Tag Archives: Dave Whitney

Seacoast Stompers at Bemis Hall May 13, 2017

Posted on by
7 pc band with videographer Harold McAleer sitting in the middle of the aisle, taping

Seacoast Stompers with Dave Whitney

video by Harold McAleer

Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball reeds, Lee Prager trombone, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bob Reardon drums, Maureen Benson vocals

The Seacoast Stompers had a rip-roaring afternoon with a Full House at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, MA.  For six years, they played monthly at the Acton Jazz Café, with a repertoire of tunes from the 20’s and 30’s.  Arrangements were spontaneous and ad lib with a variety of styles and tempos from smooth swing to groovy blues and hot driving Dixie.

Whitney on trumpet

Dave Whitney

 

Frank Stadler is leader of the band, but graciously let Dave Whitney rule the roost with his rousing trumpet. Dave is well known for his amazing Louis-type trumpet.

 

 
They began with a joyous romp on the Seacoast Stomper’s theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball,

Dave Whitney has some favorite tunes.  Maureen Benson joined him on Back o’ Town Blues.

Maureen Benson was comfortable with the band, personalizing some of the lyrics, picking on Craig. She gave us As Long As I Live, I Don’t Know Enough About You, It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.

Jimmy singing

Jimmy Mazzy

 

Jimmy Mazzy was featured on Porter’s Love Song to a Chamber Maid; took the vocal on Clarence William’s Cake Walking Babies, scatted on How Can You Do That Thing To Me, Old Fashioned Love – he has a treasure trove of tunes.

 

 

 

Al on Sousaphone

Al Bernard on sousaphone

 

 

 

Al Bernard is a master of the tuba, listening to the soloists and backing them with many different chord phrasings wrapped in that monstrous sousaphone, as if it were easy!

 

 

 

Frank on piano

Frank Stadler, Band Leader

 

 

 

The Seacoast Stompers played many favorites, Royal Garden Blues, Canal St. Blues, San. 

 

 

 

Lee on trombone

Lee Prager

 

 

Lee Prager’s deep, burnished, trombone was reminiscent of Tommy Dorsey.

 

 

 

Craig next to piano playing clarinet

Craig Ball

 

 

 

Craig Ball was featured on The World is Waiting  For The Sunshine.

 

 

 

 

Bob playing on snare drum

Bob Reardon

 

 

Bob Reardon plays drums with marvelous precision,  He keeps the band in time by tapping on the snare drum and ride cymbal, only letting loose on a couple of tunes.  He picked the closing tune – always requesting the same one – Limehouse Blues.

 

 

 

The Seacoast Stompers keep the music fresh with their amazing creativity!
Check them out!

Seacoast Stompers at ACTIII, August 8, 2015

Posted on by
piano, banjo, cornet

Seacoast Stompers with Dave Whitney

The Seacoast Stompers had a rip-roaring afternoon with a Full House at ACTIII in Littleton, MA.  Dave Whitney ruled the roost, amazing the audience with his new prowess on cornet.

Dave is well known for his amazing Louis-type trumpet for many years, but he was still in charge on this marvelous afternoon of great Traditional and Dixieland Jazz and Swing.

It was great to have Jimmy Mazzy back.  He’s no longer at the Colonial Inn; after 35 years he’s now looking for a new venue.  But all the local bands want Jimmy, and they have kept him busy all summer.  But WE had him tonight, scatting on Canal St. Blues and Stealing Apples, How Come You Do Me Like You Do, singing on Write Myself a Letter, I Cover the Waterfront, Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (Dave slipping in snippets of multiple songs.)

Jimmy on banjo and singing

The one and only, Jimmy Mazzy

But Dave Whitney has some favorite songs, and he did some singing too, besides leading the band with his fantastic cornet.

Dave with silly grin on his face, singing

Dave sang some of the tunes

 

 

Curse of an Aching Heart, Back o’ Town Blues.  His cornet sounds almost like a trumpet when he hits those high notes.

 

 

 

Al with large tuba

Al Bernard on tuba

 

 

Al Bernard is a master of the tuba, listening to the soloists and backing them with many different chord phrasings.  He even becomes part of the front line, playing a full chorus of melodies on that monstrous tuba, as if it were easy!

