Frankymole wrote:Timeless A-Peel wrote:
Me, too. I think her character would have fit into the plotlines better if she'd been used as she was intended. She was never written to be a standalone partner, and her character probably wouldn't have come in for as much criticism if she'd been given her intended function.
It would have from me. The thing I criticise (can't stand) is the bloody musical breaks and her awful songs. She can sing, but the songs are trite and useless (far from swinging 60s or Julie's usual repertoire) and the screech of the plot brakes slamming on is almost audible... even villains of the calibre of Edwin Ritchfield stand around with a simpering smile while she and the dreadful jazz trio "perform".
Just imagine if Venus and Steed had sat down to watch Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine do a proper jazzy musical break instead. Bliss. In fact just chuck away the Avengers plot and have a decent jazz evening.
I just saw The Removal Men and you are so right about the music. I am an amateur jazz pianist so I was particularly interested in seeing what you were referring to. First of all, I don't think David Lee was playing jazz. He was a good piano player but sounded like show tunes to me. And none that were recognizable or as you said interesting to hear. The opening with people doing a peppermint twist or 60's dance to a 12 bar blues makes no sense whatsoever. They really needed to commit to the kind of club it was. If it was jazz then no one was going to do the twist or dance to it frankly.
If it was a jazz club then they really needed to create a smoky jazz room feel instead of an off broadway performance. The only jazz in the whole episode was the 12 bar blues at the beginning. He did a boogy woogy but that is not exactly jazz.
now here is what is strange. You mention wanting to hear Dankworth, but Dankworth asked David Lee to arrange for him.
David Lee just celebrated his 87th B day. He has gotten a name for himself as a jazz pianist but he started out doind jingles for commercials, and does songwriting and arranging. All that is not jazz. I think someone mentions in the episode just playing- was it with Miles Davis??. I don't think Miles would have played with those guys. Solid musicians but not jazz. There was no improvisation. That's another clue. like you said it was not subtle.
