Blue Horizon Jazz Band in its 17th year at the Sherborn Inn January 17, 2012

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band introduced Traditional Jazz to the Sherborn Inn in 1995 – it was a pleasure to be here again, as they continued into their 17th year. They kicked things off with All By Myself. Stan said this was a good way to start, since the band hasn’t played together since November. He was honored to have Jeff Hughes, one of his favorite people and a good friend, filling in for Jeff Stout.

“Dave Bragdon has been surreptitiously playing behind the band for eleven years.”….. Stan

Ross took the intro into Georgia. Great ensemble on Willie The Weeper. Tishumingo Blues had Jeff playing strong cornet, accompanied by Ross’s sterling playing, and Al Ehrenfried’s unwavering beat on the string bass. Gerry Gagnon was featured on trombone in Down in Honky Tonk Town, and ice muted trombone onYes, We Have No Bananas.

Stan asked if anybody remembered the Paris Brothers, Sidney and Wilbur? Very few hands were raised. He said “We have a whole new generation to educate!”

They soared into a fabulous Lotus Blossom, one of Stan’s specials on soprano sax. But Myron will tell you more —

Guest writer: Myron Idelson:

“Six ghosts returned to the Sherborn Inn Tuesday night, January 17, 2012, haunting us with the same great music of the December 11 Spectacular. The apparition’s were giants Stan McDonald, Jeff Hughes, Ross Petot, Dave Bragdon, Peter Gerler, and Al Ehrenfried.

They were accompanied by another giant, Gerry Gagnon. They proved that their keen musical intelligence and lucid style are unimpaired. And based on what the Blue Horizon Jazz Band did, offered those of us who were wise enough to attend the unique perspective of our musical future. Stan was soaring on the soprano sax and his vocal rendition of Lotus Blossom was stunning.

The highlights offered by Jeff Hughes, particularly with his gorgeous tones in the brief opening of Your Lucky To Me,the first number of the last set, was moving, and then his driving lead into the rousing balance of the song.

Ross as usual was remarkable and he awed all of us with his rare sense of newness. Folks, perhaps to feel that something is truly new, we first have to expect it.

Good Ol New York was the realization of the expected that struck us with the birth of the new. All evening Dave Bragdon’s breaks and long solos were crisp, clean, and he led the band at a clean steady and well defined rhythm on every number.

Gerry Gagnon’s driving solos and ensemble work were heart warming and caused a great feet tapping chorus from the crowd. The bass was steady and embraced and augmented the pace and mood all night. Peter Geller’s guitar solo on Georgia was ambitious and unlimited. Stan’s rendition of Irving Berlin’s When I Leave The World Behind was an additional highlight.

The fact is, the entire three sets were an unbroken glorious music interlude which marked it as a special night. As to their music, the Blue Horizon seems to have a reservoir of thousands of new innovations which do not lie dormant in their creative musical talents.

We all experienced the fact that it is the mark of a creative artist that makes the familiar seem new. 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.

They were individualist and a team. That which is unique and worthwhile made itself felt. We caught it, and as a result we experienced musical growth and exhilaration. In our last review we said “Let’s do it again.” We sure did, but where was everybody?”