 

 

 

 

Frank with surprise look on his face

Dave catches Frank by surprise

 

Frank Stadler is leader of the Seacoast Stompers, but he was happy to let Dave take over and call the tunes.   Frank introduced many of the songs and had that piano singing.

But Dave was constantly catching him off guard with his many surprising antics on cornet and vocals.

 

Catch the Seacoast Stompers Quartet next month on September 12th, 2-5pm, and you’ll be surprised too!!  POSTER
Be sure to make a reservation, because they will surely sell out!  Act III, 529 King St. Littleton MA (978) 486-3600.  They have music from Tuesday through Sunday.  Check it out.  ‎Monthly music schedule

Playlist for Seacoast Stompers 2015-08-08
Set 1
1  At The Jazz Band Ball
2  Canal Street Blues
3  Don’t Be That Way
4  Keepin Out Of Mischief Now
5  World is Waiting for the Sunrise
6  I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write
7  I Would Do Anything For You
8  I Cover the Waterfront
9  It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing
10  Stealin Apples
Set 2
1  Soft Winds
2  Limehouse Blues
3  Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
4  Curse of an Aching Heart
5  Back o’ Town Blues
Set 3
1  Porter’s Love Song To A Chambermaid
2  Deed I Do
3  Take Your Tomorrow
4  Swing That Music
5  Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
6  Louisiana Fairy Tale
7  Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)

Bay State Syncopators reunion at Bemis Hall, May 27, 2015

Posted on by
7 pc 2 beat trad jazz band

Bay State Syncopators    April 2015

Dave Whitney and Paul Monat cornet, Blair Bettencourt clarinet, Dan Gabel trombone, Robin Verdier piano, Eric Baldwin guitar, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Reid Jorgensen drums

 picture and videos by Harold McAleer

The Bay State Syncopators were at Bemis Hall in Lincoln MA on May 27, 2015.  It was a reunion band formed in the 80’s by Paul Monat to rekindle the two-cornet sound of Bob Connor’s Yankee Rhythm Kings of the 70’s which had Paul  Monat and Dave Whitney on cornet and Blair Bettancourt on clarinet.  Bill Doyle subbed today on guitar.

The band carries on the New Orleans sounds of Louis, King Oliver and Jelly Roll, reborn in the 50’s by Lou Watters, Turk Murphy and Bob Helm in San Francisco.

 

 Dave Whitney tells about how it felt to have the band back:

“Musically the Band sounded great! Despite lack of Rehearsal Time we surprised ourselves on most of the tunes. After 40 years, Blair, Paul and myself still remember most of the routines.

Highlights were Big bear Stomp—Too Late (from King Oliver 1930). Snake Rag, Cake Walkin’ Babies, Mabel’s Dream and Canal St. Blues.

Big Bear Stomp

 

Blair sang his specialty “Red Hot Mama” and I did Mississipi Mud, Cake Walkers and Memphis Blues.

 

Robin on piano

Robin Verdier

 

Robin did a great Piano feature on Froggie Moore and Dan Gabel fit right in like he had been there in ’75.
Bill on banjo

Bill Doyle                             (file photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also kudos to Bill Doyle who came in on short notice on guitar and banjo..

 

 

 

 

 

Us YRK veterans had a great time and it brought back happy memories of the Sticky Wicket and Sacramento Jazz Fest.  Also a nice turnout of 60 or so people.”

 

Paul Monat is Blue and Broken Hearted – Wait for the high note at the end of this tour-de-force by cornetist Paul Monat!

The Bay-State Syncopators ended their concert in Lincoln with a rousing version of Lou Watter’s San Francisco favorite – Emperor Norton’s Hunch.

Dave Whitney
Harold McAleer

Swingin’ at the WunderBar, Dave Whitney Orchestra featuring Sophia Stevens

Posted on by

picture of Dave Whitney at Ruth's Wunderbar

Photo by Sarah Musumeci

Photo by Sarah Musumeci

Theme/ Swingin’ at the WunderBar Tuxedo Junction Tangerine
Skirts Caravan Our Love is Here to Stay
B.P. (Ellington) All of Me New Concerto for Cootie
Massachusetts A Baker’s Dozen Boogie Blues
Honeysuckle Rose My Adobe Hacienda Pete Kelly’s Blues
Roll ‘Em

CD is $15 or $18 by mail. To purchase:
email Dave at davjazzer64@yahoo.com or call 978-667-5524

