Jeff Hughes cornet/flugelhorn, Dan Weiner guitar, Ross Petot piano, Bob Sinicrope string bass, Dave Didriksen drums, Debby Larkin vocals.

This is an unusual combination of instruments for playing Swing, but SWING they did, just as well as any big band!!  They captivated the crowd by rekindling fond memories, starting with their theme song, When Lights Are Low, with Jeff on cornet.  His rhythmic concept on cornet and flugelhorn lifted the whole band.  He moved to flugelhorn for a Johnny Mercer tune, Dream.

Vocalist  Debby Larkin sings with authority, good voice and knows just the right style, whether singing a rousing number or a ballad.  She sang many Frank Loesser tunes, If I Were a Bell, Everything But You.   Slow Boat to China was a rouser!  Billie Holiday’s Moanin’ Low; an all-time favorite  All Of Me, upbeat and swinging; even Tommy Dorsey’s Opus One.  She shook things up with the satirical Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You, looking at hubby Jeff Stout, sitting at a front table.

 

 

Singing I Fall In Love Too Easily, she was backed by Jeff Hughes on dark, smokey flugelhorn.  They charmed the audience, many of whom were seniors nostalgically reconnecting the music to memories of their youth.

 

 

Jeff left the audience spellbound with incredible intonation on Jerome Kern’s I’m Old Fashioned, ending with a virtuosic coda.  Perfect!  People will remember this one for a long time!

 

 

Ross Petot is a great performer of Gerschwins, he was featured on Of Thee I Sing, and referring to the current political season, Who Cares?  He performs unceasing rhythmic motion on the fine Yamaha piano.  He picked an odd one, All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm, backed by Dan Weiner’s fingers floating across the guitar.

 

 

 

 

 

Dan was featured on Lullaby of The Leaves, dazzling guitar, fingers flying; his spontaneity is very much representative of the swing era.

 

 

 

They picked many tunes from the American Song Book:
Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh Doing The New Lowdown
Julie Stein’s It’s You Or No One.
Sammy Cahn’s I’m Falling in Love.
Sinatra’s All The Way
Irving Berlin’s A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody
Cole Porter’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin

John and Gisela love to dance, and this is their kind of music!  They had a family reunion with their three daughters.  John persuaded one of them to dance.

John and Gisela Bruneccini

John and one of his daughters

 

 

 

George Gershwin’s They Can’t Take That Away From Me gave Bob a solo, playing melody on upper register.

Bob Sinicrope’s string bass gave support and richness that moved the music along.  Bob is head of the Jazz Program at Milton Academy, and an old friend of Jeff’s.

 

 

 

 

Dave Didriksen is a fine drummer, softly brushing across cymbals and snare drum behind solos; he lets the soloists shine.  He finally let loose on Frank Loesser’s The Lady’s In Love With You, showing he can romp with the best of them.  (He also manages the band and it’s website www.swingtimesfive.com and books all the dates at Ken’s Steak House.)

 

 

 

They closed with the band and Jeff’s flugelhorn softly backing Debby on Sky Lark.  Magnificent!  Taking an “Exit Poll” – everyone said this was one of the best music they’ve heard!

The Swing Spirit continues to thrive with the unique Swing Times Five and vocalist Debby Larkin.  We hope to hear more from them!  Check out their great Swing CD, Raincheck;  email Dave Didriksen at info@swingX5.com.