by Marce
videos by Hal McAleer

Al Ehrenfried celebrates 90th at the Sherborn Inn
Videos by Harold McAleer

Family and Friends filled the Sherborn Inn June 19th to help Al Ehrenfried celebrate his 90th birthday.  Al plays marvelous string bass with many local bands, and regularly with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band.

Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Left to right, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jeff Stout trumpet, Dave Bragdon drums, Al Ehrenfried string bass, McDonald, Ross Petot piano, and Peter Gerler guitar.The Blue Horizon Jazz Band, lead by Stan McDonald, soprano sax and clarinet, plays on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Sherborn Inn. 

All By Myself kicked off the evening, with a Stan McDonald vocal – but Al certainly wasn’t – with family from all over the country and many music friends joining him.

Jeff Hughes

John ‘Urbie’ Kafalas

Lee Prager

Frank Stadler

Jim Mazzy

John Clark

Dave Didriksen

Dan Weiner

Steve Taddeo

BHJB continued with a Sidney Bechet tune, Lastic. When I Leave The World Behind, great soprano sax with cornet comping. Tijuana.

McDonald featured onBlues in the Air – it has a fine Blue Horizon clarinet solo in the middle.

Manager of the Sherborn Inn, Phil Cocoa, had a delicious chocolate cake ready for all to enjoy.  Al’s artist friend Alice presented him with a special birthday card that she created  “Cool Cat”.

Vocalist Mollie Malone sings a breathless “Marilyn Monroe”Happy Birthday to Al accompanied by the band with Frank Stadler on piano..

Band Two was lead by Jeff Hughes, with Lee Prager trombone, John Clark clarinet, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Frank Stadler piano, Dan Weiner guitar, Dave Didriksen drums, and of course Al on string bass.  He played with every band – all evening. 

Steve Taddeo dropped in for a couple of tunes. Al suggested a Gershwin tune from the Swng Era, S’Wonderful.

  Baby Ain’t I Good to You, fantastic front line Kafalas, Hughes, Clark – followed by  Weiner guitar solo.     Jimmy slipping into his infamous scat.

Dave Didriksen, of the Wolverine Jazz Band, back on drums providing a crisp, tight Dixieland Beat for Louis Armstrong’s Someday You’ll Be Sorry.

Jeff Stout trumpet and Jeff Hughes on long Conn cornet are a great combination anytime!

Frank Stadler introduced Found a New Baby, Lee Prager trombone challenging Al to a trombone/bass duet – as he often does with the Seacoast Stompers.   Al is up to the challenge!

They dedicated Dr. Jazz to oncologist John McGrath, internist Dr. Bailen,  a surgeon, and any other Doctors in the audience.

The last set started with the BHJB, an appropriate June Night.  John ‘Urbie’ Kafalas joined the band on trombone.  Two trombones!  John played with this band many years ago, and has been audio-taping many bands, especially Jimmy Mazzy, over 25 years.   Check him out at http://kafalas.net/jazz/ .

More Bechet, beautiful Lotus Blossom, Stan on soprano sax of course, ending with the last note in the stratosphere!  Marchand de Poisson (Fish Vendor).   Al’s string bass took the intro to  Lady Be Good.

The rest of the musicians wandered in for the Finale, a Blues that was composed the year Al was born – Blues in C.

Gerry Gagnon, Urbie Kafalas, Jeff Stout, Dave Bragdon, Al Ehrenfried, Stan McDonald, Ross Petot, Peter Gerler, Jeff Hughes, John Clark

The Finale had almost everybody. Harold McAleer videotaped the whole evening, and we hope to get many of them up here eventually.   Next to him is Ellen McDonald, Manager of the Blue Horizon Jazz Band, and the ONLY person responsible for our Tuesday Night Jazz at the Sherborn Inn for 17 years!!  THANK YOU, ELLEN!

Al and the Blue Horizon Jazz Band will continue to be here on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.  Join us!