Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Eli Newberger tuba, Carolyn Newberger washboard.  (Jimmy Mazzy was on his way to the Olympia WA Festival.)

This was all about ME ME ME!  Surprise birthday party with my son and daughter-in-law Charles and Carol Sardonini in collusion with Eli Newberger, Briana Musto of Primavera Ristorante, and my drivers Tina and Ralph Cass.  They had this planned for a whole month and I never got wind of it!

Many of my children and grandchildren were here.  Youngest son, Dave Sardonini, and his wife Jennifer, and grandson DJ, flew up from Lake Mary Florida to be here.  It was very festive, tables loaded with balloons, with a big 80 in the middle.  It was a blast!   Granddaughter Alison Sardonini took many PICTURES!

Eli and The Hot Six were fired up, having just returned from a very successful  Swingin’ Gershwin at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield.  They led this evening off with Bo Winiker singing Louis Armstrong’s Hello Dolly.  Muscrat Ramble was in a Bossa Nova beat, reinforced by Eli’s tuba and Jeff’s pulsating drums.  Kid Ory retired to Hawaii on the proceeds of that tune!

 

In the ensemble sections, clarinet, cornet and trombone played a three-part counterpoint line typical of 1920s New Orleans bands.

Eli and Bo were featured on Hold Tight.

 

 

 

Ted was up up for more Gershwin with I’ve Got Rhythm on his awesome tenor sax.

Herb took the vocal on Pennies From Heaven.  His voice is his other instrument, besides trombone, piano, and who knows what else!

 

 

 

The band swung into high gear.  When the music gets to you, you gotta move! Eli’s tuba was the Tiger in Tiger Rag:

Son David (of the Sports Den in Orange City, Florida,) was thrilled to join the band with Cab Calloway’s theme song, Minnie The Moocher. Our official photographer, Alison Sardonini took this fine video of the band and our family.
 Dave Sings Minnie The Moocher.
Dave shook hands with each member of the band afterwards, elated to have been able to sing with this band!

Carolyn Newberger is an accomplished artist and usually sketches the musicians while they are playing.  She caught David in the act. (Sorry Herb!)

 

 

The last set was mine – each of the band members played a song for me!  Eli on a breathtaking tuba solo on Over The Rainbow, Bob Winter getting classicistic on Of Thee I Sing, Bo came right up to the table with The Very Thought of You.

 

Carolyn Newberger played exciting washboard on a Latin tune, Miami Rhumba

 

 

 

Ted touched the bottom of my heart on soprano sax with Bechet’s Petite Fleur. This is a special for me, because I was born a “Petite Fleuette”.

 

 

 

Bo dedicated a tune to my whole family with I’ve Grown Accustomed To Your Face on flugelhorn. Herb played and sang You Can Depend on Me.  He’s very dependable; has a famous family of his own – daughters all involved with music.  Ted played clarinet and sang a rousing vocal on Swinging on a Star.
“Carry moonbeams home in a jar – And be better off than you are”.  I sure was!

 

 

Eli asked me to pick the last tune, I like Limehouse Blues, and wouldn’t you know, they had never played it together.

Bob Winter played the first chorus – of course they all knew it.  Ted Casher sang the vocal with the actual lyrics written by Douglas Furber in 1922.   This was the finale for this most auspicious evening.

 

Thank you, Eli and The Hot Six, Carolyn, Family: Joe and Ellen Sardonini, DeeDee Towne and Daniel Hulub, Dave and Jen Sardonini and Grandkids, Friends, Primavera, Tina and Ralph, Ali for her photos, and especially Carol and Charlie Sardonini for a birthday that I will never forget!

Eli and The Hot Six will be back here on August 20th, and Sculler’s Jazz Club on December 17th.  Stay tuned – we’ll let you know if anything pops up in between.

Thank you all!   Marce