{"id":8438,"date":"2017-12-14T10:52:28","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T10:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=8438"},"modified":"2017-12-14T11:00:52","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T11:00:52","slug":"the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2017\/12\/14\/the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"The most wonderful time of the year…"},"content":{"rendered":"

And so our music-making this term came to a festive conclusion last night, in the company of the University Big Band<\/strong>, directed by Ian Swatman.\"\"<\/a>The annual Christmas Swingalong<\/em> always draws a packed crowd, and last night was no exception, audience spilling out onto the balcony around the hall to enjoy a lively seasonal programme with jazz-infused takes on traditional repertoire. Third-year singer Dottie Grenfell<\/strong> joined the band for renditions including The Man With The Bag<\/em> and Santa Baby<\/em>; the Brass Band provided the accompaniment for communal carols to the give the Big Band a breather, and the event came to a conclusion with Dottie leading everyone in White Christmas<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>The enthusiastic audience flooded out into the foyer afterwards to the strains of a jazz trio with pianist and alumnus Chris Manley<\/strong> (a neat touch). Congratulations to everyone involved, the foyer was buzzing afterwards (nothing to do with the mulled wine and mince pies, of course…) and Colyer-Fergusson was brimful of Christmas cheer.<\/p>\n