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Fan Reviews - Ticketmaster

Reviews Home > Arts & Theatre > Classical

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The Three BS

Average rating:

4.2

11 of 12(92%)customers would recommend this to a friend.

The Three BS Fan Reviews - Ticketmaster

Review 1 for The Three BS

5 / 5

The Three B's where Amazing

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Acker as it turns out is a bit of a comedian and had everybody laughing. @

Posted 27/07/2009

by Steelhorse

Location: Kent

I brought the tickets for a family friend for his 80th, he has had a bad year and deserved a bit of a treat. After the concert he said to me "We had the time of our lives, we use to dance to Acker & Kenny when we where younger and they where just as good now as they where back then". They also said the Indigo2 was a lovely venue, the staff where very nice and catered for their needs, the lift also made access to their seats easy.
Well Done The Three B's you done yourselves proud .

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Acker as it turns out is a bit of a comedian and had everybody laughing. @

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Review 2 for The Three BS

3 / 5

Chris Barber was the best

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Petit Fleur by Chris Barber @

Posted 25/07/2009

by Japonica

Location: South East

Overall it was a very enjoyable evening out. Indigo2 is a great venue. Acker Bilk was funny between pieces but the playing left a little to be desired. Kenny Ball, although he appeared to be the sprightliest of the three, seemed to stuggle to keep the pitch of the notes sometimes. Chris Barber, although he talked rather quickly and you had to stuggle to get every word, was entertaining and the music was much better than the other two.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Petit Fleur by Chris Barber @

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Review 3 for The Three BS

4 / 5

Good

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Kenny Ball @

Posted 25/07/2009

by jazzfan

Location: Kent

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was an exprience seeing the three groups in one show. It was a pity we had to leave before the end.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Kenny Ball @

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Review 4 for The Three BS

5 / 5

Barber, Bilk & Ball - Amazing

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Stranger on the Shore - Acker Bilk and also Chris Barber's wind section. @

Posted 24/07/2009

by mcc64

Location: Chelmsford

As a clarinet player I have always wanted to see Acker Bilk and he did not disappoint. Wonderful sound and what a lovely man. Stranger on the Shore obviously a highlight of the evening. Did not know so much about Chris Barber but he and his band were a wonderful opening of the show. I was totally in awe of his three clarinet/sax players and the speed with which they changed instrument - I will keep practising. Then finally Kenny Ball and his jazz band - again totally amazing. Three different sounds and a really enjoyable evening, with amazingly talented musicians, (not a sheet of music in sight - unbelievable), a lovely evening with three lovely gentlemen. Also great to have the chance to meet Chris Barber and Kenny Ball who signed copies of their CD in the intervals.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Stranger on the Shore - Acker Bilk and also Chris Barber's wind section. @

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Review 5 for The Three BS

4 / 5

Brilliant 3 "B"s

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Posted 24/07/2009

by AndyR

Barber, Bilk & Ball all in one evening, fantastic.
A real foot-tapping evening of classic jazz. With all the hits they have had over the last 40-50 years the show could have gone on for another 2 hours, but it had to stop sometime.

Would love to see it again, soon!

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

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Review 6 for The Three BS

3 / 5

Three Bs Jazz

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Kenny Ball's band. Particularly when he played 'I Wanna Be Like You'. @

Posted 24/07/2009

by Grahart

Location: Hampshire

I went to trad jazz dances regularly when I was in my late teens and early 20s. Therefore, I was keen to hear the three bands. Chris Barber's band of 10 players including 3 saxophonists, who also played the clarinet when appropriate, really created a big band sound rather than a trad jazz sound. Also, he seemed keen to show off his players with solos for long periods. He was neither big band or trad jazz.

Acker Bilk lost the plot altogether. He has a trad jazz set up but he also seemed keener to show off his musicians as individuals rather than as integrated into the band. For me he only managed to get the trad jazz sound when the band played 'Stars and Stripes'. The essence of trad jazz that I knew and loved was as music to dance to and where the band members mostly played solos for short periods and the players were integrated into the music. Unlike other jazz we tended to applaud at the end of numbers and then show our appreciation of any soloists. In essence I feel that in trad jazz the band sound and playing together is the most important thing. He did tell some good jokes.

