Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante June 7, 2018

Posted on June 11, 2018 by admin

6 piece Trad Jazz Band, no trombone or piano

Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Andy Moore clarinet, Phil Person trumpet, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn string bass, Richard Malcolm drums

Stan McDonald is a staunch supporter of Traditional Jazz. The Blue Horizon Jazz Band is one of the few bands left who will satisfy us Trad Jazz fans! Gerry Gagnon (tuba/trombone) couldn’t be here tonight, but his chair was filled with a fine clarinet player, Andy Moore, a friend and cohort of Jack Soref.

They began June with the welcome June Night, then sang a Happy Birthday to Stan’s son, Andy, who was sitting in the audience – he was 51 the day before.

Lilting energy on Four or Five Times,

All of Me. I’ll Never Be The Same – Andy and Stan playing spontaneous counterpoint to Phil Person’s sweet trumpet.

Andy Moore and Stan McDonald play counterpoint.

Rosetta, one of our favorites, closed the first set. Stan McDonald stepped out.

with long white pony tail, playing fine trumpet

Phil Person

Phil Person took over lead of the band – his sweet trumpet taking on a more powerful tone.

Jack Soref

Jack Soref Manouch guitar was featured with Django’s Nuage. Never get tired of hearing this!

Ron L’Herault, trombone from the Dixie Diehards, joined them for the rest of the evening.

Richard Malcolm

Basin Street Blues was a request from drummer Rich Malcolm. Andy Moore playing low register clarinet. They were in sync, fantastic solos backed by superb rhythm section.

After some conversation on the chords (this is a democratic band), I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me began with celestial ensemble.

Jelly Roll Morton’s Honeysuckle Rose

Andy Moore

We learned that Andy is also a fine singer, lending his voice to I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me, You Took Advantage of Me, and I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.

Guitar took the intro on I’ve Got a Right To Sing The Blues, with the front line each taking a full chorus.

Ron L’Herault took the vocal on Sweethearts on Parade.

Whispering

Ron L’Herault

They closed with Ron playing New Orleans tailgate trombone and singing Big Butter and Egg Man.

It was a fine evening, hearing Trad Jazz and getting re-acquainted with Andy Moore’s clarinet. He and Jack Soref are both in the Sinti Rhythm Band, playing mostly private gigs all over New England.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays here at Primavera Ristorante on the first Thursday of every month. Join us for some fine Jazz!!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante April 5, 2018

Posted on April 21, 2018 by admin

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Gerry Gagnon tuba. The band’s drummer, Rich Malcolm, director of Audio/Visual at Berklee, was absent because he had to cover the class for a fellow employee who underwent surgery.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Bands plays every 1^st Thursday of the month at Primavera, a fine Italian Restaurant family owned since 1989. Great Traditional Jazz in addition to fine Italian Cuisine at a fair price!

Stan McDonald

Stan McDonald played for the first set, opening on soprano sax with fine renditions of Swing That Music, Memphis Blues and Dardanella. That was followed by Canal St. Blues. Feet were tapping as they continued with Everybody Loves My Baby. That closed the first set.

Gerry Gagnon

Gerry Gagnon took over leadership of the band, but he gave everyone a say on what they would play and how they would play it.

The important job of keeping that Trad Beat was accomplished by Jack Soref on guitar, with help from Gerry playing 4/4 on a monstrous Conn 20J recording tuba with a deep, sonorous tone.

The band started the second set with a barn-burning version of Limehouse Blues, and I Would Do Most Anything For You (dedicated to the audience). And they did!!

John Kafalas

John Kafalas fills in on trombone whenever Gerry moves to tuba. John has been a part of this band for many years, improvising fine counterpoint harmony lines to the lead parts of the trumpet player.

On the 85^th Anniversary of Louis Armstrong’s playing with King Oliver, they gave us Sugar Blues.

Phil Person

They moved upbeat with Found a New Baby. Phil Person took the lead on trumpet on Margie. Phil plays a sweet, ‘pretty’ trumpet. He is an Assistant Professor of Ear Training at Berklee who helps students learn arranging, harmony, conducting, tonal harmony and counterpoint.

The band kept the tradition of New Orleans music of the 20’s to 50’s alive and vibrant.
That’s a Plenty.

Jack Soref

They continued with a tune requested by “regular” Connie T. It Had To Be you. Jack Soref took the last 8, demonstrating what a guitar solo should sound like!

