photos by Bennett Green
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 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 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.
All listen while Al Ehrenfried plays acoustic string bass
Ehrenfried keeps a full, rich tone, playing proper bass lines, lifting the whole band.
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.
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??