Recorded in 2009 with Dave Whitney – Leader, Trumpet/Cornet and Vocals
Sophia Steven, Vocals

Trumpets – Joe Musumeci, Mel Deveau, Don Heathcock and
Scott Philbrick (also guitar)
Trombones – Scott Hills, Jay Keyser, Stu Gunn
Sax and Clarinet – Sil D’Urbano, Bob Drukman (alto),
Ben Goldstein, Blair Bettencourt (tenor)
Kathleen Howland (baritone),
John Clark (alto, tenor and clarinet),
Ben Goldstein – tenor solo on Skirts, Clarinet solos on Tuxedo Junction and Roll’ em
Piano- Steve Dale, Bass-Dave LeBleu, Drums – Reid Jorgensen.

arrangements by Chris Powers except Theme and Pete Kelly’s Blues by Steve Dale
recording and mixing by Peter Kontrimas PBS Studios, Westwood MA
photo credits-Harold MacAleer, Sarah Musumeci (full band).
Thanks to Joseph J. Grassia at the WunderBar Recording Studio, Concord MA

In Loving Memory – Lorraine Whitney and Mel Deveau

Dave Whitney Orchestra with Sophia Stevens

Dave Whitney Orchestra with Sophia Stevens                                           Photo by Marce

Dave Whitney Orchestra 2011

Dave Whitney Orchestra 2011                                                                Photo by Marce

 

 

Dave Whitney Orchestra, with Christine Fawson

Posted on by

Check out David Whitney’s Blog at http://petekellysblog.blogspot.com/

Dave Whitney Orchestra

CD: Swingin’ at the WunderBar

An extension of Dave’s small bands, The Dave Whitney fourteen-piece orchestra was formed in 1989.  The focus of this band is playing and preserving the classic sounds of the big band era. They play yearly dates at Canobie Lake Park and Southgate at Shrewsbury and are currently doing semi-regular dates at Chianti’s in Beverly.

The orchestra is comfortable playing for the listener and is equally at ease playing for dancers.  Besides saluting the big name bands such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Harry James, the Whitney Orchestra also plays the music of other fine bands such as Tony Pastor, Vaughn Monroe, Frankie Carle, Scat Davis and Red Nichols.

The Dave Whitney Orchestra  has entertained for numerous swing dance parties and has performed at Ryles, the Sherborn Inn, Rockingham Ballroom, Bridgwaye Inn, and bi-monthly at Angelica’s in Middleton, MA.  Future projects include a compact disc.

LINEUP
Leader,Trumpet/Cornet and Vocals – Dave Whitney
Vocals and Trumpet- Christine Fawson.
Trumpets- Joe Musumeci, Jeff Hughes, Rich Given.
Trombones- Scott Hills, Mike Strauss, John Kafalas.
Saxes- Art Bakopolus, Bob Drukman, Ted Casher, Blair Bettencourt and Kathleen Howland.
Piano- Steve Dale, Bass-Dave LeBleu, Drums-Reid Jorgensen.
Also appearing occasionally are John Clark,reeds, Dan Gabel,trombone and Roy D’Innocenzo, guitar, a charter member of Dave’s first band in 1971.

Christine singing

Christine Fawson

Dave on trumpet

Dave Whitney

Dave Whitney

Well known in New England for his work with the Yankee Rhythm Kings, White Heat Swing Orchestra, and Chris Powers Orchestra, Dave was influenced by Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Bobby Hackett and many other great trumpeters of the pre-bop era.  Dave has been called “Premier early style trumpeter” of this area” and “Dean of swing trumpet”.   As a vocalist he was influenced by Armstrong, Prima, Tony Pastor et al, and he is also adept at smoother vocals a la Sinatra, Eddy Howard, and Perry Como.

Christine Fawson 
As a vocalist and trumpet player, Christine Fawson has always loved performing classic jazz standards from the American Songbook.  She has been a member of Syncopation and The Jazz Diva’s, and the R&B band Beantown.  Christine has also been a solo artist at festivals and concerts around the world.  She is a member of the brass faculty at Berklee College of Music.

