Andy Prior and his Big Band. Truro. 25th November 2006

There are about twenty members of this really good band, who deliver with panache all the swing standards, so much loved by all age groups. There’s a new, growing audience of 20 year olds who are really getting into swing, and learning to dance, encouraged by ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. How wonderful for them to have discovered the romance of dance.

Could this mean the next generation will be unafraid to act like women again, to dance, be escorted home, and treated with respect (we can all be like Bette Davis et al) ie intelligent and confident, whilst wearing lovely clothes and perfume.

This swing sound and atmosphere wouldn’t encourage ladettes to swill down pints, show their bottoms in public, bare their breasts and shout, swear, or throw up in the street, before dragging some Chlamydia-ridden bloke to give them a quick shag up against the dustbins round the back of the nightclub. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned.

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