Eli and Hot Five, (Plus Four) at  Primavera August 18, 2016                   by Marce

Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Bo Winiker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keys, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard, and special guests Elaine Woo, Sarah (Gardner) Nova, and Watson Reid on vocals.

Eli and The Hot Five are a Powerhouse group of accomplished musicians, playing music like you will hear nowhere else.  Relaxed and with honest camaraderie, they thoroughly enjoy themselves, and so inspire the audience.

An upbeat Jazz Me Blues started the evening, then leader Eli Newberger immediately asked individual musicians to play tunes of their choice.

 

 

Bob Winter tore into a joyous romp on Margie, reaching down and creating music with almost a classical approach to the melody (but with elegant, surprising harmonic choices beneath).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Herb played superb trombone and sang It’s Almost Like Being In Love, with Ted supporting on clarinet and Bo on flugelhorn.

He later returned for one of his favorites Hoagie Carmichael’s Old Rocking Chair”

 

 

 

There is free interplay in this amazing front line; they inspire one another, and are backed by brilliant rhythm accompaniment.

Eli called on Elaine Woo for her choice of songs.  She took over the band for an inspiring Body and Soul.  She is vibrant bundle of energy,  (She is also an MD in Internal Medicine.)

 

 

 

There was another MD in the audience, an internist and a psychiatrist who retired from medicine after 29 years to pursue his love of music full time.  Watson Reid joined the band singing Ain’t She Sweet. 

 

 

 

 

Just for the fun of it, the vocalists formed a quartet and resuscitated an oldie, You Are My Sunshine.  

 

Bob Winter’s keyboard introduced one of our favorites, an instrumental on Limehouse Blues.

 

 

Bob Tamagni, a Professor at Berklee, puts heart and soul into it.  He  articulates and phrases drumming with the same expression as any other instrument.  Eli said“He’s one of the most musical drummers in the world!”.

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Newberger joined the band on washboard with a bouncy Miami Rhumba that had the audience swaying in their seats.  The energy was far from flagging!

Elaine returned with Taking a Chance on Love.  The two came together for a foot stomping Darktown Strutters’ Ball.

Route 66 started with a tuba line, then Elaine on vocal.  Eli could not resist joining Bob for Four Handed Piano.  They do have fun!

Sarah Nova’s deep feeling takes us inside each song, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter and Everybody Loves My Baby.  She writes and sings songs for Babies and Children and has many CDs – passing on good life lessons.

Principle vocalist Elaine Woo also sang Sentimental Journey, Embraceable You, and Getting Some Fun Out Of Life, (good motto for a life lesson),   .

 

 

Bo was featured with soaring trumpet on Louis’s Hello Dolly.  He  dedicated When You’re Smiling to a member in the audience, Matt Robino, who went to High School with him – they haven’t met since 1970!

 

 

 

Eli was featured, alone on Somewhere Over The Rainbow, an incredible, awesome solo on tuba.

There was more instrumentals, Midnight in Moscow, Muscat Ramble,  Savoy – with Ted on tenor sax. Wow!

Carolyn was sketching away throughout the evening.  .  (She is also a Dr. and clinical and research psychologist, artist, musician, and essayist.  Maybe we’ll see some of them.)

 

 

They closed with a sensational Strutting With Some Barbecue.

Nowhere else will you hear such accomplished musicians relaxed and having fun playing classic, contemporary jazz and swing.  They are here at Primavera on the 3rd Thursday of every month.   Next one will be September 15th –  come see abd hear  for yourself!