Don Burrows Swings – A Golden Night to Remember

Andrew Mott, Director of Music

There are some enduring memories of last Friday’s BHS Golden Jubilee Cabaret, featuring the great Don Burrows.

A particularly special one for me is looking over from the trumpet section and casting an eye to the five saxes in the front row of the Alumni Big Band.

Don Burrows was mid-solo on clarinet, eyes tightly shut, immersed in the groove of the fine rhythm section behind him. And to his left, were five pro. reed players all beaming at him openly, in respect for this great musician as he took musical flight. Pure unfettered admiration.

And the admiring glances were returned by Don, as soloists like Shannon Barnett (Class of 2000), Eugene Ball (1988), Greg Clarkson (1984), Savannah Blount (2003) and Andy O’Connell (1987 / staff) launched into some hot solo choruses.

This was a celebration on a grand scale for Blackburn High School’s Golden Jubilee year, through the medium of music. Something which has figured very prominently in the school’s history since 1974.

And it was a blockbuster night of swinging jazz in a marvellous venue, a stellar guest artist with a salute to the past and the present of BHS, by featuring some of our outstanding current students, the Senior Stage Band, and a nod to the excellence of the past, the Alumni Big Band, (formed from past students who have gone on to pursue professional music).

Upon entering the hall, one was struck by the magnificent ambience of ‘The Centre’, Ivanhoe. A heritage listed Art Deco hall stunningly restored, with concealed lighting and set with 45 candle-lit round tables.

Longtime television MC and announcer, Tony Charlton, set the tone of the night. The curtain parted to reveal the Senior Stage Band strike up ‘In the Mood’ and two fantastic jitterbug dancers took to the floor in all their period gear. From that point, the floor was constantly filled with dancers of all ages kicking up their heels.

Both Henrik Beasy and Lachlan O’Kane slayed the audience with some vocal antics out the front of the stage band. The auditorium was roaring for more at the conclusion of their duo act on ‘Me and My Shadow’. A fitting number since both the boys have led parallel musical careers since their days at Laburnum Primary. And there were some truly great solos from around the band.

Don then came onstage as 450 people fell immediately and completely silent as he performed a rich clarinet feature on the ballad, ‘You’ve Changed’.

He is about to turn 78, yet and is still able to produce his incredible magic and exude this amazing honey-like tone on clarinet.

The band excelled themselves in front of the hugely responsive crowd of jazz fans, dancers, musicians, and many in music-related fields.

At about 9:45pm Tony Charlton came on microphone again to recount a brief biographical outline of the great clarinettist, Benny Goodman.

On cue, a seventy year-old recording of the Goodman Orchestra playing their theme song ‘Let’s Dance’ came over the house system, and from behind the curtain, the Alumni Big Band, segued into the recording, playing from the original parts. As curtains parted, the band crescendo-ed into full groove, Don Burrows covering the original Goodman clarinet line.

For the next hour, Don and the band swung through over a dozen authentic numbers from the ‘30s and’40s, many of which have not seen the light of day for some sixty-plus years. Needless to say, the dance floor was filled to capacity.

Behind the band, huge photos of legendary jazz musicians from the era, were projected. (Thanks to Damien Weatherley for his preparations here.) The set then wound up with the jungle-like groove of ‘Sing Sing Sing’, featuring guest drummer, Peter Blick.

During desserts, former BHS parent and professional auctioneer, Kevin Rafferty (of Woodard’s Blackburn) conducted an auction of prizes which helped raise funds for the night.

Then the Alumni Band swung into gear again for the closing set with plenty of Basie charts and some more features with Don Burrows.