Dave Whitney All Stars with Christine Fawson, in a Tribute to Louis Armstrong at the Sherborn Inn with Dave Whitney trumpet/vocals, Christine Fawson trumpet/vocals, Ted Casher reeds, Dan Gabel trombone, Reid Jorgensen drums, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Dale piano, Jon Wheatley guitar
Louis Armstrong had many “All Star” groups in his lifetime, but Dave Whitney concentrated on tunes that began in the early to late 20’s. Dave’s All-Stars were marvelous right from the Sleepy Time Down South kick-off; Jon Wheatley’s guitar in Back Home in Indiana,Royal Garden Blues that Louis played from 1947 into the 1960’s. Front line enjoy playing together. Music affects emotions; this music makes people happy.
Dave & Ted complain Bucket’s Got a Hole In It videos by Harold McAleer
Ted Casher
Ted actually played with Armstrong, when he was at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. Reed players Joe Darensbourg was off playing Ski Ball at the arcade when the band was ready to start. Louis looked around and said “Hey, wanna play?” Ted joined him on stage. Later in the band room, they found that Joe had won a Kewpie Doll.
To brighten the evening, Christine Fawson was introduced on trumpet and vocal. Dave and Christine make beautiful music together, the kind that brightens your day, whether they’re playing trumpet or singing.
Canal St. Blues, Christine is Louis, and Dave is Joe “King” Oliver.
Dave and Christine complement each other
Dave and Christine vocal – You’re Just In Love
Stomping at The Savoy, Reid Jorgensen made use of every instrument on the drums.
I Love You Samantha, Dave vocal with Justin Meyer and Jon Wheatley
Louis did a German Folk Song called The Faithful Hussar. It originated in Dusseldorf. Marvelous guitar by Jon, and string bass solo by Justin. This is Louis’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_j1LWUSwgQ
Dan Gabel really gets into Satchmo/New Orleans mood with St. James Infirmary Blues
Love is Just Around The Corner – a salute to bass players, with rhythm section.
Justin Meyer in tribute to bass players
Jon was featured on George Van Epps’ Tango El Bongo, Reid drumming with his hands.
Swing That Music was WILD!
In his Big Band of the 30’s, Louis played The Saints. Dave did the vocal, naming each member of the band, with Christine harmonizing on trumpet.
They closed with Sleepy Time Down South, fantastic trumpet solo, backed by rhythm section.
The whole evening was delectable! Everyone left with happy hearts and smiling faces.
Tune List:
Short intro Sleepy Time Down South
Back Home Again in Indiana
My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It
Royal Garden Blues
Kiss to Build a Dream On
Sweet Georgia Brown
Margie
Big Butter and Egg Man
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Can’t Take That Away From Me
Stomping at The Savoy
Samantha
The Faithful Hussar
Canal St. Blues
Love is Just Around The Corner
Bourbon St. Parade
Tango el Bongo
Swing That Music
You’re Just in Love
Wonderful World
Saints
Sleepy Time Down South
Riverboat Stompers at the Sherborn Inn, July 8, 2014
Larry Baxter trumpet/vocals, Steve Straus clarinet/soprano sax/vocal, Frank Batchelor trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Phil Hower piano, Pierre Lemieux tuba, Rich Malcolm drums.
The Riverboat Stompers played some serious Dixieland Jazz at the Sherborn Inn; great front line with excellent rhythm section, feeling and loving the music. They hit it off hot and heavy with Dark Town Strutters Ball, Jimmy on vocal.
Jimmy sings most of the vocals – good reason to come hear this band! Jimmy was at his best after returning from the America’s Jazz Fest in Olympia Washington.
Exuberant front line; they love playing together, with lighthearted jesting. They all played kazoo on Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone.
Larry Baxter, Steve Straus (leader) Frank Batchelor
Larry Baxter’s trumpet carried the melodies, and some vocals. Heartfelt lyrics on St. James Infirmary and in perfect French he sang C’est Si Bon, with Jimmy responding. That was a first for us! Baxter added some of his own made-up stanzas, surprising even the band. There were many, but we only caught the words ‘strawberries and cream’.
