Book Drawing Music: The Tanglewood Sketchbooks
“Live musical performance is ephemeral. It often feels as ephemeral as life itself….In his drawings of musicians, Sol Schwartz has achieved something amazing and marvelous of his own: he has over and over again described the moments of intense concentration, of communication, of effort, and of unselfconsciousness that we, as performers, experience.” -Joel Smirnoff, Juilliard String Quartet
Eli Newberger and the Jazz Tuber Trio provided the music for the opening reception forConnections in Line: The Art of Sol Schwartz at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 621 Huntington Ave. Boston MA.
From August 27-October 5th the College is presenting Sol Schwartz’s original drawings and sketchbooks, along with the creatively designed large scale prints that reflect his enthusiastic love of color, graphic art, and digital technology.
Sol Schwartz must draw – any piece of blank paper challenges him. He uses whatever paper is handy, as well as any medium: coffee, tea, soy sauce.
Sol tells about Tanglewood in his own words.
In the 80’s he discovered computers, and has since been experimenting with computer art.
The Tuber Trio played in front of the portrait that Sol did of them at Lilac Park on July 28th. It is also featured in the centerfold of his book, Connections in Line, The Art of Sol Schwartz.
Actually this vibrant and lively trio has become a quintet, with Eli Newberger tuba, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Ted Casher tenor, soprano sax and clarinet, Carolyn Newberger washboard, Carrie Mazzy vocals.
We hear Jimmy and Ted often, but it was real pleasure to have Eli back! They kicked off with a hard-driving Chinatown, Be Sure It’s True When You Say I Love You. Ted let himself go on tenor sax for Melancholy Baby, Hello Dolly.
Carolyn Newberger joined them for Coney Island Washboard Roundelay, and Irish Black Bottom using spoons instead of thimbles. She obviously enjoys being part of the group.
Carolyn was playing washboard back in the mid-1960’s when she and Eli were Resident Directors at Yale’s International House for foreign students. They started a Friday Night Café, where musicians could Jam. You might recognize some of the musicians, Sammy Rimmington and Barry Martyn. Peter Ecklund, Mark Finks, Tommy Sancton. Eli and Carolyn left for the Peace Corps in 1967 and the washboard was packed away. Eli retrieved it near their 50th wedding anniversary, and here she is, playing enthusiastically again – “It was just like riding a bike!”
YouTube: Carolyn playing Coney Island Washboard Roundelay” with the Tuber Trio at Lilac Park:
Carrie Mazzy joined the group for a couple of fine vocals, a nice ballad Nobody But My Baby, with Jimmy joining in scatting, and a Dixieland tune, Beale St. Poppa.
The Tuber Trio continued with Wabash Blues, and Carolyn joined them on washboard for the finale, a bit of Klezmer with Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.
The Design Media Center is the largest Private contemporary art center in New England accessible to the Community, providing 75% financial aid.
New residence hall designed by a diverse group of entities with a ‘can do’ optimism, built for 1st and 2nd year Students on Huntington Avenue.
They call it “The Tree House”.
The reception was attended by many supporters of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, including contributors of the Bakalar and Paine Galleries. It was held in The Tower – on the 11th floor.
Sunset on Boston – from the 11th floor of the College.
It was a fantastic evening! But there was more Jazz for us the next night, when we joined the Jazz Tuber Trio at Tuesday night Jazz at the Sherborn Inn. Never get enough of this exhilarating Trio!