeck’s “Take 5.”
Then it was back to Glenn Miller for his famed theme song during the World War II years: “Moonlight Serenade.” The chorus and the band hit elegant and lush notes on the classic American song.
“It brought back so many memories,” said Villager Harriet Lowry. “To hear those songs again makes you want to reminisce. It was a very upbeat show.”
Dan Lydon was impressed by “the talent in the chorus and the band. Sometimes we forget how much talent there is in The Villages. This was a very impressive performance.”
Linda McMahon agreed.
“I like the way the sound of the Swing Band combined with the voices in the chorus,” she said. “It was a great combination and they blended with each other so well.”
The band and chorus saved the best for last. They brought classic Broadway to life with an energetic, “Lullaby of Broadway.”
The concert ended with a patriotic hand-clapping joyous celebration of the music of George M. Cohan. It included: “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Over There” and “You’re A Grand Old Flag.” The audience responded with a standing ovation for a night that proved the Pops Chorus and Swing Band make beautiful music together.