China Boy, was a rouser! They continued with The Mill’s Brothers’ When I Grow too Old to Dream, I’ll See You In My Dreams.

This Blue Horizon Jazz Band is a light-hearted, versatile band. They closed with Just a Closer Walk With Thee. a traditional gospel song that has been covered by many artists.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays the 1^st Thursday of every month here at Primavera Ristorante, 7pm. They will be back May 3^rd. Consider joining us??

Marce

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante August 3, 2017

Posted on August 6, 2017 by admin

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Phil Person trumpet, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn double bass, Richard Malcolm drums

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band was eager to play following a two-month hiatus at Primavera Ristorante. They played many of our Traditional Jazz Favorites; Gerry Gagnon, Stan McDonald and Phil Person carried the melody on front line. In Trad Jazz, somebody always plays the melody.

Front Line: Gerry Gagnon, Stan McDonald, Phil Person

They were backed by rhythm section: Jack Soref on guitar, Rich Malcolm drums, and Stu Gunn acoustic double bass. The front line played great ensemble backed by exemplary rhythm on Spreading Joy.

Stan McDonald, leader

Leader Stan McDonald was featured on Bechet’s Fantasy, and singing All By Myself.

Phil Person

Phil Person adds his own unique voice on trumpet with beautifully simple phrasing.

Rich tapping sticks attached to bass drum

Rich Malcolm

Rich Malcolm maintains that important Trad Beat with unique improvisations. It’s a joy to watch his antics!

Jack Soref

Jack’s D-hole guitar was specially built for him by a friend in Worcester, combining several designs from various French guitars – sounding very much like Gypsy Jazz.

Stu Gun on acoustic double bass

Stu Gunn also maintains the beat, in sync with the drum. His solo on Memphis Blues expressed flawless intonation.

Gerry’s instrument is a 1946 Olds Super Trombone with wide tone band and hand engraved details. He is equally adept on tuba and fills in when Stu can’t make it.

Gerry Gagnon

Hand engraved trombone

Stan took a break after the second set. The rhythm boys were featured on I Remember When.

The Rhythm Boys: Rich Malcolm, Jack Soref, Stu Gunn

Then the 5-piece band took off with Sweet Sue, Chinatown, My Blue Heaven, Strutting with Some Barbecue, and Gerry singing The Sheikh of Araby. They closed the evening with Coquette.

My Blue Heaven

Chinatown

Coquette – video by Ellen McDonald

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays at Primavera on the first Thursday of every month; they will return September 7^th. Join us!

TUNES:
Got Rhythm
Blue Turning Gray Over You
Roaming
My Gal Sal
Tijuana
Some Sweet Day
Bechet’s Fantasy
Spreading Joy
Lotus Blossom
Memphis Blues
All By Myself
I Remember When
Sweet Sue
Strutting with Some Barbecue
The Sheikh of Araby
My Blue Heaven
Coquette

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante May 4, 2017

Posted on May 7, 2017 by admin

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Jack Soref guitar, Rich Malcolm drums.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band played fine Classic Traditional Jazz at Primavera Ristorante on May 4^th. Stan McDonald dug into his massive collection of Traditional Jazz and provided charts for the musicians, bringing us great tunes the band hasn’t played in a long time.

McDonald in front playing soprano sax, Gagnon behind him with huge tuba

Stan McDonald and Gerry Gagnon

Stan McDonald led on soprano sax, Stan plays with the taste and inflection and inspiration of Bechet. Gerry Gagnon’s turbo-charged tuba played booming bass lines. Gerry is the longest continuous band member, 23 years. Initially he played tuba, later switched to trombone. A master of both instruments, he plays tuba when bass player Stu Gunn is away and the band has a reunion with John Kafalas on trombone.

Kafalas with trombone extended almost to floor

John Kafalas

John Kafalas’s trombone improvised counterpoint harmony lines to the sax and trumpet. John remembered the intro to “Farewell to Storeyville” perfectly from when he was a full-time member of the band years ago. It was good to hear that tune again! The band was glad when John moved back to New England.

Two Videos of Blue Horizon Jazz Band with John Kafalas by the late George Borgman:
Featured in this video are band leader Stan McDonald, the leader switches between the soprano saxophone and the clarinet, longtime member Walter Miller on trumpet, Hans Brack on bass, John Kafalas on trombone & double-bell euphonium, John Rayworth on banjo, Stu Grover on drums and Phil Hower on the piano. – Recorded at the July Fourth “Jazz Picnic” 1989.

