Jazz Tuber Trio Eli, Jimmy and Ted, Plus Bob Winter piano, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Jeff Guthery drums, Herb Gardner trombone, Carolyn Newberger washboard
It certainly was an exciting evening at the Sherborn In on November 12, with Boston Pops’ pianist Bob Winter joining The Jazz Tuber Trio. Bob Winter has been the pianist for the Boston Pops for over 30 years, but also has extensive experience in clubs, television, radio, and theaters, including performances with Henry Mancini, Teddy Wilson, Buddy DeFranco, Mel Torme, Luciano Pavarotti, Eddie Daniels, Stan Getz, Cleo Laine/John Dankworth, and Airto Moreira.
Bob Winter
Bob set the mood with piano intro to an upbeat Found a New Baby, just as New York’s Herb Gardner walked in carrying his trombone case. Surprise!
Herb Gardner moved to NY in 1963 and began touring with Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood, was a regular at the Metropole, Jimmy Ryan’s and Eddie Condon’s nightclubs. He’s appeared with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City. He just walked in, took out the trombone, sat down and started playing.
Ted Casher and Herb Gardner
We love this marvelous hot jazz. You never know what’s going to happen next! Instrumental titans playing delectable hot jazz!
No holds barred – combustible combinations of piano, tenor sax, trombone, Eli’s tuba maintaining a deep underpinning bassline, Jeff Guthery laying down the beat with brushes.
Jeff Guthery mostly uses brushes
Eli introduced vocalist Rebecca Sullivan, an accomplished vocalist and teacher, with a three-octave range. She’s learning something new at the New England Conservatory of Music, with Eli Newberger assigned as her mentor. She’s an emotionally powerful performer, singing very slowly, which takes considerable skill.
Squeeze Me.
Eli called for a fast tune, Bob responded with a lovely solo on Ida. (Here he is at the Tavern Club in Boston 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtAF92TCxtE)
Rebecca makes the songs personal and passionate.
Silky-smooth Satin Doll, Rebecca sings it in her own style, stretching out words and syllables, adding unexpected emphasis, going from low to high when least expected.
In a more romantic tune, a lovely Someone To Watch Over Me. We were mesmerized and only caught a partial video.
I can’t Give You Anything But Love, Rebecca almost talking the vocal, backed by Winter on piano. Eli said “He plays in unconventional keys to support her exceptional range, with an amazing lower register.”
The unpredictable reed-man, Ted Casher began the Ukrainian Ochi Chyornye with tenor sax in Klezmer style, the band slipping in with Dark Eyes. Eli’s turbo charged bass riffs gave it energy and drive.
Rebecca, with Jimmy and Eli
Mean to Me, Rebecca feeling the song.
Jimmy took off in his own unique single-string banjo with Fidgety Feet, Jeff backing him with brushes on snare drum. Fans had fidgety feet! Winter finished the last chorus with multi-layered intense piano.
Carolyn Newberger had spent most of the evening listening to the music while drawing portraits of members of the band. Carolyn’s Portraits.
(Her works “In The Moment” had a Showing last month at The Harriet Tubman Gallery Boston.)
She sat in on washboard for Louis Armstrong’s 1936 Don’t Forget To Mess Around When You’re Dancing the Charleston, Jimmy on vocal. The washboard began to come apart, but Carolyn maintained her cool, set it on the floor, holding the instrument vertical and in one piece, never missed a note playing spoons through the whole tune. Bravo!
Carolyn Newberger, resourceful washboard maven, adds rhythm
Eli plays tuba like a solo instrument with energy and drive on Perdido, supported by Jeff’s brushes, the ensemble connecting in breathtaking tempo, led by clarinet and tenor sax. Listeners were dancing in their seats!
They closed with romping polyphonic ensemble on Royal Garden Blues, Jimmy scatting, each instrument taking a final solo.
Great fun! And we’ll be doing it all again on December 3rd, with the addition of another titan, Boston’s famous Bo Winiker on trumpet! See you there?