Tag Archives: Al Ehrenfried

Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Paul Monat at the Sherborn Inn July 22

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5-pc Trad Jazz Band

Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Paul Monat and Al Ehrenfried

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band presented a romping New Orleans take on Sidney Bechet’s jazz and blues, with the five-piece group working together in a true spirit of cooperation. We were surprised to find cornetist Paul Monat substituting for trumpeter Jeff Stout, who has had a death in the family.  Al Ehrenfried, string bass, came out of retirement for this evening.

It was a five-piece band, with Stan McDonald and Paul Monat cornet, holding the front line with the superb backing of the rhythm section, pianist Ross Petot, Al Ehrenfried bass, and Steve Taddeo drums.

They kicked it off with the New Orleans sound with Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, and continued with Ross Petot’s robust piano intro to What Is This Thing Called Love.

Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll, Bechet’s I Remember When,  Everybody Loves My Baby.  The two were in sync, twining around each other. Stan started Lastic on clarinet, with Paul playing a long, sustained, note. The two make some powerful music together, drums and string bass maintaining the Traditional Jazz Beat.
Paul cornet, Stan clarinet

When You and I Were Young Maggie.  Bechet’s Blues In The Air, nice blues lead by Stan McDonald.

Ross was featured on Lucky Day, backed by string bass and drums.

Ross piano, with bass and drum

Ross Petot Featured

It was Steve Taddeo’s birthday.  Monida surprised him with a cake while the band played the Birthday Song.

waitress presents cake to Taddeo

Happy Birthday, Steve!

Stan and Paul in unison on Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson.   Bechet’s Fantasy, Paul slipped in some of his mentor, Wild Bill Davison.
cornet and soprano sax

When I Leave The World Behind, had Stan on vocal, great soprano sax; continuing on Lonesome Road.  Getting into overtime now with Bechet’s Dans Les Rues D’Antibes, with Al playing a superb bass solo, backed by Steve’s adept drumming.

It was an unforgettable evening.  The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return as usual on the 3rd Tuesday of month, August 19th with more surprises.

Paul Monat will be in New England until September, when he returns to Florida.   Stay tuned.

Blue Horizon Jazz Band’s Indian Summer at the Sherborn Inn, October 15, 2013

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Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Didriksen drums

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Didriksen drums

Stan McDonald clarinet/soprano sax, Jeff Stout trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Didriksen drums.

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, now celebrating 18 years at the Sherborn Inn, performed another evening of fine Traditional Jazz, with a superb front line backed by the splendid rhythm section.

Stan started on clarinet for Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, moving to soprano sax, complemented by the powerful trumpet of Jeff Stout and tailgate trombone of Gerry Gagnon.  Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You, Rose of the Rio Grand.  Four or Five Times is always played in a slow beat.

All By Myself – Berklee Professor Jeff Stout was introduced to ‘new’ old tunes played by the Bechet-Spanier Big Four.  The Big Four consisted of soprano sax and trumpet with only guitar and bass – but the Blue Horizon also has invaluable trombone, piano and drum.

Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me, Stan conjuring the echo of Sidney Bechet on soprano sax, with trumpet and trombone following in rhythmic harmony.

Stan McDonald sings

Stan McDonald sings Lotus Blossom

 

 

Lotus Blossom, Stan singing one of his favorites.

Ross’s lovely piano solo was backed by Dave’s soft brushes on snare drum.  Stan closed it with crisp high note on soprano sax.

 

 

 

 

 

Ross on piano, Peter Gerler behind him on guitar

Ross Petot, pianist extraordinaire

 

 

PIanist extraordinaire, Ross Petot’s artistry as a stride pianist is renowned; he played improvised New Orleans stride on W. C. Handy’s Ole Miss, backed by Peter Gerler’s guitar.

 

 

 


Kansas City Man Blues was a sublime piece of ensemble playing.  Bechet recorded it with Bob Wilbur in 1947.

Trombone, drums, trumpet

Gerry Gagnon, Dave Didriksen, Jeff Stout

string bass

Al Ehrenfried

Marie Elena was played in Habanera style, front line inspired by the burning tempo.  Didriksen listened carefully, anticipating where they were heading, with Al Ehrenfried’s pulsing string bass beside him.  Exciting!