Straus generally plays warm and vibrant clarinet, but took out the soprano sax on Blue Turning Gray Over You, His only vocal was Lulu’s Back in Town. Frank Batchelor’s euphonious trombone was especially prominent on Toot, Toot, Tootsie.
They continued with a harmonious medley with Jimmy supplying the lyrics, Five Foot Two, Four Leaf Clover, Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Baby Face.
Phil Hower mesmeric pianist, he listens intently, fills in the open spaces, and lays down a solid foundation for the soloist. Marvelous piano interludes complemented Jimmy’s vocal on Rosetta.
Bourbon St. Parade, Jazz Me Blues, Muscrat Ramble, Dr. Jazz, were HOT! Little known sweet song – Our Love Was Meant To Be – was written by Fats Waller. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, I’m Confessing That I Love You. All backed by top-notch base-line from Pierre Lemieux on tuba and a captivating beat by Rich Malcolm on drums.
Pierre Lemieux and Rich Malcolm
It was excellent Dixieland from beginning to end. They closed with a soulful vocal by Larry, We’ll Meet Again, starting in very slow waltz-time, ending in high-spirited, energetic polyphonic jazz!
Avid fan – piano player’s wife.
The most enthusiastic fan was Sue Hower, motivating the band from beginning to end, clapping to the beat and shouting out her support.
Hats off to all the musicians’ wives – they deserve a gold medal!! The men couldn’t do this without them.
The Riverboat Stompers now have a new web site created by Frank Batchelor that will have all their upcoming performances and booking info. Check it out! http://www.riverboatstompers.com/
Bob Winter piano, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor and soprano sax, Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Herb Gardner trombone/piano,
Threatening storms, Hurricane Arthur coming up the coast, the upcoming holiday, nothing deterred revelers at the Sherborn Inn who came to hear Eli’s All-Stars. It was also Bo Winiker’s birthday, and the whole Winiker Family was here, including Mom.
The band celebrated Louis Armstrong with Strutting With Some Barbecue, and then a blues, Basin St. Blues, Bo leading on trumpet with band playing counterpoint.
Eli joins Bob at piano
Eli joined Bob at the piano, and the beat quickly turned to Jump ‘n Jive; then back into a slow beat, Jeff soft drum roll, front line closing with a slow, joint wa, wa, wa. Marvelous!
Ted Casher’s tribute to Louis was a raucous vocal on his 1930s novelty tune, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You.
Eli introduced vocalist Gabrielle Goodman, a jazz, R&B, classical and gospel vocalist, and Professor of Voice, with a four octave voice range, who teaches at Berklee. “Happy 4th of July, even if is the day before” she said, and began with Bring It on Home to Me a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released in 1962. The song has become a pop standard, covered by numerous artists of different genres, but none could compare to this lady. She had us captivated from the first note!
Route 66 – Gabrielle had us clapping in time before she even uttered a note. She ruled! Scatting like Sarah Vaughn, she lead the band with her numerous changes in tempo. She asked “Who is deeply in love?” and Carolyn Newberger’s hand shot up. Gabby responded with a silky, smooth, My Funny Valentine, with Ted’s emotional tenor saxophone, and Bo Winiker on smoky flugelhorn. Heartrending!
She took us on a trip on a familiar special train that goes from lower Manhattan to Harlem, with a passionate, hard-charging romp on The A Train. The crowd was enthralled and responded with heavy applause.
Eli announced the next song was written by a trombone player (heavy groan here). But the trombone player was Edward “Kid” Ory and this was his Muskat Ramble.
Herb Gardner took over for his fine rendition, then Eli let loose with a turbo charged tuba, with backup from pulsating piano and drums.
While the band took a break, Herb Gardner took over the piano with a novelty tune about New Hampshire’s “Summer People” – “They’re only here until Labor Day, then Back in October for the foliage.”
Back Home Again in Indiana featured Bo on full, rich, open flugelhorn.
