The Blue Lights

Blue Lights at Giant Valley Polo Club,  February 1, 2014, by Jean Hadley

On Saturday evening, Hamden’s Giant Valley Polo Club held their annual meeting to announce the 2014 schedule and special events.  After the meeting, cocktails and a delightful buffet were served; followed by three hours of entertainment by the BLUE LIGHTS.

The BLUE LIGHTS (formerly Washboard Slim & The Blue Lights) winner of the 2008 Connecticut Blues Society Blues Challenge, have appeared for over 35 years playing early Jazz, Blues, Swing standards, Jug, Gospel, Rock & Roll and Pop music.

Jug band music was first heard on the sidewalks of Louisville and Memphis in the late 1920’s.  The use of both conventional and homemade contrivances like jug, washboard, gut bucket, kazoo, guitar, keyboard, ukulele, drums, mandolin, banjo and accordion, to name a few, created the music we heard tonight.  In her dialogue, Cynthia mentioned the use of 32 “instruments” for tonight’s performance.

The band opened with JACKSON STOMP and, from then on, it was non-stop.  The club-house floor was packed with dancers.  Dave Harden (Giant Valley’s EMT) was first on the floor to encourage people to dance.  Dave loves to dance and his “artistry” shows.

Cynthia Fabian

Our talented Cynthia Fabian entertained us with her renditions of such songs as BUTTER and EGG MAN, I WANNA BE BAD, EVIL BUMBLE BEE and the list, familiar to the audience, continued.  Along with Cynthia’s vocal talent, she is equally talented on the washboard and kazoo.

Peter Menta (leader) always proves his expertise on the washboard, drums and harmonica.  Add Howard Horn on the jug and gut bucket and the rest of Peter’s talented guys (Brooks Barnett, Mark Kostner, Mark Crofutt) and you are always in for an evening of great entertainment. Peter played with Duke….”CUSTARD PIE BLUES”.

During the performance, the band played “I Don’t Want Your Millions, Mister” a tribute to PETE SEEGER an America folk singer formerly with The Weavers who recently passed away.

Sarah Heath, who always sings the national anthem before the Polo games, sang Gershwin’s “Summertime.”  Later, she and her husband, Duke Douskey (harmonica),  played a duet.  Both are very talented. Interesting enough, Duke’s book “Sinatra and Me” came out a year ago this past November 2013.

Thank you Butch and Leigh (owners of Giant Valley Farm and Polo Club) for bringing us good music and fine talent.

Polo season is every Sunday late May to late Sept.   Butch and Leigh invite you to join them every Sunday for an afternoon of Polo.  Polo is open to the public for a nominal charge of $5.00 pp or $10.00 per car load.  Parking is free.  Enjoy the game and tailgating!

Email……giantvalley@aol.com       Tel:…….203-287-7522

Jean Hadley