This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley meets the Barcelona Jazz Orchestra at Marbella Jazz Festival and Jazz San Javier
27th and 28th June 2008
We'd already decided to go to San Javier and when Gema found the Marbella Jazz Festival she asked me if I would like to go and without looking at the distances between the towns I decided to go. I flew into Malaga and met Gema there as we went from different airports. We made our way to Marbella and got ready for the show. We met up with Gema's Spanish friends, two of whom had been fans of Tony's for over 20 years but had never met him. We also met Jan, she lives in the UK and was on holiday in Spain and hadn't realised that Tony was playing until she'd seen the posters advertising the shows whilst she was there and was able to get tickets.
It was soon time for the show and we took our places on the front row. Tony would be singing with the Barcelona Jazz Orchestra and had arrived in Spain the day before to rehearse with them. The orchestra started the show with an instrumental piece and then Tony was introduced and it was time for Tony to begin. This was a slightly different format to The Hague and after seven songs there was an interval and Tony and the orchestra went off for a 10 minute or so break. We chatted in the interval and the orchestra started with another instrumental piece, but soon it was time for Tony to come back on for another six songs, he went off for a quick encore and then back for another two songs to which everyone stood for. Tony's voice was excellent and he was enjoyed by all the audience. After the show we went to the corridor where the dressing rooms were and waited to speak to Tony along with about 20 other people and people meeting members of the orchestra. We seemed to be the last people to leave the venue and said goodbye to Tony again as he left. By this time it was gone midnight but we found a restuarant and had some snacks before returning to our hotel.
Next morning it was time to get into the hire car for the 350 mile journey to San Javier that Gema was driving. I had looked at flying from Malaga to Alicante but the logistics and the cost put me off, had I done this I would have been on the same flight as Tony. It was a long journey and when we arrived at 6pm it was time for me to have a sleep. It was a good job that the show wasn't starting until 9.30 pm. Tina had flown to Murcia and met us in San Javier and we all went together to the venue. The venue was an outdoor amphitheatre, unlike the indoor centre he had been in the night before.
The format was slightly different. Dee Daniels was supposed to be on first with the Peter Beets Band but she had missed her flight and hadn't made it to San Javier, but she was replaced by a violinist
Nicolescu Florin
. Soon it was time for the Barcelona Jazz Orchestra to take the stage for their start to the show and do two songs. Tony was then introduced and he came on for twelve songs. Tony and the orchestra went off, but they were soon back for the encore of Let's Stick Together, at this point everyone got up and lots of people went to the front. He said goodbye to everyone and Dave came on to collect his book and I asked for the set list. The next thing we knew Tony and the orchestra were back again and he finished with a brilliant version of Its Not Unusual. He was given a standing ovation and it seemed he was enjoyed by all. He was on good form and singing very well. The evening was very warm but being Spain and summer there was no rain. Even though there hadn't been much time for rehearsal he gelled very well with the orchestra and his voice just gets better and better.
It had been a great trip with good friends, only marred by a 4 hour delay at the airport on the way home because the incoming flight had a bird strike and it had to be checked out.