Louis Armstrong used to begin his All Stars with another tune that Bo has been working on. Herb did the arrangement; Bo featured on trumpet with a freewheeling rendition of Cornet Chop Suey. Fabulous!
Gabby returned with Taking a Chance on Love, a song she recorded on her second CD. She sang this as a ballad in honor of the 4th of July. It was one swinging ballad!
She asked if she could change the schedule of tunes, in order to sing Misty, just her and Bob on piano. Lovely! They have often worked together; he’s a great friend and pianist for the Boston Pops. Gabrielle has an impressive background; her expertise spans the entire jazz era up to modern jazz.
Bob Winter was featured on piano with Someone To Watch Over Me, Bo adding soft, mellow flugelhorn.
Gabrielle sings an awesome America The Beautiful
To celebrate our country’s birthday, Gabby contributed a profound, soulful America the Beautiful. It left the audience in awe!
Eli requested a ‘change of pace’, introducing Carolyn Newberger on washboard. Carolyn played washboard years ago in a café they started when they were Directors at the International Residence Hall at Yale. The washboard had been stored in the attic for 50 years, until Eli found it.
Now Carolyn is merrily playing washboard with many of Eli’s bands; usually Coney Island Washboard Roundelay; but not this time. This time she delighted the audience with spoons on washboard on James P. Johnson’s The Charleston.
Carolyn sketching musicians
When she’s not playing washboard with the band, she’s pencil-sketching the musicians. She is an accomplished painter and has had three showings this month, one at Framingham’s Danforth Gallery where she received an award. Tonight she did a couple of sketches of Gabrielle, and one of Bo.
Eli’s All-Stars surprised us by closing with When The Saints Go Marching In, and they marched, up and down the aisles – even Jeff with his snare drum, ‘The Saints’ went marching in.
Bo leads parade up the aisles
Bill Winiker takes photo of parade
Glorious way to end this celebration of our Country and Bo Winiker’s birthday!
The All Stars will be back here at the Sherborn Inn on the 1st Thursday of every month, next is August 7th. They will be at Barrington Stage Company, Mr. Finn’s Cabaret, Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden St., Pittsfield, MA on August 24 and 25. They will also kick-off the 32nd Highland Jazz Series in Newton, MA on September 13th.
Gabrielle continues teaching at Berklee. We hope she’ll be back!
On Saturday June 9th, I attended a concert at Rose Hall to hear Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra play a program of seldom heard post-WWII compositions of Duke Ellington. It was a remarkable evening. The musicianship of the members of the band was “beyond category” as Duke himself would have said.
The talents and achievements of Wynton Marsalis are so numerous that there is not enough space here to cite them all, but if Wynton had dedicated his career to just preserving and performance of the entire oeuvres of Duke Ellington, it would be a monumental contribution. The concert featured portions of The Queen’s Suite, Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, The Far East Suite, and the New Orleans Suite (which I commissioned for the 1970 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest), among others.
For me the highlight of the evening was when Victor Goines came downstage, planted himself firmly in front of the band and played an exhilarating, uninhibited clarinet solo that brought down the house. If Duke himself was there he would have hired Victor on the spot, even if it meant “raiding” the JALC band, as he did with Clark Terry when he talked him into leaving Count Basie.
Each soloist impressed that night, but Marcus Printup showed me he could play with anyone, anytime, anyplace. What moved me most was the haunting memory of the sound of Harry Carney’s baritone saxophone as preserved by only one man that I know of, Joe Temperley. I love Joe Temperley. As Carney anchored the sax section of the Ellington band, so Joe is the heart and soul of the JALC Orchestra.
Wynton and the JALC Orchestra are playing at the Newport Jazz Festival on Friday night, August 1st, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino and at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, August 2nd. I think they will be playing some Ellington at the Friday evening concert.
Wynton himself has also generously agreed to perform on Saturday evening,August 2nd, at our fundraising gala for the Newport Festivals Foundation at the historic Vanderbilt summer home, The Breakers. Thank you, Wynton.
