Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark alto sax/clarinet, Craig Ball tenor sax/clarinet, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

We know it’s going to be an extraordinary evening anytime Jeff Hughes brings one of his many bands to the Sherborn Inn.  The Jazz Jesters like to play the music of the 20’s and 30’s, when it was Bix Beiderbecke time in Davenport.

They  began with Ross’s piano intro into Lucky Day, written in 1926 by DeSylva, Brown and Henderson.   (They wrote many ‘feel good’ songs like The Best Things In Life Are Free, Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.)  The Jesters have made Lucky Day their theme song.

Getting into Bix mode – Sorry, was recorded by Bix and His Gang.   House of David Blues – 1920, done by Fletcher Henderson with tenor sax played by Coleman Hawkins.   The first time Jeff heard this one, in beautiful fidelity it was a life changing experience.  Craig Ball was our Hawk on tenor sax.  He also played gut-wrenching tenor on That’s My Desire.

 

 

Pianist Ross Petot has many tunes at his fingertips. His stride and intricate multi-layered playing was featured on Who’s Sorry Now.  Jimmy says “It’s always a hit at Weddings.”  (Who gave him a mike?)

 

 
Jimmy introduced the 1920’s Song of the Wanderer with a vocal.  Our favorite was Jimmy’s Cabin in the Cotton, 1932.  Just beautiful!  Close second was  a smoldering ballad, Without a Song – not just one solo – he sang the whole song, in soulful, quintessential Jimmy.

 

 

This was an unusual evening where instead of all taking a solo, more than one musician had the whole song to himself.  They are all accomplished artists, Jeff just lets them go.

 

 

Bunny Berigan’s The Prisoner’s Song was introduced by Taddeo on drums, and Jeff just let him go for the whole 32 bars.   Jimmy abruptly let loose with his infamous Mazzy holler.

Crisp Hughes cornet; he dedicated it to Bobby Hackett.

 

 

 

Oh Baby, done by Benny Goodman in the 1920’s, was a scorcher, Craig Ball on clarinet, Clark on soprano sax, pushed by Albie’s straight four on tuba.

 

Jeff played a tender solo, all his own, Dear Ol’ Southland, honest, straightforward, absolutely enchanting. His instrument of choice was a treasurable 1905 Henri Lefevre cornet, (precursor to the Selma Instrument Company).   (Henri not only built each instrument by hand, he also built each part.) Remarkable tone.

 

Remarkable evening.   There were hundreds of tunes, they only scratched the surface.  More hot stuff of the 20’s and 30’s brought the evening to a close – Cabin in The Pines. Fats Waller’s special, the blistering Zonkie, released Taddeo’s inner Gene Krupa.

 

They sent us home with a beautiful waltz, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, surprising a young couple who had just left the main dining room.  They stopped and began waltzing on the dance floor.  Maybe they’ll be back.  We need more like them!

 

We are so lucky to enjoy all the talent here in New England.  People love Jeff Hughes’ topnotch bands and musicians, when they can hear them; his bands are usually here on the last Tuesday of the month.  Bring friends and introduce them to the fine Jazz and Swing at the Sherborn Inn!

 

 

We do have fun!