Gagnon, head back, mouth wide open, drummer Didriksen in back, smiling.

Gerry Gagnon belts it out!

 

 

Lonesome Road, Stan began on vocal, then gave Gerry Gagnon a chance to belt it out.  Astounding! He could reach the back of a theater without a mic!

Stan doesn’t stray far from Bechet, returning with Marchand de Poisson.

 

 

They Closed with rapturous Indian Summer, this month’s theme. This timeless song was written by Victor Herbert in 1919 but not made famous until 1940 by Sidney Bechet. In 1978, Stan recorded his own compelling version (available on Blue Horizon Records).  http://bluehorizonjazzband.com/

Marce

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Whitney and Dave Didriksen

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 photos by Bennett Green

7-piece Traditional Jazz Band

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Whitney trumpet and Dave Didriksen drums

Dave Whitney trumpet, Stan McDonald clarinet/sopranos sax/vocals. Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar/banjo, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Didriksen drums

It’s Tuesday at the Sherborn Inn, and we’re ready for an evening of our favorite Traditional Jazz.  The Blue Horizon began with Meet Me To-night in Dreamland, Dave playing melodic trumpet with a congenial Stan McDonald on subtle clarinet, and Gerry Gagnon’s trombone using broad slides.  Peter Gerler was on banjo.

Sidney Bechet and Mugsy Spanier’s Four or Five Times wasn’t raucous, but had a nice easy beat, Whitney playing melody, Stan with intricate counterpoint on soprano sax, Peter on guitar.

Then they revved it up, with a rollicking Honky Tonk Town, with tight New Orleans polyphony, and suddenly they had the listeners sitting at the edge of their seats.  The band was on fire, lit by sparkplug Dave Whitney.  You could feel it in the air.  Save It Pretty Mama, Stan on soprano sax, muted trombone.

They kept the fires burning with Jelly Roll Morton’s Tijuana, with solo by Stan.

Stan had vocals on My Gal Sal and When I Leave The World Behind.

This band plays music of the early 20th century.  Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble, by spencer Williams was published in 1917. Marie Elena was a fine Latin beat.  Dave Whitney on propulsive trumpet, If I Could Be With You.

Ross's face framed by piano top

Ross Petot has amazing technical prowess on piano.

 

There was much discussion about who would start the next tune, Ross won, playing the beautiful verse of When I Leave The World Behind,  Dave keeping steady drum beat.   Magnificent solos by the front line, with Stan closing in a high cadenza.

 
Ross introduced What Is This Thing Called Love?

Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson and Blues in The Air were exceptional, with Dave and Stan on a roll.

Dave and Stan with Al on string bass in backgrund

Dave Whitney and Stan McDonald in high gear.                                                    photo by Marce

The crowd was ecstatic, responding to the band, and the band was feeding off the crowd.

Dave and Stan listening to Al

All listen while Al Ehrenfried plays acoustic string bass

 

 

Ehrenfried keeps a full, rich tone, playing proper bass lines, lifting the whole band.

 

 

 

 

 

Gagnon with 2 mutes on trombone

Gerry Gagnon makes fine use of many mutes.

 

Gerry’s trombone lead into a solid up-tempo Good Ol’ New York. Dave Didriksen let go on drum solo.

Don’t You Leave Me Here  Whitney in wa wa, vibrato trumpet, Gagnon on muted trombone.

Didriksen with big smile, giving high sign with fist

Dave Didriksen thoroughly enjoying the band

 

 

 

 

 

Time was running short, they were really cookin’ with I Got Rhythm, and everyone knew it.

 

 

They closed with Bechet’s Dans Les Rues D’Antibes, with horns holding on to the last note.

Dave Whitney and Dave Didriksen don’t usually sit in with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, but the chemistry was there from the start; the band worked together with heartfelt solos and ensembles.  We were fortunate to have shared this deeply moving evening of fine Traditional Jazz!