My Creole Belle

You Do Something To Me

Back to 2017………..

Phil Person

Phil Person’s purity of tone reinforced the melody and lifted the whole band. He gave us a moving solo on “I Remember When.”

Rich Malcolm

Rich Malcolm’s drums maintained the Classic New Orleans Street Beat that is so essential to Traditional Jazz. He played for the Sox at Fenway the night before! He was well warmed up for tonight!

Jack Soref

Jack Soref played two solos. First a Django inspired “It Had To Be You.” Second a spellbinding “Dark Eyes. Youngest member of the band, he appreciates Stan McDonald’s depth and knowledge about the musicians of the 20’s and 30’s.

A special request altered the second set. “Marjorie” was celebrating her 89^th birthday in the dining room and kept peeking in on the music. Finally she came into the music room with her daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandsons. The band played a lively version of “Margie” as a birthday present. The entire family danced energetically with Marjorie to everybody’s enjoyment

The whole band played a memorable, hard-driving performance! There are only a few bands still playing New Orleans Traditional Jazz; Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band perseveres at Primavera on the first Thursday of every month. Please join us at 7pm on June 1^st at 20 Pleasant St. Millis MA?

Tunes this evening were: June Night, Four or Five Times, All of Me, I’ll Never Be The Same, Rosetta, Running Wild, My Gal Rocks Me, Some of These Days, Blues in the Air, When I Leave the World Behind, Roaming, Rose of the Rio Grande, I Remember When, After You’ve Gone, Farewell to Storyville, Margie.

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera January 5, 2017

Posted on January 29, 2017 by admin

Blue Horizon

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar and banjo, Stu Gunn double string bass, Rich Malcolm drums.

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band enthusiastically opened the 2017 Thursday Jazz Season raring to play Traditional Jazz after a two month hiatus.

Stan McDonald, leader
with Stu Gunn behind him

Stan kicked off many of the tunes on sax starting with Roses of Picardy. Phil Person took the lead with Stan playing counterpoint on many tunes for an evening of fine Traditional Jazz.

Phil on trumpet, white hair with short pony tail

Phil Person

Phil Person adds his own unique voice on trumpet with beautifully simple phrasing, understanding this Trad Jazz that isn’t often heard at Berklee, where he teaches all levels of Ear Training. Listening is vital to improvising great jazz.

John Kafalas

Hot rhythm intro to Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You, Stan and Phil playing riffs on Kafalas’ trombone solo.

John Kafalas has been a member of the band in the past and fills in for the few times Gerry Gagnon is away.
(Check out his 1988 Jimmy Mazzy Podcasts on http://www.kafalas.net/jazzcast/)

When I Leave The World Behind was dedicated to my cousin, Donald Fleuette, who died at two o’clock that afternoon in a Providence Hospice. Thank you! It’s been a tough three months.

Blues in the Air started with a guitar intro, great solos by front line, ending with Stan soprano sax cadenza. They played great ensemble on Memphis Blues.

Front Line, John Kafalas, Stan McDonald, Phil Person

Jack Soref was featured solo on a banjo/guitar with Sunny Side of The Street, backed by fine string bass and drum. He says the banjo/guitar was Django Rheinhardt’s original instrument. It’s a banjo with a guitar neck. Swing That Music was WILD! He also played Georgia Cabin on banjo.

Stu Gunn

Stu ensures they have the proper chords. He’s always listening, filling in any holes that might suddenly appear. He played fine slap bass on Everybody Loves My Baby.
He is first call on string bass and also plays symphonic classical music in several orchestras. Knows his stuff!

Rich Malcolm uses many subtle tricks keeping the Trad Jazz Beat – you need to watch him carefully to catch them. On Marchand de Poisson he turned the drum sticks around and played them with the backside giving it more emphasis. Instead of rim-tapping or using a wood block, he taps on a couple of sticks wired between the drums.

Backward sticks

right stick taps sticks placed across two drums

Tapping on sticks instead of rim

Dardanella started with a 4-bar rhythm vamp, Stan playing fine chorus on soprano sax, and ending with a band stinger!