To purchase tickets to the Friday night concert at the International Tennis Hall of Fame or other Newport Jazz Festival events, use the following link:http://www.newportjazzfest.org/tickets Don’t lose the beat,
The First Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival was held at the Spire Center for Performing Arts Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2014. Hosted by Johnny Souza, it was very successful! The first night was sold out/standing room only, the second day was about 3/4 full and the Jazz Jam Session on Monday/Memorial Day was well attended and a lot of fun. A lot of good players/singers showed up:
Rebecca Parris Trio, BeBop Guitars and Johnny Souza Quintet, Amanda Carr Quintet, Greg Abate Quartet, Yasko Kubota’s Power Jazz Unit, and many other New England musicians.
Johnny Souza Quintet performing “August Moon” written and performed by Johnny Souza on trumpet w/ Jeff Galindo trombone, Chris Taylor piano, Dave Zinno bass and Steve Silverstein on drums at The Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival 2014 held at The Spire Center for the Arts.
Jazz Fest Day 2 – more PHOTOS by Denise Maccaferri Photography
Be Bop Guitars
John Baboians’ BeBop Guitars – with Jerry Seeco trumpet, Rich Greenblatt on vibes, The Berklee College of Music All-Faculty Band
Check out their site for upcoming performances. Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival at the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court St. Plymouth MA www.spirecenter.org
Williams Reunion Dixieland Jazz Band at Opening of the Bay May 23-25 2014
The Williams Reunion Jazz Band was born on New England college campuses in the 1950’s when Dixieland was alive and well and “runnin’ wild”. Band members now include four Williams College boys: Bob Kingsbury ’58 on clarinet; Fred Clifford ’58 on Tuba; Tom Hayne ’59 on Drums and features: John Halsey ’59 on Piano who is a PhD, teacher and a featured pro in NYC having played with all of the greats in Jazz.
Three permanent guests from Amherst, Bates and U. Mass are: John Bucher who for 25 years led the Woody Allen Band at Michael’s Pub in NYC and plays a wonderful Beiderbecke/Hackett style; Jimmy Mazzy on Banjo who is well known to everybody, and Tom Boates on trombone who plays in the style of Jack Teagarden and Miff Mole and is featured with the Wolverine Jazz Band.
The WRJB name goes back to 1983 when, at a formal jazz concert in Williams College Chapin Hall, the seven first played together. Through the years, their reputation in Williamstown has blossomed into a year ’round schedule of performances at private parties, country clubs, weddings, church masses, jazz festivals, jazz cruises, and special events across the USA.
The band returns every Memorial Day weekend to Duxbury MA for the Duxbury Bay Maritime Academy’s “Opening of the Bay”, their 17th this year. Friday night’s GALA was Traditional Jazz, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres and Island Creek Oyster reception under the tent, and Dixieland Jazz.
Duxbury Bay Maritime Academy
Saturday afternoon is family day, with face painting, balloon animals, vendors, food and drinks. It was a New England cold, damp day. We caught the Williams Reunion Dixieland Jazz Band under the tent on the deck by the Bay.
The inimitable Jimmy Mazzy
They opened with a lively Dr. Jazz, Jimmy vocal and banjo – Jimmy Mazzy has a unique hold on the bridge that allows him to make sounds like no one else!
Boates’ powerful trombone opened My Honey’s Loving Arms. Ensemble took the intro to Rose Room, followed by engaging personal solos first by clarinet, then cornet, trombone, banjo, piano.
Bob Kingsbury, leader, clarinet
Kingsbury’s clarinet started with the verse on W. C. Handy’s Hesitation Blues; ensemble parts twining around each other leading to a Jimmy Mazzy hearty shout. They played a final chorus, Hayne closing with a cymbal CRASH!
Tom Boates plays Kid Ory’s Creole Trombone
Tom Boates is always featured on Kid Ory’s Creole Trombone, no matter what band he’s in. We hope he never gets tired of playing it because we never get tired of hearing his magnificent growling trombone!
