DESCRIPTION:
"Music is like a journey that never ends" ― Dwayne O'Neall
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KEN TURNER
Ken Turner was a British band leader whose name was closely linked to the Empress Orchestra - a dance orchestra playing (mostly) at the famous Blackpool dance festival.
During it's 80 year history, the orchestra was lead by several well known bandleaders, such as Charles Barlow, Irven Tidswell, Norman Newman and Charles Farrell.
Turner lead the Empress Orchestra several years and a number of dance albums were released under the name of "Ken Turner and His Orchestra".
Currently, the orchestra is being lead by Ashley Frohlick who, like his predecessors, tries to stick to the typical "Blackpool ballroom dance sound".

FLAMINGO
Vocalist Herb Jeffries introduced this standard with Duke Ellington's orchestra. By mid-1941 it had taken off in the hit parade and rose to #11.
Jeffries tells the tale of how, one night in 1940 while performing with the Duke Ellington band at the Pearl Theater in Philadelphia, a stranger approached him.
Jeffries recalls : "I was going out for dinner and this little guy stops me at the stage door. He says, in a French accent, 'Monsieur Jeffries, I am Ted Grouya. The doorman would not let me in. Please, show my song to Monsieur Ellington.' I said, `All right,' and I put his music in my pocket. Later, I set it on my dressing-room table." Arranger/pianist Billy Strayhorn saw the music, took it over to the piano and began playing it. Ellington heard him and said, "Whatever you're playing, make a chart of it." The music, with words added by Ellington chum Edmund Anderson, was "Flamingo." Duke, needing one additional number for the band's December 28, 1940, recording session for RCA Victor, recorded the tune. Although RCA executive Leonard Joy wasn't impressed with the recording, it was Ellington's first number to hit the charts in 1941 and Jeffries' second hit record.
"Flamingo" was on Duke Ellington's short list of favorite recordings and, in an interview, said the following about this composition : " this one had real ornamentation, supporting the singer as well as embellishing the entire performance of both the singer and the band."

MHO
A very nice rumba arrangement here of Grouya's "Flamingo" - one of the most famous jazz standards that was ever written.
The arrangement features a superb balance between brass and strings and includes some wonderful counter melody parts.
The "spiral like" opening adds some extra 'tension' to the recording and enhances the listener's expectations.