Swing Times Five

Jeff Hughes cornet, Dan Weiner guitar, Deb Larkin vocals, Ross Petot piano, Pete Tillotson acoustic string bass, Dave Didriksen drums.  November 25, 2014

Two days before Thanksgiving, heavy snow predicted, horrific traffic on the roads, nevertheless a good crowd braved the elements and made it to the Sherborn Inn to hear Swing Times Five.  Inside it was warm and cozy, with two blazing fireplaces and one Hot Swing Band, playing popular tunes, and other great tunes that we seldom hear.

They began with a light easy bounce on Topsy, Jeff playing dark, rich sounds on a 1990 Schilke cornet.

Dan Weiner

Jeff Hughes

Jeff’s teammate on the front line was guitarist Dan Weiner, swinging on a flat-top electric/acoustic guitar, custom made for him by the late guitar hero Jimmy D’Aquisto. Ross Petot collaberated on piano – sometimes supplementing the front line, always listening, filling in spaces, supporting solos, conjuring notes.

Ross Petot, all-around standard

The rhythm section backed them admirably, with Pete Tillotson on melodic string bass and Dave Didriksen’s accommodating drumming.

Dave Didriksen, drums, manager

Pete Tillotson doesn’t just push chords

The spark plug that ignites the band is one of our very favorite vocalists, Debby Larkin.

Debbie Larkin

Debby started with Billie Holidays’ version of Wishing On a Moon, Jelly Roll Morton’s This Joint is Jumpin’ – and this joint was jumpin’, with Dave’s drums driving the band.

Sent For You Yesterday, But Here You Com Today.  Billie Holiday’s What A Little Moonlight Can Do;
Ross took off with left hand playing stride and right hand playing intricate melodies. te Tillotson makes fine melody and swings on string bass on When Dreams Come True.  Don’t Be That Way was lively.  Lullaby In Rhythm. Crazy Rhythm.  Hughes’ sizzling cornet blew us away on Stomping at the Savoy.

Berklee Professor Jeff Stout arrived to support his lovely wife on powerful trumpet with You Turned The Tables on Me.   She dedicated Just The Beginning of Love  to recently deceased popular pianist, Ray Santisi, who taught her that song.

Swing Times Five with Debbie Larkin and Jeff Stout

Cottontail was afire with the two Jeffs in absolute rapture playing this music.  The fans were riveted in their seats.

Cornet and Trumpet went WILD!

Irving Berlin wrote a thousand tunes. We don’t hear this one very often: Late, Late Show.  They closed  with a very special wish – We’ll Be Together Again.

The Sherborn Inn has been sold.  We have two more bands in December, Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band on December 16th, and a Free-for-all JAZZboree on December 23rd – with many of the musicians who have been playing here for the last 19 years.  FREE for ALL!

Come January, our Jazz will move to Thursdays, 7-9:30pm at Primavera Ristorante, 20 Pleasant St, Millis, MA 02054 (508) 376-2026.  Fine Italian restaurant.  Check it out.  www.primav.com/  We hope you will continue supporting great jazz and join us there.

Swing Times Five has its first CD out – Raincheck – It can be ordered by getting in touch with the new band manager, Dave Didriksen.  david@willowbooks.com