The first Dave Whitney Orchestra CD, “Swingin’ at the WunderBar” will be out shortly.
Contact: (978) 667-5524

VIDEOS:

Marie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=37&v=cAta1pKVUiM 

A Kiss to Build a Dream On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=25&v=6xDlH6ryP6M 

St. Louis Blues March
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=88&v=cVt-xl2R_Gg

Daddy, with Christine Fawson at Chianti’s 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvT5JjGy3hs

 

Seacoast Stompers at Bemis Hall January 11, 2015

Posted on by

Seacoast Stompers feature

Dave Whitney cornet, Craig Ball clarinet, Steve Piermarini trombone, Frank Stadler piano/leader, Scott Philbrick banjo/cornet, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bob Reardon drums

by Marce
videos by Harold McAleer

The Seacoast Stompers brought their vitality and spark into a New Year at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts.  There were changes made.  Any substitution makes a difference in the sound of a band – and tonight we had three: Dave Whitney filling in for Scott, who moved to banjo, and Steve Piermarini subbing for Lee Prager.

They were marvelous!  You can’t go wrong with Whitney’s wit, knowledge of classic Jazz, and on – surprise – cornet!  Leader Frank Stadler put him in charge of the microphone.  Piermarini excels on smooth, smoky trombone.  He’s had the bell since 1980, but had the slide replaced by Shires.

They were raring to go with their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball, then Little Girl
I Want Some Lovin’.

Jelly Roll Morton’s Buddy Bolden’s Blues.   Buddy was famous for his powerful horn: “his trumpet could be heard all over New Orleans, and even across the river in Algiers”. We had two powerful cornets, Whitney played his new Getzen Cornet that he’s been using on various gigs including his Whitney Big Band.  Trumpet wasn’t missed at all. Scott played both cornet and 6-string banjo, much like a guitar, but using tremolo for emphasis.

Al Bernard wrapped in sousaphone

Al Bernard wrapped in sousaphone

 

 

 

Who’s Sorry Now?  Gave Al a chance to solo  on sousaphone.

 

 

 

Louisiana featured both cornets –

Hindustan is a spicy tune, one of Craig Ball favorites.  They slowed down for Sugar,  playing it in the vein that Peggy Lee sang in Pete Kelly’s Blues.

Bob drumming so fast his hands are a blur

Bob Reardon

 

 

Love is Just Around The Corner, Bob playing drumsticks on snare drum. His drumming is discreet, he drives the rhythm, yet he never gets in the way of the soloists.

 

 

 

Swing That Music, a Louis Armstrong composition, all had hot solos with Albie setting the pace.

Someday Sweetheart – is one of Jelly Roll Morton’s tunes that became a jazz standard.  Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me is definitely not a blues!

There’ll Be Some Changes Made – Frank enjoying every minute of playing on this Steinway piano.  He said this is the finest piano he’s ever played.

Stadler at beautiful Steinway grand

Frank Stadler, Band Leader

 

Scott and Dave on cornet

Two cornets

 

Scott joined Dave on cornet for a Bix Beiderbecke tune (when Bix was playing with Frankie Trumbauer).  They inspired the audience with Take Your Tomorrow and Give Me Today.

 

 

Curse Of An Aching Heart was in fast time, with Craig’s feisty clarinet, and Al driving on turbo-charged sousaphone, hardly taking a breath.

Ain’t Gonna Give You None of My Jelly Roll, Dave vocal, squeezed in a snippet of Stumbling on cornet; he always slips it in somewhere!  Stealing Apples is one of Dave Whitney’s favorite, a Fats Waller tune made famous by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.

There were three guest vocalists this afternoon. Steve Smith vocal on Pennies From Heaven and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.  Joe Brandisi usually plays vibes, but let it all out with a fine vocal on Bye Bye Blackbird. Mollie Malone was in fine voice for Exactly Like You.  (We caught the trombone slipping in a bit of Stumbling.)

vocalist in royal blue shirt Joe Brindisi singing Mollie with baided hair atop her head

A Craig Ball favorite, Three Little Words was upbeat. Bob let loose on drums.

Bix Beiderbecke was resurrected with two cornets for the finale, with I’ll Be a Friend With Pleasure.

It was a thrill having the Seacoast Stompers back!  We look forward to hearing them more often.  They will return to Bemis Hall on Saturday, February 14th at 1-4pm and March 14th at their usual time 2-5pm.  It’s a great way to spend a cold winter afternoon.  Join us!

