Dave Whitney Big Band

at the Sherborn Inn, May 7, 2013

This is one exciting thirteen piece Big Band that transported us back to the days of Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman and more!

Trumpets: Joe Musumeci, Mel Deveau, Jeff Hughes, Dave Whitney
Trombones: Scott Hills, Jay Keyser
Reeds: Art Bakopolus, Bob Drukman, John Clark, Blair Bettencourt
Piano, Steve Dale; Bass, Dave LeBleu, Drums, Reid Jorgensen

They began with a number one hit for Benny Goodman, Jersey Bounce.  This was the perfect introduction to the fabulous swing bands of the 30's to 50's; we became totally immersed in the Swing Era.

Dave’s theme song,  a tune that Fats did with both a small and big band, When Somebody Things You’re Wonderful, was taken from an album Dave did in 1975 with Blair Bettencourt.

They presented a great New Orleans medley from the Chris Powers Orchestra - Chris was a New England band leader and arranger.  Dave Whitney, Dave LeBleu, Joe Musumeci, Scott Hills and Arthur Bakopolus were in that band.  Sophia Stevens was a vocalist with the band, but couldn't be here this evening.

In the early 30's, Bing Crosby recorded a nice dance arrangement, Paradise. The dancers loved it! 

Moving to a Latin beat, they played  My Adobe Hacienda, a tune from the Wolverine Jazz Band's CD, Give Me Some Tempo. 

Our favorite of the whole evening was a medley they played at Angelica’s called a 'Baker’s Dozen', actually a marvelous mini-tour of the Big Band Era!

Glenn Miller's 1939 In The Mood, the most  popular song of that era!
1938 Don’t Be That Way
Tommy Dorsey's 1944 Opus One
 Long John Silver 1948
Jimmy Lunceford's For Dancers Only
Stan Kenton’s theme song, Eager Beaver 
Jan Savitt’s 720 in the Books
Count Basie’s One O’Clock Jump
Woody Herman’s Woodchopper’s Ball
Artie Shaw’s 1938 Begin the Beguine
Les Brown’s Band of Renown, Leap Frog
Duke’s 1941 A Train
Harry James’ 1941 Baker's Dozen, Dave taking the lead.

WOW!  Those old tunes are still the best of all!

He stumped the audience with the last one - nobody knew it:  Boston Tea Party. This is their new chaser for sets, theme of Mal Hallet - a popular New England band.

Tuxedo Junction was recorded by just about every band! 

Erskin Hawkins had a great arrangement of Savoy.  Two of our favorite Jazzmen, Jeff Hughes on muted trumpet, John Clark clarinet, gave it the Big Band Sound.

From Duke’s library, Whitney got his chops ready for a mini concerto using Rex Stuart’s half-valving technique, Boy Meets Horn. Spectacular!

They featured a "little band within a big band", as in Tommy Dorsey’s Clambake Seven, a Dixieland group that had a small band in their big band performances.  But Dave used Bob Crosby’s March of the Bob Cats instead, (Dave Cats?) with Blair tenor sax, Jeff and Dave trumpets, John clarinet, Jay Keyser trombone, Steve Dale piano, Dave LeBleu bass.  Fabulous!!

MIT's Jay Keyser is hilarious! He has so many anecdotes about traveling with his wife around the world. They had just returned from India, Cuba, Lake Como.  They've been married for 23 years and been to 52 countries.  He even wrote a book about it:  I Married a Travel Junkie.

Dave dug out a special mute for the next one, done by Eddy Freeman of Boston's North Shore, Georgia On My Mind with Dave LeBleu.  Great.

From the 1920’s mid-west Territory Bands, Dave's vocal flirted with today's PC on Tiny Hill’s Skirts, John Clark on tenor with the ’Dixieland Boys’. 

Dick Cathcart was the jazz trumpeter behind actor Jack Webb's portrayal of the legendary Pete Kelly in the 1955 film Pete Kelly's Blues. Pete Kelly’s Blues was the Dave Whitney Big Band's 'Goodnight Song', an arrangement done by pianist Steve Dale.  Marvelous!

Let's not overlook the dynamic rhythm makers, whose driving tempo keeps the band in line...

The Dave Whitney Big Band will be at Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire for a another trip into the Swing Era on June 2^nd from 1-3 (in the ballroom) – seniors over 60 get in free. Also Southgate Shrewsbury July 9^th 7pm. See you there??