Tag Archives: Sidney Bechet

Blue Horizon Jazz Band’s Indian Summer at the Sherborn Inn, October 15, 2013

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Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Didriksen drums

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Didriksen drums

Stan McDonald clarinet/soprano sax, Jeff Stout trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Didriksen drums.

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, now celebrating 18 years at the Sherborn Inn, performed another evening of fine Traditional Jazz, with a superb front line backed by the splendid rhythm section.

Stan started on clarinet for Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, moving to soprano sax, complemented by the powerful trumpet of Jeff Stout and tailgate trombone of Gerry Gagnon.  Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You, Rose of the Rio Grand.  Four or Five Times is always played in a slow beat.

All By Myself – Berklee Professor Jeff Stout was introduced to ‘new’ old tunes played by the Bechet-Spanier Big Four.  The Big Four consisted of soprano sax and trumpet with only guitar and bass – but the Blue Horizon also has invaluable trombone, piano and drum.

Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me, Stan conjuring the echo of Sidney Bechet on soprano sax, with trumpet and trombone following in rhythmic harmony.

Stan McDonald sings

Stan McDonald sings Lotus Blossom

 

 

Lotus Blossom, Stan singing one of his favorites.

Ross’s lovely piano solo was backed by Dave’s soft brushes on snare drum.  Stan closed it with crisp high note on soprano sax.

 

 

 

 

 

Ross on piano, Peter Gerler behind him on guitar

Ross Petot, pianist extraordinaire

 

 

PIanist extraordinaire, Ross Petot’s artistry as a stride pianist is renowned; he played improvised New Orleans stride on W. C. Handy’s Ole Miss, backed by Peter Gerler’s guitar.

 

 

 


Kansas City Man Blues was a sublime piece of ensemble playing.  Bechet recorded it with Bob Wilbur in 1947.

Trombone, drums, trumpet

Gerry Gagnon, Dave Didriksen, Jeff Stout

string bass

Al Ehrenfried

Marie Elena was played in Habanera style, front line inspired by the burning tempo.  Didriksen listened carefully, anticipating where they were heading, with Al Ehrenfried’s pulsing string bass beside him.  Exciting!

Gagnon, head back, mouth wide open, drummer Didriksen in back, smiling.

Gerry Gagnon belts it out!

 

 

Lonesome Road, Stan began on vocal, then gave Gerry Gagnon a chance to belt it out.  Astounding! He could reach the back of a theater without a mic!

Stan doesn’t stray far from Bechet, returning with Marchand de Poisson.

 

 

They Closed with rapturous Indian Summer, this month’s theme. This timeless song was written by Victor Herbert in 1919 but not made famous until 1940 by Sidney Bechet. In 1978, Stan recorded his own compelling version (available on Blue Horizon Records).  http://bluehorizonjazzband.com/

Marce

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Whitney and Dave Didriksen

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 photos by Bennett Green

7-piece Traditional Jazz Band

Blue Horizon Jazz Band, with Dave Whitney trumpet and Dave Didriksen drums

Dave Whitney trumpet, Stan McDonald clarinet/sopranos sax/vocals. Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar/banjo, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Didriksen drums

It’s Tuesday at the Sherborn Inn, and we’re ready for an evening of our favorite Traditional Jazz.  The Blue Horizon began with Meet Me To-night in Dreamland, Dave playing melodic trumpet with a congenial Stan McDonald on subtle clarinet, and Gerry Gagnon’s trombone using broad slides.  Peter Gerler was on banjo.

Sidney Bechet and Mugsy Spanier’s Four or Five Times wasn’t raucous, but had a nice easy beat, Whitney playing melody, Stan with intricate counterpoint on soprano sax, Peter on guitar.

Then they revved it up, with a rollicking Honky Tonk Town, with tight New Orleans polyphony, and suddenly they had the listeners sitting at the edge of their seats.  The band was on fire, lit by sparkplug Dave Whitney.  You could feel it in the air.  Save It Pretty Mama, Stan on soprano sax, muted trombone.

They kept the fires burning with Jelly Roll Morton’s Tijuana, with solo by Stan.

Stan had vocals on My Gal Sal and When I Leave The World Behind.

This band plays music of the early 20th century.  Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble, by spencer Williams was published in 1917. Marie Elena was a fine Latin beat.  Dave Whitney on propulsive trumpet, If I Could Be With You.

Ross's face framed by piano top

Ross Petot has amazing technical prowess on piano.

 

There was much discussion about who would start the next tune, Ross won, playing the beautiful verse of When I Leave The World Behind,  Dave keeping steady drum beat.   Magnificent solos by the front line, with Stan closing in a high cadenza.

 
Ross introduced What Is This Thing Called Love?

Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson and Blues in The Air were exceptional, with Dave and Stan on a roll.

Dave and Stan with Al on string bass in backgrund

Dave Whitney and Stan McDonald in high gear.                                                    photo by Marce

The crowd was ecstatic, responding to the band, and the band was feeding off the crowd.

Dave and Stan listening to Al

All listen while Al Ehrenfried plays acoustic string bass

 

 

Ehrenfried keeps a full, rich tone, playing proper bass lines, lifting the whole band.

 

 

 

 

 

Gagnon with 2 mutes on trombone

Gerry Gagnon makes fine use of many mutes.

 

Gerry’s trombone lead into a solid up-tempo Good Ol’ New York. Dave Didriksen let go on drum solo.

Don’t You Leave Me Here  Whitney in wa wa, vibrato trumpet, Gagnon on muted trombone.

Didriksen with big smile, giving high sign with fist

Dave Didriksen thoroughly enjoying the band

 

 

 

 

 

Time was running short, they were really cookin’ with I Got Rhythm, and everyone knew it.

 

 

They closed with Bechet’s Dans Les Rues D’Antibes, with horns holding on to the last note.

Dave Whitney and Dave Didriksen don’t usually sit in with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, but the chemistry was there from the start; the band worked together with heartfelt solos and ensembles.  We were fortunate to have shared this deeply moving evening of fine Traditional Jazz!

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band is in its 19th year at the Sherborn Inn, every 3rd Tuesday of the month.  See you there September 17th??