Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Jeff Hughes
at the Sherborn Inn, January 15, 2013
Substitutes generally make subtle changes in the
nuances of a band; a new player will offer different dynamics that are
picked up by the regular members of a band, especially in jazz. When that sub is Jeff Hughes, and
his 1902 Conn Wonder Cornet, you know this is going to be an exceptional evening.
Jeff’s cornet gave this Traditional Jazz Band a nice swing sound,
going straight to the heart of the music,
augmenting leader Stan McDonald's fine clarinet and soprano sax. Gerry
Gagnon
played stirring muted trombone on Old Fashioned Love with regulars Ross Petot piano, Al Ehrenfried
solid string bass, Peter Gerler guitar, and Dave Bragdon drums.
They really connected with the audience.
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Seriously swinging ensemble, Jeff and Stan
alternating the lead.
Jelly Roll
Morton's Tijuana, Stan played clarinet, Jeff backing on muted cornet,
with piano interweaving.
Then Jeff took the lead, with soprano sax comping,
backed by trombone and rhythm, Al Ehrenfried's steady bass enhancing
the mood. |
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Stan McDonald soared on
soprano sax on
Lotus Blossom |
Shim Me Sha Wabble, Make Me A Pallet on Your Floor,
Stan vocal, Jeff playing harmony with double mute.
Marie Elena, cornet taking the lead, sax responding.
Stan chose clarinet for the Bechet's Fantasy,
interpolating the tune that was the inspiration for the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, Blues in the Air, with Gerry's
growling trombone, Ross's
rhythmic left hand behind solos, before slipping into stride. Stan closed it
with a clarinet flourish.
Jeff and Ross took the intro to Stan's favorite, When I
Leave The World Behind.
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Ross, relentlessly vigilant, fills
any silent space, keeps everyone on the right track.
You Can Depend On Me, playing polished,
graceful stride piano.
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Peter plays fine guitar, and made a pleasant, rare move, to banjo
for only one tune - Roses of Picardy.
This was a first for us! |
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Bechet's Fishmonger, or Marchand de Poisson, When You And I Were Young Maggie,
a ferocious Wild Man Blues, Good Old New York, they listen to each
other and play off each other in a
symbiotic liason.
Special guests here tonight. Lorrie Carmichael,
retired leader of the Squirrel Hill Olde Time Band band, Tom McAllister
trombone. Center, Paul Perry reeds, (Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Flute) celebrating his 86th
birthday. Paul, from Concord MA, plays with the Yankee Stompers Jazz Band and
the North Shore Ramblers. Happy Birthday, Paul, we wish you many more!
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Peter was full of surprises this evening, on guitar and
banjo. Jeff holds the mic for his wholehearted vocal on
Irving Berlin’s My Walking Stick. |
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Low register clarinet introduced Closer Walk, the band started very
slow, clarinet
and cornet trading fours, then as in a second line, into a formidable rapid
beat.
They wrapped this evening up, Stan said: "with the greatest jazz musician that ever lived", Dans Les Rues D’Antibes.
This was the Blue Horizon’s first performance for 2013 at the
Sherborn Inn, now in its 18th year. As Myron
Idelson says," The Blue
Horizon does not dull the cutting edge of Traditional Jazz.
Their capacity and their strong point is bold and forthright
creativity which goes straight to the heart of the music they made
great." Professor Jeff Stout, trumpet, head of the
Brass Department at Berklee College of Music, will be back with the Blue Horizon
Jazz Band March 20th.
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| By Marce,
Updated February 2013
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