Sunday Serenade with popular melodies of the 1930s and 40s in Melksham

Melksham United Church invites you to relax and listen to a selection of popular music from the swing era, including the classics ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’, ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ‘I Got Rhythm’ on Sunday 16th March at 3.00pm.

Broadway shows and Hollywood movies provided opportunities for talented composers like George Gershwin and Cole Porter to show just how appealing and enduring popular music could be.

These are the tunes that helped make the stars of the time – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole – and are still popular with performers today.   Music that is easy on the ear and keeps your feet tapping will be performed by Jane Francis, Peter Cook and Bob Jones.

Bob Jones is very well-known in the area as conductor of the popular Chippenham Male Voice Choir and as a jazz musician, both with the 4+1 jazz group and as a busy soloist.   Swing, dance and jazz music are Bob’s passions and he will be bringing his clarinet and saxophones to Melksham.

Peter Cook is a retired school music specialist.  He writes and arranges music for various choirs and also the Keevil Drama Group for their latest production.  He was the invaluable accompanist for the Devizes U3A Choir and for a number of years regularly performed duets with fellow pianist Henk Meijer, both at the United Church and Rachel Fowler Centre.  He has more recently teamed up with Bob and Jane.

Jane Francis met Peter through U3A and for the past three years she has joined Henk and Peter for their Melksham concerts.  Jane has been singing with Bob for many years and is delighted to have introduced him to Peter.   Jane said, “To be on the same stage with Bob and Peter is a real joy; there is a great musical chemistry between them.”

The organisers invite you to please come along and enjoy the music and have a Sunday afternoon treat – including tea and cakes!