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band is in its 19th year at the Sherborn Inn, every 3rd Tuesday of the month.  See you there September 17th??

Friends and Family join Al Ehrenfried for his 90th Birthday at the Sherborn Inn

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by Marce
videos by Hal McAleer


Al Ehrenfried celebrates 90th at the Sherborn Inn
Videos by Harold McAleer

Family and Friends filled the Sherborn Inn June 19th to help Al Ehrenfried celebrate his 90th birthday.  Al plays marvelous string bass with many local bands, and regularly with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band.


Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Left to right, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jeff Stout trumpet, Dave Bragdon drums, Al Ehrenfried string bass, McDonald, Ross Petot piano, and Peter Gerler guitar.The Blue Horizon Jazz Band, lead by Stan McDonald, soprano sax and clarinet, plays on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Sherborn Inn. 

All By Myself kicked off the evening, with a Stan McDonald vocal – but Al certainly wasn’t – with family from all over the country and many music friends joining him.


Jeff Hughes

John ‘Urbie’ Kafalas

Lee Prager


Frank Stadler

Jim Mazzy

John Clark


Dave Didriksen

Dan Weiner

Steve Taddeo

BHJB continued with a Sidney Bechet tune, Lastic. When I Leave The World Behind, great soprano sax with cornet comping. Tijuana.

McDonald featured onBlues in the Air – it has a fine Blue Horizon clarinet solo in the middle.

Manager of the Sherborn Inn, Phil Cocoa, had a delicious chocolate cake ready for all to enjoy.  Al’s artist friend Alice presented him with a special birthday card that she created  “Cool Cat”.


Vocalist Mollie Malone sings a breathless “Marilyn Monroe”Happy Birthday to Al accompanied by the band with Frank Stadler on piano..

Band Two was lead by Jeff Hughes, with Lee Prager trombone, John Clark clarinet, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Frank Stadler piano, Dan Weiner guitar, Dave Didriksen drums, and of course Al on string bass.  He played with every band – all evening. 

Steve Taddeo dropped in for a couple of tunes. Al suggested a Gershwin tune from the Swng Era, S’Wonderful.

  Baby Ain’t I Good to You, fantastic front line Kafalas, Hughes, Clark – followed by  Weiner guitar solo.     Jimmy slipping into his infamous scat.

Dave Didriksen, of the Wolverine Jazz Band, back on drums providing a crisp, tight Dixieland Beat for Louis Armstrong’s Someday You’ll Be Sorry.

Jeff Stout trumpet and Jeff Hughes on long Conn cornet are a great combination anytime!

Frank Stadler introduced Found a New Baby, Lee Prager trombone challenging Al to a trombone/bass duet – as he often does with the Seacoast Stompers.   Al is up to the challenge!

They dedicated Dr. Jazz to oncologist John McGrath, internist Dr. Bailen,  a surgeon, and any other Doctors in the audience.

The last set started with the BHJB, an appropriate June Night.  John ‘Urbie’ Kafalas joined the band on trombone.  Two trombones!  John played with this band many years ago, and has been audio-taping many bands, especially Jimmy Mazzy, over 25 years.   Check him out at http://kafalas.net/jazz/ .

More Bechet, beautiful Lotus Blossom, Stan on soprano sax of course, ending with the last note in the stratosphere!  Marchand de Poisson (Fish Vendor).   Al’s string bass took the intro to  Lady Be Good.

The rest of the musicians wandered in for the Finale, a Blues that was composed the year Al was born – Blues in C.


Gerry Gagnon, Urbie Kafalas, Jeff Stout, Dave Bragdon, Al Ehrenfried, Stan McDonald, Ross Petot, Peter Gerler, Jeff Hughes, John Clark

The Finale had almost everybody. Harold McAleer videotaped the whole evening, and we hope to get many of them up here eventually.   Next to him is Ellen McDonald, Manager of the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, and the ONLY person responsible for our Tuesday Night Jazz at the Sherborn Inn for 17 years!!  THANK YOU, ELLEN!

Al and the Blue Horizon Jazz Band will continue to be here on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.  Join us!