Wynton Marsalis at the Proms

Another night, another Prom. I always enjoy the visits of Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (last seen 18 months ago at the Barbican), so I’d been looking forward to this Prom for a while. I showed up quite early, but not early enough it seemed. Instead of joining the Arena queue, I was directed to the Gallery queue.
Even as I type this, I’m not sure I understand why since the first queue didn’t look that long. Unless it’s the fact that you’re allowed to stay on if you attend the first Prom. Anyway, at least I was afforded plenty of reading time, and ample opportunity to people-watch my fellow queuers (broadly speaking – young, fairly well-off, and eager).
The performance was great – the Orchestra is lined up in three rows, with Marsalis himself in the middle of the back row with a couple of other trumpeters. Different pieces see different musicians getting a spotlight performance, and indeed different band members get to lead some of the pieces. Needless to say, I’ve got the performance digitally recorded on my PC to relive at a later date (it was also on BBC4 so I taped that too).
The only trouble with late night Proms is that they finish at midnight, which means a hasty trip down Exhibition Road to make sure that you don’t miss the last northbound tube train from South Kensington. I love late night London transport!


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