by Marce

Stan McDonald leader/soprano sax and clarinet, Jeff Stout trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Bragdon drums.  Stan dedicated this evening to a former drummer who died recently, Jimmy Kay.

Stan has always been a rambunctious rebel at heart.  Less than a month after hip surgery, he was back with his Blue Horizon Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn for their regular monthly performance.  Nothing could keep him away!

The band felt the energy, and played their hearts out. They started appropriately with I Got Rhythm, Four or Five Times, and an old Trad standard, Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of my Jelly Roll, with Jeff Stout’s powerful trumpet taking the melodic lead, and Stan McDonald prodding him on soprano sax, then moving to clarinet.

Jeff Stout, Professor at the Berklee College of Music, follows several great trumpet players who have played with this band, such as Walter Miller.

Jeff, relaxed and meticulous, adds power to every melody.  Armand Piron’s Mama’s Gone, Goodbye was fantastic.

Stepping in from the audience, Jeff Hughes gave Jeff Stout a break and relieved him for a couple of tunes.  His cornet is as long as a trumpet and can be just as powerful, or soft, as he chooses. 

I Would Do Anything For You.   Nice soft cornet by Hughes, backing McDonald’s vocal. 

In the 1970’s, Stan played with its composer, pianist Claude Hopkins.

Ross Petot took the intro to Blue Turning Grey over You, with a stirring guitar solo by Peter Gerler, followed by cornet and trombone awe-inspiring trading 4’s.  Fantastic!

Peter switched to banjo for Margie, playing full chord melody style, with Stout back on trumpet, Stan on rich low-register clarinet, culminating in a thrilling coda!

Jelly Roll Morton wrote this tune in what is termed “His Mexican period.”  However it was named after a bar in Kansas City.  Tijuana.  Ross Petot was featured on piano, because Stan was welcoming some visitors from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to the Sherborn Inn. 

Rejep Sultanov, Director of Soltan Dag, Educational Center of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Murdan Orazmuradov, Business Manager of the Central Council of Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, were accompanied by a lady from their Embassy who acted as translator.  They were guests of Royce Anderson and The International Center at Worcester Tech, and like all of us, enjoying this spirited, timeless Jazz.  It was quite an honor to have them all here.  (Royce is a guitarist who played with the Blue Horizon at the Foundry in Walpole back in the 1980’s.)

McDonald was pleased, doing what he loves best, playing Traditional Jazz, especially Sidney Bechet.

His soprano sax on Lotus Blossom was intense and powerful, ending in a high D.

The “Rhythm Boys” are the foundation of the band;  Dave Bragdon on drums and Al Ehrenfried on string bass, provide a splendid pulse that propels the others.

Jeff Hughes joined the band for the finale, a gripping tune that became popular among soldiers in the First World War, It’s a Long, Way To Tipperary.

Stan McDonald insists on the best; he has always had excellent musicians.  It was a relief to see him back so soon, playing again with this top-notch Blue Horizon Jazz Band.  For those who have known him for a long time, it wasn’t surprising.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band continues at the Sherborn Inn on the 3rd Tuesday of every month (except December). Management picks up the $10 admission fee for anyone under 40 years of age, so bring your family, friends, in-laws.  They will enjoy it.  This kind of Jazz embodies a carefree, happy spirit, it’s infectious.

by Marce

Traditional Jazz has been around since the 1920’s but it never gets boring to us. Tonight was no exception, with the Stan McDonald’s resourceful Blue Horizon Jazz Band and authentic, hot classic jazz and swing…. and a surprise guest.

Stan McDonald, leader/soprano sax/clarinet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Peter Gerler guitar, Dave Bragdon drums and this week, Mike Peipman on trumpet.

They began with Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, Baby Ain’t I Good to You, Stan on clarinet and vocal, backed by the rhythm section

Al Ehrenfried on acoustic string bass and Dave Bragdon on drums drive the band with a proper Traditional beat, without being overbearing.

Peter capably rounds out the rhythm section on guitar, and moved to banjo for Margie.

Ross is an educated listener, complementing, rescuing,  proffering ideas with a just a few pertinent notes on the Baby Grand.

Willie The Weeper was a barn-burner.  Renowned for for his fine stride piano, Ross rendered a blistering solo on this one.

McDonald’s soprano sax took the intro to Once In a While (not the one you’re thinking of, but an upbeat, hot  tune.)  Stan takes the first solo. Mike’s  smokin’ solo strayed from the melody;  Ross intuitively picked it up on piano, the band carried on with enthusiastic, interweaving New Orleans polyphony.    (There always has to be some suggestion of the melody in there somewhere!)

Mike generally plays modern, contemporary jazz, but displayed his aptitude for Trad with an impeccable rendition of  Louis Armstrong’s West End Blues.  Spectacular!

Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home, fine vocal by Stan.  Mike’s inspiring trumpet solo reached for the stratosphere! 