Kenny Ball who, when I was younger, I thought played more mainstream jazz than the other two Bs, produced a genuine trad jaz sound and his players played solos that seemed to be integrated into the pieces he played. He managed to provide the band trad jazz sound as well as show the excellent quality of his players. However, none of the bands played some of the really great stomp or rag music that I used to like so much. I have an excellent National Trust Jazz CD with them all playing good trad jazz to some classic numbers. What a shame little of this came across at the concert.

I enjoyed going to the concert to see the great band leaders but I was very disappointed with the programme of music and felt that only Kenny Ball captured the trad jazz approach and the sound. I went expecting to be inspired and to buy a CD. In the event neither happened.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Kenny Ball's band. Particularly when he played 'I Wanna Be Like You'. @

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Review 7 for The Three BS

4 / 5

The Three B's were great

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Posted 24/07/2009

by silvernut

Location: london

Arrived 20 minutes before the start of the show and the staff were very efficient and friendly and showed us to where our seats were.
The three act's were really great and as good as I remember seeing the many years ago.
The format of the show was excellent, but I would have liked to see the three stars together on stage at least once during the show, hence only 4 stars and not 5.
Need more acts like this.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

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Review 8 for The Three BS

5 / 5

3 B's

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Too many to mention. @

Posted 24/07/2009

by boat

Location: London

An evening of excellently entertaining nostalgic jazz, played by virtuosos of their genre.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Too many to mention. @

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Review 9 for The Three BS

5 / 5

3 Bs great variety of good musicianship.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Talking to Chris Barber in the foyer. @

Posted 24/07/2009

by rozzo

Location: Greenwich

Like the format - 2 intervals- & easygoing atmoshere.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Talking to Chris Barber in the foyer. @

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Review 10 for The Three BS

4 / 5

A memorable even bringing back unforgettable music

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Midnight In Moscow @

Posted 24/07/2009

by Wanderer

Location: London

These three band leaders are now of a good age and like all of us it shows a little however their jazz is still great. In a formal concert like this they may not show all the zip and spontaneity that some new young bands would show in a club but they more than make up for it with professionalism, polish, and showmanship. Their bands are made up with some of the top jazz musicians around and the playing, ensemble and solos, is magnificent foot tapping, lets get up and dance, music.

To hear tunes like Midnight in Moscow or Stranger on the Shore by the original artists is a real experience bringing back many happy memories. These three band leaders and their bands will always be held as some of the leading jazz men in the UK. Their bouncy, happy, swinging New Orleans Jazz will always excite.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: Midnight In Moscow @

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Review 11 for The Three BS

4 / 5

The Three B's

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Posted 24/07/2009

by Teako

Location: Victoria

What a fantastic venue the Indigo2 - preffered it to the large O2 venue, much too big.
The Three B's were great, truly professional and what was more amazing is how long each spent on stage, approx 50 mins each! Expected condensed/shortened sessions from them, but was not dissapointed. The only gripe would be that the venue didn't serve drinks throughout the event, only during the breaks, when obviously everyone was queuing. But overall fantastic night out, finished off by a trip on the Clipper boat back to Embankment, brilliant fun.

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

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Review 12 for The Three BS

5 / 5

What an evening!

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: all of it- not a moment which did not capture the attention @

Posted 24/07/2009

by new2jazz

Location: Sussex

The three bands differed in style and content, but the quality never faltered. The band leaders are not in their first flush of youth by any means, and seeing all the silver hair on the stage of Indigo O2 would have brightened the day for all oldies who are worried that the world may think they are past it as soon as they can get their bus passes. The audience was predominantly younger than the musicians, and there were a lot of ageist comments from Chris Barber (suggesting that they could not remember which piece of music was next), Acker Bilk (jokes about memory loss), and Kenny Ball (recalling hits he had in the 60s)- but they were self-deprecating and charming. However, the music blew me away- I had heard all three on the radio in my youth but to see them live and in one venue in one evening was amazing. I hope the Toccata is available on CD, it was breathtaking! Midnight in Moscow, I'm the King of the Swingers, the early trad jazz pieces from New Orleans, the mellow clarinet......Next day, and I am still humming.......

Indigo2 @

- Greenwich @

- Thu 23 Jul 2009 @

Favourite moment: all of it- not a moment which did not capture the attention @

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