Memphis Blues was a soft wistful blues, clarinet playing high over the whole ensemble, cornet and piano building long, melodic solos. Jimmy’s scatting was more like a soft moaning,
John Bucher, Bix-style cornet
John Halsey rippled up and down the keyboard.
Fred Clifford
They revved it up with S’Wonderful, nice low register clarinet start, Jimmy singing ballad, marvelous Bucher cornet, tuba holding long notes. Clifford is the band’s rhythmic engine. Banjo solo was backed by drum softly tapping cymbal and snare drum.
Let Me Call You Sweetheart, clarinet, cornet, piano played melody, with trombone counterpoint accents. Kingsbury moved over to Boates for a wonderful trombone/clarinet duet.
Tom Hayne drives the band with his Dixieland Beat
At The Jazz Band Ball was explosive, with great New Orleans polyphony, then they let Tom Hayne go wild on drums.
Their music has a joyful, timeless spirit. It all ended too soon, but there was a cold wind blowing in from the Bay and they were glad to pack up and move on.
* * *
WRJB did a week in Florida again this year, what they call “Spring Training”, with five appearances, one in Ponte Vedra, three in Vero Beach and finished at the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach. And they just finished their annual Boston/Duxbury weekend with six appearances ranging from the Somerset Club in Boston to the South Shore Conservatory, First Parish Church and Winsor House in Duxbury. Then a full Reunion weekend in Williamstown from June 13-15 capped by a private party in Bretton Woods, NH.
Novel celebrates a decade of Jazz at Skidompha Photo by Elaine Jones
Novel Jazz Septet will be performing classic jazz at Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta, ME, onThursday 12 June, 2014, 7PM to 9:30PM. The performance will feature Barney Balch (trombone), Dave Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Wells Gordon (acoustic bass), Bryan Jones (Alto Saxophone) and Mark Macksoud (drums)., plus special guest Ralph Norris (tenor and baritone sax) This evening continues their 2014 Skidompha concert series, bringing live jazz to mid-coast audiences. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. (Photo by Elaine Jones)
The Novel Jazz Septet will be celebrating their 10th year of performances at Skidompha Public Library, Main Street, Damariscotta on Thursday, 12 June 2014, from 7-9:30 PM, with a special evening of jazz in the library’s atrium. A decade ago, the band decided to “go public” from their regular private sessions as a way to help keep jazz alive in midcoast Maine. Indeed, these events began with the observation that lovers of books often are lovers of jazz. The superb acoustics of Skidompha’s atrium, plus the seating “in the round”, make it a superior place to see and hear jazz, all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. It was while performing at Skidompha that the band decided to forge deeper into the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Trombonist Barney Balch began visiting the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to work in their Ellington collection, digging out gems of these musical geniuses and bringing them back to life in summertime concerts.
The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond) for several decades. Collectively, they share over two centuries of experience in the jazz idiom. Performing at Skidompha will be Barney Balch (trombone), Dave Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Wells Gordon (acoustic bass), Bryan Jones (Alto Saxophone) and Mark Macksoud (drums). Ralph Norris will be making a guest appearance on tenor and baritone sax. Ralph is no stranger to Novel Jazz evenings at Skidompha. He has been an active professional saxophonist for the past 50-plus years, long a staple of the Maine jazz scene. He has regularly performed with many luminaries including the Don Doane and Terry White Big Bands, Tommy Gallant, Muriel Havenstein, legendary saxophonist Harry Allen, pianist Tom Snow (and many more). He has been conducting and composing for the Cape Elizabeth High School Jazz Program since 1997. Ralph’s specialty is the great American Songbook and he plays his tenor with a sound as silky as Stan Getz and as agile as Paul Gonsalves. Anyone who has heard Ralph knows they are in for a special treat!
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. We encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form. The library is located on Main Street in downtown Damariscotta. Call 207-563-5513 during business hours for more information.
This promises to be a very special night of jazz. Come to Skidompha on 12 June as Novel Jazz marks a decade of swinging jazz at this wonderful library. And if you haven’t heard the band in a while, come see what the decade has done for Novel Jazz!
