My intention was to create something new and arresting, an orchestra different from others on the scene – I wrote sixty arrangements to start with.
We rehearsed every afternoon, rain or shine. Perfect intonations in the sections and balance of the overall sound of the orchestra were emphasized.
With the exception of certain places in our arrangements, the orchestra played without vibrato. Vibrato was used to heighten expressiveness.
It seems to me that touch and tone are pretty much overlooked by pianists who are leading bands nowadays. You can get so many more and better musical effects if you pay attention to those little, shall I say, niceties.
— Claude Thornhill