Francis Bay's Latin Beat

Caravan

Francis Bay's Latin Beat
Philips Records PHM 200-001
Through a licensing agreement, this recording is made available through Philips Phonographische Industries of The Netherlands
1962

From the back cover: "You must never conduct again,: Francis Bay's doctor told him. For a time it was ...well, a possibility, but then the Belgian radio invited him to form a band. How could such a chance – and such a challenge – be refused by a man who had lived for music since the age of seven?

For that is how old Francis Bay was when he started playing the clarinet in local orchestras; at fourteen he was busily getting down to composition; at fifteen he was fast becoming a keen jazz addict; and at sixteen he won the first prize in clarinet at the Conservatoire of Malines.

From then on he increased his technical accomplishments by learning to play the other reeds. This, together with valuable experience in the ensembles of Paul Godwin and Boyd Bachman, was how he attained the complete practical mastery that has made him such an authoritative orchestra leader. Apart from all this, he has also played in other orchestra of many nationalities (Swiss, Dutch, Swedish, German and Belgian), arranged and composed film music, and taken an interest in "trick" recordings and in jazz of the more advanced kind.

The foundations of his music-making are thus as firmly built as could be, but he has never let himself get bogged down. The story of his career, in fact, bristles with meteoric successes. Francis Bay's orchestra, the result of that irresistible Belgian invitation, had existed only 175 days when it won the Golden Gondola at the International Song Festival in Venice. Within a few years it has been hailed as Belgium's Big Band No. 1, and even, in one of the most important American magazines, as Europe's second-best orchestra. And Francis Bay is not the man to rest on his laurels as a result of such appreciation; on the contrary, it only spurs him on to greater efforts, and so his band continues to go from strength to strength. A really solid basis of musical knowledge and practical experience, a talent for choosing the right men for the job (for Bay's orchestra includes some first-rate soloists) and for leading them in the right way, without needing years of adjustment to weld his diverse material into a thoroughly unified team – Francis Bay is indeed an ideal combination of fast mover and mover in the right direction. On this record the direction is south-eastern. Many moods and many styles are within the command of the Francis Bay Orchestra, but swingy view can be played with as much gusto by a Continental band as by any of its transatlantic counterparts.

You don't believe us? The proof is – literally! – in your own hands.

Mambo Jambo
Un Poquito De Tu Amor
Malaguena
Begin The Beguine
The Peanut Vendor
Copacabana
Caravan
Mama Inez
Maria La O (Maria My Own)
Perfidia
Acercate Mas
Para Vigo Me Voy (Say Si Si)