SHERBORN INN TUESDAY JAZZ
7:00-9:30pm $10 unless otherwise noted
Dec 23Free-for-all Jazzboree* *Free admission Dec 23. Numerous Tuesday Jazz musicians will be here to thank you for 19 years supporting Tuesday Jazz at the Sherborn Inn.
In January the Sherborn Inn ownership will change. The new owners have not indicated they will continue a jazz program. We understand they plan to renovate or redecorate during January and February. We hope you will continue to dine at the Inn after the sale goes through. The buyers have an excellent reputation for the food they serve at their restaurant La Morra in Brookline.
There is one more jazz night in 2014 at the Sherborn Inn. On December 16th come thank the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, responsible for beginning and nurturing the long run of jazz at the Sherborn Inn. On December 23rdthe Tuesday Jazz Musicians invite you to attend a “Free-for-all Jazzboree” with numerous Tuesday Jazz musicians from many bands who wish to thank YOU for your support over these 19 years. No admission charge December 23rd.
After we finish celebrating 19 years of Tuesday Jazz we may be moving the series to Primavera Ristorante in Millis where it will become Thursday Jazz, beginning January 15th 2015 with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band.
Wolverine Jazz Band is scheduled February 19th. Final details are being worked out. Primavera is 15 minutes away from the Sherborn Inn at 20 Pleasant Street, Millis MA 02054 (off Route 109) Stay tuned for the Primavera Ristorante schedule.
Neville Dickie piano with Jeff Hughes trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax, Steve Taddeo drums
Neville Dickie tours the U.S. every year around this time. Neville is from Surrey, England and is known worldwide for his stride piano, boogie woogie, with a powerful left hand and flashy fingering on the right hand. We all looked forward to his 13th appearance at the Sherborn Inn; thanks to Ellen and Stan McDonald.
He was joined by Steve Taddeo on drums, Stan McDonald on soprano sax, and Jeff Hughes trumpet. He is a charming entertainer, and enjoyed having a few beers and renewing acquaintances with the fans that come out to hear him every year. They come from all over New England – he fills the house.
Neville began his renowned “showing off for the Company”, backed by Steve Taddeo, with Jimmy McHugh’s Doing The New Lowdown, marvelous.
He said there’s nothing complete without Fats Waller, Keeping Out of Mischief Now. He’s known for his rapid left stride, but we like his active right hand toying with the melody.
He once heard Stan and Ross Petot play the Harlem Hotcha, written by James P. Johnson. It was originally done by the Omer Simeon Trio with Johnson on piano, Simeon clarinet and Pops Foster bass. Neville’s lightening left hand was supported by Steve feeling his way on snare drum and hi hat, trying not to be intimidated by the famous Dickie.
Neville invited Stan McDonald and Jeff Hughes to join them, with a piano intro to Rose of The Rio Grande. Neville played chugging, rocking chords, Stan on hot soprano sax also did the vocal, Jeff’s trumpet softly in the background. Neville started with the verse on a Darktown Strutters Ball, fingers floating over the keys. Stan on sax and singing.
Back to the duo of Neville and Steve with I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Neville playing in 6ths and left hand patterns like Jelly Roll Morton, giving his playing a “New Orleans” flavor. (I was coached by Ross Petot.)
Neville had several DVD’s for sale, he included a free CD with each one sold. He played ingenious stride on one of the tunes on his Back to Boogie DVD, Bells of St. Marys. He explained how the composer, Douglas Furber, was on a boat leaving South Hampton in England when he heard the Bells of St. Marys as the boat was leaving. It inspired him to write the tune. Dickie ended the piece with dramatic bell sounds on piano. Going back to boogie woogie, he turned to the jazz style of Albert Ammons with his 1940’s boogie, Shout for Joy.
Neville invited Stan and Jeff back. Neville’s right hand played warm, soulful, cascading piano to Jeff’s glorious horn solo on Bunny Berigan’s I Can’t Get Started. Sweet!
