Swing Times Five– 2 sets – 6 pieces – A creation of Jeff Hughes, Leader, Cornet-Flugelhorn, Ross Petot-piano, Lou Bocciarelli-bass, Dan Weiner-guitar, Dave Didriksen-drums, -Debby Larkin-vocals, bringing back the very tastefully and rarely heard 30’s and 40’s works of the likes of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Victor Young, Jerome Kern and others. To my ears Jeff, a follower of Bix, has been a welcome musical source of this festival with one band or another for 18 out of twenty years and is always surrounded by the very best.

Lauren Humpage

Swing Times Five was a new band feature at the Hot Steamed.  A mellow quintet led by Jeff Hughes  They opened with their theme, Benny Carter’s When Lights Are Low.

Deb Larkin can be heard all around Boston, with hubby, trumpeter Jeff Stout. She began with her fine rendition of Dakota Staton’s It Started With The Late, Late Show.

Her saucy performance of Get Out of Townwas surprisingly backed up by the shrill whistle of the train leaving the station at the Essex Train Museum.

The band continued with a sparkling Night and Day, Dave Didriksen keeping steady beat on the drum, Ross’s left hand slipping into stride, his specialty, while his right hand did all the ‘talking’.  Ross is the inspiration for much of their repertoire.

Richard Rogers, Surrey With The Fringe On Topgreat drumming, Dave trading fours with Lou’s string bass.

Lou Bocciarelli

Dave Didriksen

Jeff said the next tune had a Bix feeling, though he never recorded it – He played sweet, mellow flugelhorn on Skylark.

Jeff Hughes

Deb returned with another Richard Rogers, A Fine Romance. They have a lot of fun with this, Jeff adding quick, repetitive notes on cornet.  There’s a word for that, what is it?

Dan Weiner resonates energy and gives the band extra tempo and swing.

Did I Remember To Tell You That I Love You?

Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You, Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers.  This is definitely not a love song!  And Deb put it across perfectly  –

I'm not yours for better but for worse,
And I've learned to give the well-known witches' curse.
I've a terrible tongue, a temper for two,
And everything I've got belongs to you.

Harold Arlen’s Get Happy, string bass, and piano.

They closed with We’ll Be Together Again, with Jeff on flugelhorn.  And we will. Fortunately, we live close to the Sherborn Inn.   Join us sometime!