Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin

Jeff Hughes trumpet/leader, Dan Weiner guitar, Ross Petot piano, Pete Tillotson double bass, Dave Didriksen drums, Debby Larkin vocals.

Release Party for CD “Raincheck” at the Sherborn Inn

Swing Times Five is the ultimate choice if you’re looking for a lively evening without a dull minute.  Swing, sweet ballads, sung by Debby Larkin, heartfelt solos and ensemble playing with some Hoagie and Bix made for an interesting evening.  This was the official debut of their CD, “Raincheck”.   The kicked it off with Benny Carter’s When Lights Are Low, with Jeff on smokey flugelhorn  with Ross harmony on piano.     Raconteur, composer, Hoagie Carmichael was featured this evening; he was a good friend of Bix Beiderbecke’s.   Hoagie wrote many unusual tunes, including Riverboat Shuffle  especially for Beiderbecke and his colleagues.  Swing Times Five showed intricate ensemble on his 1937 Jubilee.

Jeff introduces Debby Larkin

Jeff invited Debby Larkin to join them for Hoagie’s Old Rocking Chair, and Burton Lane’s The Lady’s In Love With You.       Hoagie composed many ballads, they mixed them up.  Nearness Of You, great Pete Tillotson string bass solo. The title of their CD, Raincheck, was written by Billy Strayhorn.  Another Strayhorn tune, Smada – with is Adams backwards, from the album ‘Masterpieces’ by Ellington.  It was recorded for the Columbia label in 1950 as Ellington’s first LP album, one of the earliest 12 inch LP’s to take advantage of the extended time consisting of 4 tracks.  This is the first time they played it; great  melody, harmony and rhythm.

Great Rhythm Section

Guitar took the intro to The September Song, with more sweet flugelhorn.   Jeff highlighted Bix-style trumpeting on Hoagie’s 1925 Riverboat Shuffle, Hoagie was in law school at Indiana University when Jazz struck him and he became an itinerant musician.  An interesting tune he wrote apropos to the season, One Morning in May.  Blue Orchids had more smokey flugelhorn with piano picking up the riffs.

Jeff Stout

Debby’s husband, trumpeter Jeff Stout joined them on a memorable Skylark, Jeff Hughes on flugelhorn, with cadences and chords thinking of Bix.  The two Jeffs complement each other.       They changed the mood for a Cole Porter, piano intro to Get Out of Town; Fast stride piano backed Stout’s powerful trumpet.

Weiner has a relentless, mesmerizing drive on guitar

Dan Weiner’s spectacular guitar fingering was featured on a Latin beat with S’Wonderful.

Suzanne Perel

The musician table was filled with guests enjoying the Inn’s fare.  Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Krakowsky,  Mrs. Phil Person, Suzanne Ferel, was asked to come up and sing a couple of tunes.  An accomplished vocalist, Suzanne sang her own splendid version of Billie Holiday’s My Man Don’t Love Me, and With a Song In My Heart. Back to Hoagie with a song from the 1964 film starring R&B legend Ray Charles, Ballad in Blue.  Stout trumpet and Hughes flugelhorn – it doesn’t get any better than this!  Except maybe when Hughes returned on trumpet for a two- trumpet interplay on Duke Ellington’s Cottontail, accompanied by Ross’s fabulous stride piano. Fired up, Didriksen took off on drums; the air vibrated with excitement!

Two trumpets had us sitting on the edge of our seats!

Jeff’s trumpet traded fours with bass on an upbeat They All Laughed.   Deb returned for Wes Montgomery’s Blue Skies, Jeff’s trumbet vibrating, with pulsating piano, fine guitar and bass duet.

This audience just loves Debby Larkin!

Debby Larkin’s version of Georgia blew us away!             HOT!  Basie’s Topsy, with Hughes on muted trumpet. Deb liked this because it’s the name of their shelter rescue puppy.     Deb back with the unique I’m Checking Out, Goomby!  ….one of the swinging tunes on the new CD “Raincheck” – she thanked Ross Petot for teaching it to her. They closed with We’ll Be Together Again with more of Jeff’s silky, smooth flugelhorn. It may be some time before Swing Times Five returns to the Inn.  Several of the members belong to other bands that are travelling this summer.  We’ll let you know when they return.  Meantime, check out their new CD, “Raincheck”.

Swing Times Five – Raincheck

They are really excited about it, recording 9 tunes on the first take, in three hours at Peter Kontrimas’ studio.   The CD will be on their new website www.swingx5.com  currently under construction. Listen, download and buy Swing Times Five on CD Baby   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/swingtimesfive  Love Letters, It Had To Be You, I’m Checkin’ Out, Goombye, S’Wonderfl, Cottontail, Get Out Of Town, Speak Low, Lady’s In Love