Jeff Hughes and Neville Dickie play Bunny “Berigan’s I Can’t Get Started”
Neville said “You won’t hear anything better than that!” We totally agree.
Neville enjoys sharing the stage, playing backup piano in the quartet for Maggie. The Ensemble’s powerful performance, with Stan’s scorching soprano sax turned Tijuana into a barn burner!
Stan’s scorching sax
Our own dynamic pianist, Ross Petot, sat at the piano playing haunting and elegant melodies during intermission. His hands crossed playing stride on I Hate Myself For Being So Mean To You by Isham Jones; Somebody Loves Me, Who’s Sorry Now, But Not For Me, Love For Sale, King of Araby.
New England pianist Ross Petot
In the middle of Araby, Neville returned and took over the treble end of the piano. The two together are remarkable piano pyrotechnicians. The baby grand vibrated with impeccable rhythm! We look forward to this every year!
Neville Joins Ross at piano
They trade places, playing 4-handed piano
Taddeo joins the pianists
Neville back at the piano with the volatile Finger Breaker. Jelly Roll Morton composed Finger Breaker; Willie ‘the Lion’ Smith called it Finger Buster. Either way, it’s extremely fast and difficult. Harlem Blues went from Blues to intense Boogie. It was the first blues ever published – 1940 – by Blue Note founder, Albert Lion.
Quartet resumes with All By Myself, Jeff backing Neville with soft trumpet; James P Johnson’s Old Fashioned Love, Stan on sax and vocals. Neville boogied with a hispanic tinge on Dardanella.
Steve back with Neville playing marvelous left-hand boogie woogie on Golden Earrings, from the movie with Marlene Dietrich. Swanee River Boogie was ecstasy! We never get enough boogie!
Closing time was approaching; Neville wanted to give Taddeo a chance to play. He said he’d make it easy, started Honeysuckle Rose with a slow, rolling left hand. Steve went along, adding a soft drum roll. By now he was comfortable with Neville, and tore into his Gene Krupa walk-around routine, stepping away from the drums with sticks tapping the beat, tapping on anything within reach, table, glasses, dishes, never missing a note. That caught Neville and the ladies at the nearest table by surprise! He tapped on, back towards Neville and returned to the drums to audience applause.
George Hannah
Steve has been teaching drums to student George Hannah. George sat in on drums, playing just the right accents and sounds with Neville on Indian Summer. We’ve been watching him grow up with drums – he’s come a long way!
The quartet returned with Wild Man Blues, with trumpet in glissando, staccato phrasing. They closed this evening with sax and trumpet intro to Lover Come Back To Me.
Myron Idleson called this the Mount Rushmore of Jazz Concerts. He said their talent is a gift from God, and their playing is their gift to God. I’ll add ‘to us too’.
Neville headed for New Jersey to play with the Midiri Brothers for the Tri State Jazz Society, then on to Maryland. If you’re ever in England, Neville and wife Pat started the Sutton Jazz Club where he plays monthly at The Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey. http://www.jazzpiano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/advance_dates.htm
We look forward to having him back here again next year.
Steve will be in concert with the Midiri Brothers here on August 12th. Dick Donovan’s Big Band directed by Steve Taddeo is at the American Legion, 140 River Rd. Middleton MA every Monday evening.
Jeff will be back at the Sherborn Inn with The Wolverine Jazz Band, Swing Times Five, and Debby Larkin, Dave Whitney, Dan Gabel. They all want him. And He’ll still be wearing a hat.
Stan’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band will be back at the Sherborn Inn June 17th.
We are so fortunate to have all this marvelous jazz!! I count my blessings every day!
Dave Whitney All Stars with Christine Fawson, in a Tribute to Louis Armstrong at the Sherborn Inn with Dave Whitney trumpet/vocals, Christine Fawson trumpet/vocals, Ted Casher reeds, Dan Gabel trombone, Reid Jorgensen drums, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Dale piano, Jon Wheatley guitar