Gerry had the vocal on When I Leave The World Behind. Gerry Gagnon gives 150% whether on trombone or vocal.  He normally plays with the Boilermaker Jazz Band, all over the U.S. Canada and Europe, so we’re happy to have him here with us.

Trumpet and Trombone stepped down, while Stan played Petite Fleur with a passion!

Stan McDonald was recently interviewed by Dave Radlauer on Jazz Rhythm, where the Bechet-style soprano saxophone master recalled his half-century musical career.  This evening, Stan again honored Bechet with Georgia Cabin, Dardanella, Spreading Joy.

Chanteuse Mollie Malone was in the audience and stepped up for a fine vocal on Django’s Nuage, in French, backed by Al, steadfast on string bass and Stan’s strong soprano sax.

Too soon, time for the final tune. Lover, Come Back To Me, ending another superb Tuesday evening of Jazz at the Sherborn Inn with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, and special guest, Mike Peipman.

Mike will be at the Regatta Bar March 31st with with Stanley Sagov and The Remembering The Future Jazz Band.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band is here at the Sherborn Inn on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.  Catch them on April 17th and see if Stan comes up with any more surprises!

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band introduced Traditional Jazz to the Sherborn Inn in 1995 – it was a pleasure to be here again, as they continued into their 17th year. They kicked things off with All By Myself.  Stan said this was a good way to start, since the band hasn’t played together since November. He was honored to have Jeff Hughes, one of his favorite people and a good friend, filling in for Jeff Stout. 

“Dave Bragdon has been  surreptitiously playing behind the band for eleven years.”…..  Stan

Ross took the intro into Georgia. Great ensemble on Willie The Weeper.  Tishumingo Blues had Jeff playing strong cornet, accompanied by Ross’s sterling playing, and Al Ehrenfried’s  unwavering beat on the string bass.  Gerry Gagnon was featured on trombone in Down in Honky Tonk Town, and ice muted trombone onYes, We Have No Bananas.

Stan asked if anybody remembered the Paris Brothers, Sidney and Wilbur?  Very few hands were raised.  He said “We have a whole new generation to educate!”

They soared into a fabulous Lotus Blossom, one of Stan’s specials on soprano sax.  But  Myron will tell you more —

Guest writer: Myron Idelson:

“Six ghosts returned to the Sherborn Inn Tuesday night, January 17, 2012, haunting us with the same great music of the December 11 Spectacular.  The apparition’s were giants Stan McDonald, Jeff Hughes, Ross Petot, Dave Bragdon, Peter Gerler, and Al Ehrenfried.

They were accompanied by another giant, Gerry Gagnon. They proved that their keen musical intelligence and lucid style  are unimpaired.  And based on what the Blue Horizon Jazz Band did, offered those of us who were wise enough to attend the unique perspective of our musical future. Stan was soaring on the soprano sax and his vocal rendition of Lotus Blossom was stunning. 

The highlights offered by Jeff Hughes, particularly with his gorgeous tones in the brief opening of Your Lucky To Me,the first number of the last set, was moving, and then his driving lead into the rousing balance of the song. 

Ross as usual was remarkable and he awed all of us with his rare sense of newness.   Folks, perhaps to feel that something is truly new, we first have to expect it.

Good Ol New York was the realization of the expected that struck us with the birth of the new.  All evening Dave Bragdon’s breaks and long solos were crisp, clean, and he led the band at a clean steady and well defined rhythm on every number. 

Gerry Gagnon’s driving solos and ensemble work were heart warming and caused a great feet tapping chorus from the crowd.   The bass was steady and embraced and augmented the pace and mood all night.   Peter Geller’s guitar solo on Georgia was ambitious and unlimited.  Stan’s rendition of Irving Berlin’s When I Leave The World Behind was an additional highlight.  

The fact is, the entire three sets were an unbroken glorious music interlude which marked it as a special night.  As to their music, the Blue Horizon seems to have a reservoir of thousands of new innovations which do not lie dormant in their creative musical talents.

We all experienced the fact that it is the mark of a creative artist that makes the familiar seem new.   The Blue Horizon does not dull the cutting edge of Traditional Jazz.  Their capacity and their strong point is bold and forthright creativity which goes straight to the heart of the music they made great.

They were individualist and a team.  That which is unique and worthwhile made itself felt.  We caught it, and as a result we experienced musical growth and exhilaration.   In our last review we said “Let’s do it again.” We sure did, but where was everybody?”

“Peter Geller’s guitar solo on Georgia was ambitious and unlimited.”

Ross, always vigilant,  quietly filling in spaces, keeps everyone on the right track.

Al Ehrenfried, the consummate side man,  listening,  accentuating,  not pushing.

Stan’s low register clarinet was momentous on Eubie Blake’s You’re Lucky To Me, from the Blackbirds of 1930.

Stan poses with friends, Tina & Ralph Cass during the break.

Stan said “It’s a pleasure for us to play for you listeners. You are as important to us as we are to you!”

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return to the Sherborn Inn on February 17th.  See you there!