They closed with Louis’s Sleepy Time Down South.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will be playing the first Thursday of every month at Primavera Ristorante. Check out the Primavera Schedule. Thank you, Ellen McDonald!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera September 1, 2016

Posted on September 4, 2016 by admin

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn double bass, Rich Malcolm drums

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band played uplifting and foot-tapping Traditional Jazz Thursday night at Primavera Ristaurant, with Stan and Phil taking turns on the melody or improvising around it, Gerry’s smooth (or growling) trombone, Jack’s marvelous gypsy guitar, Stu’s artful string bass supporting Rich’s one-beat drum-rolls behind the fine solos.

They played many of our favorite tunes:
Set 1
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me
Georgia On My Mind
Blue Turning Gray Over You
My Gal Sal
Tijuana

Set 2
Some Sweet Day
Bechet’s Fantasy
Spreading Joy
Lotus Blossom
Out of Nowhere
All By Myself in the Morning

Set 3
Nuages
Dear Old Southland
When I Leave The World Behind
I Remember When
After You’ve Gone
Le Marchand de Poisson

Stan McDonald

Phil Person	Gerry Gagnon
Stu Gunn	Rich Malcolm
Jack Soref	Stan McDonald and Phil Person

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return on the next first Thursday of the month, October 6^th.

Thank you Stan and Ellen McDonald for keeping this art form alive!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band June 2nd 2016 Primavera

Posted on June 4, 2016 by admin

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Phil Person trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Stu Gunn string bass, Jack Soref guitar, Rich Malcolm drums

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band revived the passionate style and exuberant melodies of the New Orleans musicians of the 20’s and 30’s with tightly arranged solos and fine ensemble. They played many Sidney Bechet compositions, brought to life by leader Stan McDonald on the instrument that Bechet made famous, the soprano saxophone.

They began with I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, followed by a guitar intro to Georgia On My Mind, with fine ensemble and solid rhythm.

Phil on muted trumpet with Jack Soref behind him

Phil Person

Phil Person played powerful trumpet on Blue Turning Gray Over You. He and McDonald took turns taking the lead. Phil is a true gentleman, listens carefully, and plays with a light touch – until the tune calls for a powerful trumpet, then look out!

My Gal Sal showcased the band’s fine ensemble. Some Sweet Day was a rabble rouser!

Gerry Gagnon growling trombone

Bechet’s Blues In The Air brought out Gerry Gagnon’s growling trombone. Gerry has been with this band for about 17 years. An essential part of the front line, his trombone also fills in the “holes” in a tune with extensive use of the slide.

Jack Soref plays the same round hole guitar with very high action as Django Reinhardt.

It was great to have Jack Soref back from his Colorado tour with the Future Rhythm Quartet.
Jack was featured on Ochi Chernye (Dark Eyes), a Russian Folk Song.
Our Birthday Girl, Tina Cass, 80 years old today, surprised the band with the lyrics in Russian.

Stan said that Irving Berlin summed up Life with All By Myself, and did the vocal. He was featured on Bechet’s Petite Fleur, ending it in a flourish!

Stan on soprano sax with string bass and guitar

Stan McDonald featured on Petite Fleur with Stu Gunn and Jack Soref

Stu Gunn also plays classical music in local Symphonies.

Stu Gunn’s very deep, rich, “woody” sounding tone on string bass gives the music support and maintains that solid Traditional Jazz Beat. He played a superb solo on Dear Old Southland. His bass is always in sync with Rich Malcolm’s drum.

Rich on drums, bass, snare, top hat, two small cymbals and a bell

Rich Malcolm

Rich is the new drummer with The Blue Horizon Jazz Band, though he has played with the band in the past. He understands this music.

He gave Tijuana a sweet Latin beat. Steve Straus of the Riverboat Stompers says “You feel the rhythm rather than hear the drum beats by Rich Malcom”.

They played one of Malcom’s favorites, When I Leave The World Behind.

Stan’s soprano sax took the intro to Bechet’s I Remember When (Si Tu Vois Ma Mere). Beautiful!

There was a slow beginning on After You’ve Gone, then with a 4-bar drum pulse, the band went WILD! The distinctive front line and strong heartbeat of the bass and drums supported by Jack’s guitar prompted Jeannine, a ‘regular’, to say “This is the best I’ve ever heard this band play!”

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays at Primavera Ristorante on the first Thursday of every month; next one will be July 7th. Join us!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band opens Primavera’s 2016 Thursday Jazz

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, January 7, 2016

Stan McDonald leader/soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kefalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar, and Gerry Gagnon tuba.

