The High Society Dance Orchestra - Steps in Time (1999)

The 1999 album of The High Society Dance Orchestra which Romano Viazzani led between 1992-2002. They specialised in dance music from the Viennese waltzes of the 19th century ballroom to popular music of the 1990s and all the danceable music that came in between from the Charleston of the 20s, the swing 30’s and 40s, tango, French and Italian musette, latin-american, film music, rock ‘n ‘roll, the pop of the 60’s, 70s 80s and 90s. This album demonstrates the range of this fabulous dance band who played in the top hotels of the capitals and the society weddings in the stately homes of the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. It’s roots lay in an earlier incarnation of the dance band called L’Orchestra Rara which, between 1981 and 2002, was the dance band to have at any ball, wedding or other social occasion in the UK’s Italian community.

The secret of their versatility was in their cleverly arranged music recreating authentic sounds and the ability for most of its member to sing too.

Puttin` on the Ritz (Berlin)

Blue Moon (Rodgers/Hart)

In the Mood (Garland/Miller)

I`m in the Mood for Love (Fields/ Mc Hugh)

Jailhouse Rock (Lieber/Stoller)

Never, Never, Never (Newell/Renis/Testa)

The Sixties Revisited: She Loves You (Lennon/McCartney) I Like it, How Do You Do (Gerry and the Pacemakers)Good Vibrations (Wilson/ Love)Yeh yeh(Grant/ Patrick/Hendricks)Do You Want To Know A Secret (Kramer) A Hard Days Night(Lennon/ McCartney)

Platforms and Flares:SOS (Andersson/Ulvaeus)I Can See Clearly Now (Nash) American Pie(McClean)Disco Inferno (Green/Kersey)

Eighties medley: Hot Hot (Arrow) Best Years of our Lives (Modern Romance)

She`s Electric (Gallagher)

The line-up in this recording was:

Lead vocals: Jocelyn Dunleavy

Trumpet/Vocals: Alistair “Titch” Walker

Saxophones/Clarinet/Vocals : Matthew Stewart

Guitar: Erran Kendler

Keyboards/Vocals: Tom Stewart

Drums: Mark Lloyd

Double Bass/Bass Guitar: Alan Gibson

Accordion/Flute/Vocals: Craig Beecham