Marce

Tune List
Set 1
1  At The Jazz Band Ball
2  I Want A Little Girl
3  San
4  Buddy Bolden’s Blues
5  Who’s Sorry Now
6  Louisiana
7  Hindustan
8  Sugar
9  Love Is Just Around The Corner

Set 2
1  Swing That Music
2  Pennies From Heaven
3  Someday You’ll Be Sorry
4  Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
5  There’ll Be Some Changes Made
6  Take Your Tomorrow
7  Curse of an Aching Heart
8  Blues in G
9  Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)

Set 3
1  Stealin’ Apples
2  I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
3  Bye Bye Blackbird
4  Rosetta
5  Exactly Like You
6  Three Little Words
7  I’ll Be a Friend with Pleasure

Dave Whitney Big Band with Christine Fawson at Amazing Things Arts Center

Posted on by

by Harold McAleer

Dave Whitney Big BandThe Amazing Things Arts Center is the best place to listen, and really hear a great band and two master trumpeters; marvelous acoustics.  It just doesn’t get any better than this!

St. Louis Blues March

Christine singing

Christine Fawson

Dave on trumpet

Dave Whitney

A Kiss to Build a Dream On

Marie:

 

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Café, November 2, 2013

Posted on by

 videos by Harold McAleer

taken from back of cafe, band up front, crowded tables

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Scott Philbrick Cornet, Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball reeds, Lee Prager trombone, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard tuba, Bobby Reardon drums

At The Jazz Band Ball, the Seacoast Stompers warned us in advance that this was going to be delectable hot Jazz, with another full house at the Acton Jazz Café.  They added some new songs, Why Do I Like To Myself About You? and included some old Dixieland Chestnuts, Royal Garden Blues, After You’ve Gone, Baby Brown.

Stadler makes full use of the Café’s beautiful Yamaha Baby Grand.  He plots a loose course, giving the musicians room to make suggestions, and they do – most of them are accustomed to leading their own bands.

Frank bent over keyboard of Yamaha Baby Grand

Frank Stadler leads band from the Yamaha Baby Grand

Bobby playing drums - bass drum has picture of his NH plate - KRUPA

Bobby Reardon keeps the band in time. Photo by Harold McAleer

 

 

Albie pushes with his powerful tuba, Jimmy’s single string banjo at high velocity, Bobby Reardon steering them discreetly.

 

 

 

Al Bernard in back wrapped in sousaphone, Jimmy Mazzy up front singing

Albie and Jimmy

 

 

With that fabulous rhythm behind them, the front line is free to explore with great solos and ensemble, mixing harmonies.   This Joint is Jumpin’!

Jimmy’s vocals come from the heart; as if he’s crying for his lost love.
If I Had You,

Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, Old Fashioned Love, A Hundred Years From Today, Song of the Wanderer.

He’s scatting on Japanese Sandman.

Whitney interweaves innumerable snippets of tunes with his trumpet, and also does some vocals: the 1930’s tune Fats wrote on a restaurant bill, I’m Confessing, Mobile, Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby.   He’s scatting on Baby Brown.

Craig playing clarinet, Lee quiet in background

Craig Ball, leader of White Heat Swing Orchestra

 

 

The ensemble connects on Sheik of Araby.   Craig Ball’s clarinet is almost kissing the mic on Stevedore Stomp.  He’s in soft tone on I’m Beginning to See The Light.

 

 

Dave and Scott duelling on trumpet and cornet

Dave and Scott go at it!

 

 

 

Trumpet and cornet are teasing and testing each other on Devil and The Deep Blue Sea.   As Time Goes By Dave’s sweet trumpet is backing Scott’s cornet.  They take turns leading and comping on all the tunes.

 

Prager on trombone

Lee Prager fills in the short gaps

 

 

 

LEE  Lee Prager is constantly listening, filling in any gap. That takes talent!

 

 

 

We look forward to the amazing exchanges between the trombone and cornet.   There’s a friendly duel between Lee and Scott at least once in every session – trombone keeping up with the cornet’s myriad notes up and down the register.  It’s all in great fun!

By now the tension is so hot Jimmy loses it on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing.   Trading fours scatting with the band, he bursts out with his infamous scream, signifying another winning session!

They will repeat it on the first Saturday of next month, December 8th.  Don’t miss it!