Stan sitting back, relaxed, playing soprano sax

Stan McDonald anxious to play!

Stan McDonald was raring to go after a two-month hiatus from Jazz, and immediately led the band into a dynamic Rosetta. What Is This Thing Called Love, It Had To Be You. He sang My Gal Sal with passion.

A vital sparkplug, Gerry Gagnon’s booming tuba keeps the band in time, reinforced by Jack Soref’s guitar.

Wild Man Blues was a hot tune! Trumpet leading, sax taking the breaks, guitarist Jack Soref in a dazzling gypsy-flavored solo with tuba backup. Phil Person’s muted trumpet played from the heart, followed by Stan’s formidable sax. Embellishing the tune was Gerry’s roaring tuba solo.

Gerry Gagnon on monster tuba

Gerry Gagnon doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. With constant motion, he keeps the band in time, and softly backs solos.

They followed with a soft, sublime melody, Roaming, nice soprano sax.

John Kafalas

John Kafalas’ mellow trombone tugs at your heart strings, playing warm melodic lines.

An unusual guitar/tuba intro to Running Wild really energized the audience, followed by an equally captivating Tijuana. Moving to inspiring ensemble, Stan was pleased with Soref’s guitar on Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me.

Stan turns towards Soref, playing soprano sax

Stan McDonald joins Jack Soref on Sweet Sue

Jack plays the same gently arched Selmer guitar as Django Rheinhardt.

Jack was featured with a roaring takeoff solo on Sweet Sue backed by tuba.

He will present a Gypsy Jazz Trio for the first time at Primavera on February 25 and March 17. For anyone who hasn’t heard this yet, it will be an initiation to Django Rheinhardt!

Phil Person, marvelous musician

Phil Person’s trumpet, so beautiful and moving, resonated on Rose Of The Rio Grande, inducing tuba and guitar into a fiery rhythms.

Irving Berlin’s Blues In The Night – a twelve bar blues, announced the approaching end of the evening. The Band closed with Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson, beginning and ending with a feisty Habanera.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return to Primavera on February 4th with another presentation of early 20’s and 30’s Hot Jazz. Hope to see you here!

(My apologies for the poor quality of the photos.
My main Nikon camera has been sent back to the
company for three weeks for repairs. Marce)

Tunes played tonight:
Rosetta
What Is This Thing Called Love
It Had To Be You
My Gal Sal
Tijuana
Wild Man Blues
Roamin’
Running Wild
Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me
My Gal Rocks Me (With one Steady Roll)
Sweet Sue
Rose of The Rio Grande
Black and Blue
When I Leave The World Behind
Blues In The Night
Marchand de Poisson

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante November 5, 2015

Posted on November 6, 2015 by admin

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Phil Person trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax and clarinet, John Kafalas trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Jack Soref guitar, Steve Taddeo drums

Stan began on soprano sax with I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, guitar intro to What Is This Thing Called Love; an old chestnut rarely done, It Had To Be You.

Stan moved to clarinet for My Gal Sal, taking the vocal.
Tijuana was HOT!

Steve Taddeo plays softly too!

Baby, Ain’t I Good To You.. Taddeo was playing like Baby Dodds, varying his drum patterns with accents and flourishes; keeping the beat with the bass drum while playing buzz rolls on the snare.

Phil Person, Berklee College of Music

Rose of Rio Grande, melody was established by Phil’s marvelous trumpet. We’re fortunate to have him. He is friendly and easygoing, humorous, a straight ahead trumpeter.

He’s played with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, White Heat Swing Orchestra, Swing Legacy, and Duke Belaire Jazz Orchestra. Phil teaches ear training at Berklee.

John Kafalas trombone and Gerry Gagnon Tuba

An upbeat Lover Come Back To Me, with Phil starting on muted trumpet was incredible, with Gerry Gagnon playing that monstrous tuba in double time!

John Kafalas played trombone with feeling and skill making this truly a tour de force.

Jack Soref, Django-style guitarist

Our favorite Gypsy Jazz guitarist, Jack Soref, provided an expert rhythm beat along with drum and tuba.

At breaktime, Jack played Django Rheinhardt’s Nuage, softly backed by tuba, then joined by Stan McDonald on soprano sax. Beautiful!

