After Trooping the Colour and a lunch on the hoof, I made my way to Embankment Gardens. As a recap, I got talking to John and his wife while watching Trooping the Colour and they suggested I come and see them play, down at Embankment Gardens - next to the Thames.

I arrived just as the programme was about to start, so manoeuvred myself into position near the front. What John hadn't mentioned, with appealing modesty, was that he is director and conductor of the band - The Hawaii Ambassadors of Music - and had been coming to London every second year on their European tour, for over 20 years. As a result, the band has attracted a hardcore fanbase, who took up residence in the front row deckchairs. A few of whom, came dressed as Elvis with garlands of exotic flowers (Elvis did shoot several films there) - nice touch.

The programme kicked off with some local music, the Hilo March - before 'Snowbird' performed some traditional Hawaiian dance. I understand the dance hand movements, often seen in Hula dancing - waves, palm trees swaying - I see now.

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The MC, then spoke about the band being the only royal band in the USA, as the islands were originally a monarchy. Hawai'i (as it's correctly termed), was a sovereign state from 1810 to 1893. The Island enjoyed close relations with Great Britain, which can be seen by the addition of the Union flag in the corner of Hawaii's own flag. Lili'uokalani was the last Queen of the Islands and in 1887 was sent to London by Kalakaua (her father) as part of the delegation attending the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. She carried the title of 'Crown Princess' at the time, but returned distressed, after learning the details of the 1887 Bayonet Constitution where signatures from Hawaiian rulers were obtained under duress. She was reigning queen for only 2 years before being deposed, for her opposition to the 1887 Constitution, though officially - she abdicated. Maintaining business interests for the USA and UK, was the primary reason for the overthrow. In 1993 an 'Apology Resolution' was passed by President Clinton, for overthrowing the sovereign state of Hawaii - the first of its kind in US history.

Interspersed with the music, were a number of traditional dances, from Hawaiian Hula, through Japanese to the Tinikling (bird-catching) national dance of the Philippines. Where bamboo poles are struck together and the dancers step gingerly between them. It imitates the traditional method used for catching Tikling birds by rice farmers in the Philippine Islands.

It's important to mention at this stage, that the quality of musical performance was very high, from such a young band (made up from schools across the Hawaiian islands) and the light-hearted mood was infectious and warmly received by the crowd. A jazz set followed for a few numbers, with the addition of a sax ensemble and some inspired and expressive solos, ably supported by the youthful band.

As the music and dance came to a close, several Elvis's joined John on stage to joint conduct a rendition of Sousa's 'Stars and Stripes Forever'. Always a crowd-pleaser - which went over in a rousing manner. I'm not sure, John or the band were aware of, were the connotations of the song. In England, the tune is one of the football anthems with the addition of the lyric ("Here we go" repeated ad infinitum). They couldn't have appreciated, how appreciated it was - with it also being the day of the first match of the World Cup, for the England team. Appropriately, against the USA (we won't dwell on the result though). As an interesting footnote to the march, I had a friend from France who told me that they used to sing it at football matches too (lifted from the English), but tranlated to "On y va, on y va, on y va," etc. Anyway.

For a final number John led the band through 'In the Mood' by Glenn Miller, a timeless wartime big band number, equally as revered in the UK as the USA. It was a tune responsible for getting men and women together, like no other during that period and it's sobering to note that he spent the last few months of his life in London. Originally quartered at Sloane Court in 'buzz-bomb alley', he got little sleep from the constant V1 rocket attacks, so moved further out, with the Army Air Force Band avoiding a direct strike the following day ('Miller Luck' was a term he used). During one month they played at 35 bases, and performed 40 broadcasts in their spare time. He left for Paris by plane in December 1944, but no trace of his aircraft was ever found. At the other end of Embankment Gardens on Savoy Hill, the old broadcast facilities for the BBC were located. I wasn't able to confirm, but I imagine with such a busy schedule that Glenn Miller and his orchestra broadcast 'In the Mood' to a bomb battered London, just a few hundred yards from where Saturday's concert took place. It's gratifying to know that his music is still being played and appreciated widely today.

Good luck with the rest of the tour "Ambassadors".

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