Seacoast Stompers tune list – Nov 2, 2013 – Acton Jazz Cafe

Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 As Time Goes By / Sleepy Time Down South
3 Royal Garden Blues
4 After You’ve Gone
5 Why Do I Lie To Myself About You
6 If I had You
7 Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
8 I’m Confessing
9 Song of the Wanderer

Set 2
1 Sheik of Araby
2 Mobile
3 Please Don’t Talk About Me
4 Old Fashioned Love
5 Baby Brown
6 All Of Me

Set 3
1 Joint is Jumpin, the
2 Hundred Years From Today, A
3 Stevedore Stomp
4 Japanese Sandman
5 Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
6 I’m Beginning to see the Light
7 It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing

 

 

White Heat Swing Quintet at the Sherborn Inn, October 22, 2013

Posted on by
Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball tenor sax/clarinet, Ken Steiner string bass, Ross Petot piano, Dave Bragdon drums.

Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball tenor sax/clarinet, Ken Steiner string bass, Ross Petot piano, Dave Bragdon drums.

White Heat Quintet is a solid Swing Band with memorable Benny Goodman tunes, some Bix, Gershwin, a tribute to Louis Armstrong, and tonight, even some Rudy Vallee.

Craig Ball on tenor sax

Craig Ball on tenor sax

 

 

 

Craig started the evening on gut-wrenching tenor sax on Linger a While, presenting a sample of what was forthcoming this evening.

 

 

Whitney did his tribute to Louis Armstrong with multi-layered trumpet playing on Gypsy, with a vocal backed by Ross’s fine piano,  Craig said, “No wonder he’s called Dean of Swing Trumpet”!

Get Happy was a blistering tune.  Bragdon let loose on drums and they wrapped it up with WILD trumpet and clarinet challenging each other, setting sparks flying.

Ross was featured on piano with Gone With The Wind, resurrecting James P. Johnson;  Dave’s soft, rolling brushes on snare drum backed Ken’s string bass solo.

Ken Steiner slapping that bass!

Ken Steiner slapping that bass!

 

 

Found a New Baby, Whitney led on trumpet, Craig comping on clarinet. We can’t get enough of Ken Steiner’s  fantastic slap bass, strings bouncing off the finger board!

 

 

San, began with the verse, Whitney’s trumpet sounding like Bix Beiderbecke when he was with Paul Whitman;  fun Turkey Trot.  Craig’s Benny Goodman clarinet on Begin The Beguine brought back fond memories.

I Would do Most Anything For, Whitney on vocal, drum and string bass were right behind him, Craig playing fast run on clarinet.   It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing – Barnburner!  They followed with something sweet and slow, Deep Night, written by Rudy Vallee for Vagabond Lover.  This was a first for us.

Ross Petot with a big smile - very unusual!

Ross is actually smiling!

 

 

 

Then it was Gershwin time – Ross playing ragtime, Nice Work If You Can Get It, segueing into a fine Swing number.  If you’re looking for SWING, this is the place!

 

 

 

For the last half hour, Craig called for a Swing Jam, inviting musicians to join them. First man up was Marty Lieberman on clarinet with Bye Bye Blackbird.  (Marty is responsible for starting Sam’s Jam about 30 years ago.) Peter Gerler joined them on guitar for I Never Knew.

Pretty blonde vocalist

Laurie Young

 

 

Vocalist Lorrie Young likes Billie Holiday, stepped up with Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine.  She’ll be back here in a few weeks.  Her ‘alter ego’ Stacie Brandon joined her for How High The Moon. (We hope the names are correct.)

 

 

Jeff Hughes just listening in the audience finally stepped up with his mellow, melodic flugel horn; I Let a Song Get Out of My Heart, with warm interplay with Whitney’s trumpet.  When these two get together, it’s pure magic!

The White Heat Swing Quintet finished with Wholly Cats, that the Benny Goodman Sextet did in 1940 in NYC with Charlie Christian, Cootie Williams, George Auld, Artie Bernstein and Harry Jaeger.

Trumpet and flugel horn duet trading fours in vibrato, fiery clarinet, Ross offering just the right chords on piano, Peter Gerler’s supple fingers on guitar, Bragdon’s driving drums, Steiner slapping that bass – closed a formidable evening of Sensational Swing!

A  Group of ‘swingers’ passing by from the dining room stopped dead in their tracks, surprised to find such great Swing here at the Sherborn Inn. They loved it! Let’s hope they return and bring friends.