Stan McDonald does Bechet on soprano sax

Leader Stan McDonald’s forte has always been Sidney Bechet. He played a genuinely heartfelt Si Tu Vois Ma Mere with warm melodic lines.

They wrapped the evening up with a fascinating Dardanella, at one point with the tuba backed only by guitar, and ended it with a joyous romp.

These musicians are a treasure; we hope they’ll all return with The Blue Horizon Jazz Band in 2016. Many thanks to Ellen McDonald, who has provided us with fantastic jazz every week for the last 20 years!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Phil Person at Primavera August 6, 2015

Posted on August 7, 2015 by admin

Blue Horizon Jazz Band: Dave Didriksen, Stu Gunn, Gerry Gagnon, Phil Person, Jack Soref, Leader Stan McDonald

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band had a perfect mix of musicians this Thursday at Primavera with Phil Person leading on trumpet and Jack Soref on guitar. Phil brought along his sense of humor, tossing quips as they played, and everyone had fun. The whole band played a memorable, hard-driving performance!

The combined talents of the front line sharing ideas enlivened the evening.

trombone, trmpet, clarinet, string bass in back

Front Line

Phil Person

Phil Person is leader of the Phil Person Sextet, Quintet, and Quartet, and teaches all levels of Ear Training at Berklee. In the summertime, he teaches classes of teens. He kept this evening light with his good humor, adding jokes for the musicians. They obviously enjoyed playing together, and it reflected on the audience.

They kicked it in with ensemble playing I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me. What Is This Thing Called Love?

Gerry Gagnon is a intense on that trombone.

All by Myself in The Evening – guitar played front line solo, Stan singing, tune has a nice bounce, with Gerry playing killer muted trombone!

Jack Soref on domed guitar

Soref’s guitar played rhythm and also became part of the front line. Jack soloed on It Had To Be You, playing gypsy flavored ‘jazz manouche’ with swing articulation.

Note the Selmer guitar favored by Django Reinhardt. The top of the guitar is gently arched or domed—a feature achieved by bending a flat piece of wood rather than by the violin-style carving used in archtop guitars.

Jack brings an added flair to the band.

Found A New Baby – Stan plays the verse on soprano sax, I Would Do Anything For You, Baby Ain’t I Good To You – great trumpet, clarinet comping, fine string bass behind them.

Dave with big smile on gold colored Ludwig drums

Dave Didriksen

Rose of the Rio Grande started with energized ensemble with Dave’s great timekeeping skills behind them. Dave Didriksen plays great Traditional Jazz, playing hi hat softly behind solos, brushes on snare drum. He lets the soloists shine. He let loose on one of the tunes showing he can romp with the best of them!

They played My Gal Sal in in marvelous fluid rhythm. They recalled that on the Jacky Gleason show, Gleason would be found wiping down the bar, singing the end of “My Gal, Sal” in his wonderful howl.

Stu concentrating on bass, hands just a blurr

Stu Gunn

Stu’s magical string bass took the intro to W. C. Handy’s Ole Miss. Stu plays many styles of string bass, listening carefully, playing just the right cords.

Phil took the lead on trumpet with beautifully placed phrases, with Stan comping on soprano sax. Marvelous! Stan sang the vocal. Jack played a dazzling Django guitar solo.

Stan McDonald

Sidney Bechet’s Le Marchand de Poisson started with a 4-bar rhythm Habanera intro, Dave’s foot heavy on bass drum. Phil wasn’t familiar with it so Stan took the lead and played a fabulous first chorus on sop sax. Phil picked it up quickly. They played a fantastic Habanera ending with horns stinger taking it out.

Stan’s sax took a wild intro into Wild Man Blues, with two bar breaks on solos, Phil playing wa wa trumpet. Soref’s guitar began a wild finale, China Boy.

Fine musicians shared flow of ideas, playing in sync. It was a fine evening.

These fine musicians combined talents to play New Orleans old time jazz with new time energy and the fans took part with foot-tapping and head-nodding. The Jazz was fabulous, and we all had a good time!

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante June 7, 2018

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante April 5, 2018

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante August 3, 2017

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante May 4, 2017

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera January 5, 2017

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera September 1, 2016

Blue Horizon Jazz Band June 2nd 2016 Primavera

Blue Horizon Jazz Band opens Primavera’s 2016 Thursday Jazz

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante November 5, 2015

Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Phil Person at Primavera August 6, 2015