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The Pasadena Roof Orchestra | |
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| Also known as | PRO |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Jazz,ragtime,blues,swing and (to a lesser extent)big band |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Currently Pasadena Records, originallyTransatlantic |
| Website | www.pasadena.co.uk |
ThePasadena Roof Orchestra (PRO) is a contemporary band from England that specialises in thejazz andswing genres of music of the 1920s and 1930s, although their full repertoire is considerably wider.[1] The orchestra has existed since 1969, although the line-up has frequently changed. It has achieved success outside the United Kingdom, most notably in Germany.
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra was so named in November 1969 by John Arthy, a baker who played the double bass and sousaphone,[1] and who had taken over the Creole Dance Orchestra (first formed in 1965) in which he played bass and sousaphone, from Chris Macdonald, its founder. Arthy purchased a cache of original musical arrangements dating from the 1920s stored in the attic of a lady in Manchester, and the strength of this find reinvigorated the flagging fortunes of the earlier band. The new name of the band was inspired byHarry Warren's "Home in Pasadena". There had been a strong revival movement for music of the 1920s in the late 1950s and early 1960s (known as the Trad movement – bands includedThe Temperance Seven); however, Arthy continued to move this band in a different direction to most of the revivalists, away from humour and towards more serious, dedicated renditions of the music.[1]
The orchestra's first vocalist was John "Pazz" Parry, an old friend of Arthy's (the two had both been members of the Creole Dance Orchestra from 1965). With the injection of the new arrangements, Arthy as Bandleader, also performing on the double bass andsousaphone, the PRO soon grew in popularity.
The orchestra became professional in 1975. Their firstLP for Transatlantic was recorded in August 1974 and released in December of that year, premiering at theMidem music fair inCannes in 1975. The orchestra followed this by touringWest Germany (where the revival movement was incredibly popular) in the Autumn of that year.
The orchestra toured the United States in 1993 and 2001 (their 25th Anniversary album cover featured a photo of the band in front of theSanta Fe train station inPasadena, California).
They have worked with musicians includingRobbie Williams (in 2005) andBryan Ferry (in 2000).
Although John Arthy retired in 1997, the band continues to tour extensively and record with bandleader and singerDuncan Galloway. In 2009, the orchestra toured Great Britain and Germany.
Whilst literally hundreds of the UK's finest jazz musicians have on occasion performed with the Orchestra, this is a timeline of the regular members.
In 2003 the Pasadena Roof Orchestra released a DVD of the 30th Anniversary live concert atRegent's Park, London, with guests. This DVD is only available in Region 2 format.
This DVD is the first release to feature a double sided DVD which plays in colour and digital stereo on one side and in sepia-toned monochrome, with Phonograph style mono audio, on the other.
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.
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