Midnite Follies Orchestra

Lore & Background

The Midnite Follies Orchestra was put together by Keith Nichols with co-leader Alan Cohen, focusing on the music of Harlem as performed by Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. Members Laurie Chescoe and Will Hastie had previously been part of Eric Allandale's New Orleans Knights band in the early 1960s. The orchestra showcased a variety of musicians over the years, including Nick Stevenson, Digby Fairweather, Alan Elsdon, Dave Savill, Laurie Chescoe, Keith Greville, Randolph Colville, Olaf Vas, Mac White, Will Hastie, John Barnes, Gordon Blundy, and Peter Strange.

The group signed to the MOR division of EMI in 1978, as mentioned in the 25 March 1978 issue of Music Week. Their single "No Strings" received a short review from James Hamilton, who called it a "Really useful '30s-style Pasadena-type MoR quickstepper, lovely and jolly" and noted it was for old folks. The single received airplay on Radio 210 in Thames Valley in October 1978. The orchestra performed at the Hot Jazz Spectacular at Fairfield Halls in 1979 alongside Max Collie's Rhythm Aces and Monty Sunshine, and later that year appeared at the Winter Gardens in Eastbourne.

In the 1980s, the ensemble appeared with jazz singer Adelaide Hall at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on 23 May 1982 for a Duke Ellington anniversary concert. They gave another Duke Ellington tribute performance on 25 May 1984 and played again at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1989. Keith Nichols died on January 20, 2021, and a tribute concert was organized for 20 September 2023 at the Main club, featuring numerous musicians.

Reader's Guide

The Midnite Follies Orchestra holds significance as a British ensemble that faithfully revived and performed early jazz standards from the Harlem tradition, particularly the works of Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. At a time when such music was less commonly performed in Europe, the orchestra was recognized as the only group in Europe specializing in Duke Ellington's repertoire. Their recordings, including the album 'Hotter Than Hades' (1978) and 'Jungle Nights in Harlem' (1981), as well as their single 'No Strings', helped preserve and popularize this style. The orchestra's frequent appearances on BBC television and radio, along with performances at notable venues like the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Fairfield Halls, brought early jazz to a wider audience. Their legacy is carried forward by the musicians who participated in the tribute to Keith Nichols in 2023, ensuring the continued appreciation of the music they championed.

Did You Know?

• The Midnite Follies Orchestra was one of several European groups that specialized in the music of Duke Ellington.
• Members Laurie Chescoe and Will Hastie had been members of Eric Allandale's New Orleans Knights band in the early 1960s.
• The orchestra's single 'No Strings' was described by James Hamilton as a 'Really useful '30s-style Pasadena-type MoR quickstepper'.
• The group appeared with jazz singer Adelaide Hall at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on 23 May 1982 for a Duke Ellington anniversary concert.