The Amazing Things Arts Center is the best place to listen, and really hear, two master trumpeters; marvelous acoustics.  It just doesn’t get any better than this, Christine Fawson and Dave Whitney, twining around each other on trumpet or vocals – they have  synergy, supported by the fine rhythm section of Jon Wheatly guitar, Mark Carlsen bass, and Reid Jorgenson drums.  Dave and Christine never sounded better!   What a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!

New England’s Dean of Trumpeters, Dave started first, backed by the rhythm section, on a Rose Room, circa forties’ era Jazz and Swing tune.  He focused on Louis Armstrong, singing an early 1932 Louis’ That’s My Home.  Down In Honky Tonk Town Louis recorded in 1940.

 

Louisiana featured Jon with special vamps on ‘agnostic’ guitar.
Besides being a Talented soloist, Jon is a great team player laying down beautiful chords and keeping solid time.
He has a great capacity of repertoire, being comfortable in everything from Dixieland to modern jazz. He has listened to many great guitarists: Eddie Lang, George Barnes, Barney Kessell and Herb Ellis to name a few but has his own personal style.

 

 

 

 

Dave introduced the talented Christine Fawson singing an upbeat  Irving Berlin tune on this dreary, rainy day, Blue Skies.

 

Christine added some of Ella’s inventive scat-singing on Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me, with Dave behind her on muted trumpet.  Their passion for this music is infectious.

 

Charlie Chaplin’s favorite, Smile is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music; he would have loved Christine’s vocal, backed by Reid playing softly with just his hands, on the drums.

This is Christine’s theme song – Don’t Fence Me In.  She likes Cole Porter’s lyrics and chord changes  “They don’t write like this today.”   Celestial trumpets played sweet harmonious sounds, Dave taking the melody first, Christine counterpoint.

We all know Tangerine from Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass  Whipped Cream album; fabulous, with Reid’s drum tapping on snare drum.

 

Mark has a history of playing with the new Tommy Dorsey Band led by Buddy Morrow.  He is also a great team player, laying down beautiful chords and keeping solid time.  He’s an excellent soloist, but prefers to take only one or two choruses on a tune, instead giving the group great bass lines and working flawlessly with Jon and Reid.

Here he is backing Dave’s vocal on Irving Berlin’s Marie.

 

 

Christine was back with a smokin’ Avalon – from her CD.  Glorious trumpet duet, with Chris and Dave taking turns singing.

Christine took a break.  Dave returned with the rhythm section.  He latched on to Putting All My Eggs In One Basket from Cape Cod’s cornetist Ruby Braff.  I Can’t Get Started, from Mister Trumpet – 1937 Bunny Berigan, the tune that put him on the map. Dense interplay between trumpet and guitar.

Dave and Reid have been together for many years, in Dave’s Big Band and small combos.  Reid’s brushwork is weighty, but particulate – he listens.  He was featured on a good ol’ good one, Found a New Baby.

 

 

 

Jon’s flowing finger work and sounds were featured on his solo of  George M Smith’s Slow Burning.

 

 

 

Dave called Christine back.  Reid’s drumming softly complemented Christine’s soulful scatting on I Could Write A Book.

She put heart and soul on In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning, revealing her own singular, personal style.  Video by Harold McAleer.

Louis did this one with Velma Middleton, You’re Just In Love.  Dave and Chris played trumpets in harmonic syncopation, then sang totally different choruses from the tune – at the same time.

Christine teaches at the Berklee College of Music and also sings with the vocal jazz group, Syncopation. She said she’s learned so much from watching and listening to Dave play.  Obviously.

They closed with the Trad Jazz “National Anthem”, The Saints.  It was a warm, friendly  afternoon of fine Jazz and Swing; it was a real pleasure being here and listening to these virtuoso musicians!

We never know when they will get together again, but you can bet it will be on the www.nejazz.com calendar!

Marce