Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders at the Sherborn Inn

7-piece Swing Band

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Dan Gabel trombone, Ross Petot piano, Bill Doyle guitar, John Deardon string bass, Steve Taddeo leader/drums, Caroline Griep vocals.

by Marce
videos by Harold McAleer

You gotta jump, jive, and then you wail!  Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders blew the roof off the Sherborn Inn on April 1st.  No foolin’!  With three Band Leaders in the front line, and Taddeo’s pulsating drums, who would expect anything less! The musicians were eager to play as soon as they arrived, and hit it off with a swinging Don’t Be That Way; they obviously love what they’re doing.

Caroline in royal blue blose

Caroline Griep

 

Steve called up the band’s vocalist Caroline Griep, a naturally charming entertainer, with an infectious smile and marvelous voice.

She enjoys listening to this band just as much as singing with them.  She knocked our socks off with Jeepers Creepers.

 

 

The band was ferocious; Bugle Call Rag was solid swing with updriving tempo.
Pianist Ross Petot’s was featured on a powerful It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing!

Dan Gabel on trombone

Dan Gabel

 

 

Sweet Sue, with trombonist Dan Gabel, had the dancers up on the floor.  Dan leads The Abletones Big Band that will be playing April 4th at SAC in Shrewsbury and the Imperial Ballroom April 25th.

 

 

 

 

Steve Taddeo is famous for his drum solo walk-around.  Look out – he’s dangerous with those drum sticks:  Diga Diga Do

 

Dan Gabel muted trombone, John Clark baritone sax, with the band forcefully Swinging The Blues

You Are Too Beautiful brought John and Gisela Brunacelli back up on the dance floor – they danced all night. You’re Nobody ‘Till Somebody Loves You, sweet ballad by Caroline, brought out Steve’s Dad, Frank Taddeo and his companion Gladys Aubin.

elderly couple swing dancing

John & Gisela Brunicelli

Steve Taddeo's Dad dancing with companion

Frank Taddeo Gladys Aubin

Steve introduced a new drummer, George Darrah that freed Steve up for a vocal on Flat Foot Floogie with The Floy Floy.  George has been sitting in with The Dick Donovan Band directed by Steve Taddeo since he was 7 years old!

Jeff Hughes on 1953 Selmer trumpet

Jeff Hughes on 1953 Selmer trumpet

 

 

Jeff Hughes was featured on trumpet with I surrender Dear.

He also sang the vocal made famous by Louis Prima, Slow Boat to China, backed by guitar.

 

 

 

Bill Doyle on guitar

Bill Doyle

 

 

 

Bill Doyle’d arch-top guitar accentuates the rhythm, and backs vocals; he is an essential part of the band.

 

 


 

I Know That You Know was a super trio – clarinet master John Clark passionate,  Ross Petot intense on piano and Steve Taddeo playing crazy rhythm on a snare drum.

Caroline returned with All of Me, with the band flaring behind her.  Clark on baritone sax competing with Hughes’ trumpet on vibrato.  Never gets dull!

They closed with the Swing Senders Theme Song, Dinah.   George Darrah back on drums, Steve on floor tom – A Killer Diller drumming duet.

The Swing Senders definitely do not need amplification – the Band Swings loud and clear.  They’ll be back here on August 12th – mark your calendars – with the Midiri Brothers, Joe on reeds and Paul on vibes.   WOW!

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Harold McAleer is in the process of editing many videos.  They will be added as they are approved – come back again, and again!

Don’t Be That Way
Jeepers Creepers
Fly Me To The Moon
Sweet Sue
New Kind of Love
Bugle Call Rag
Sunny Side
Diga Diga Do (drum walk around)
Happy Birthday  (Bill Doyle & John Clark)
Flatfoot Floogie with The Floy Floy
You Are Too Beautiful
It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing
Swinging The Blues
You’re Nobody ‘Till Somebody Loves You
You Do Something To Me
Slow Boat to China
I Know That You Know (Trio)
I Surrender Dear
All Of Me
Dinah

 

Swing Senders with the Midiri Brothers in Lincoln MA

Swing Senders with the Midiri BrothersSteve Taddeo’s Swing Senders were enriched by the presence of The Midiri Brothers at this year’s final performance of Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on May 22, 2013.

Personnel: Midiri Brothers, Joe reeds, Paul vibes, trombone and drums; John Clark reeds, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Scott Philbrick cornet/guitar, Bill Doyle guitar, Dan Gabel trombone, Ross Petot piano, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo drums, Caroline Griep vocals. They looked and sounded like a Big Band – ten pieces of the finest Swing you would ever want to hear!

Caroline Griep

Caroline Griep

 

Joe Midiri on clarinet

Joe Midiri

Charismatic vocalist Caroline Griep flashed a gleaming smile and regaled us with Just You, Just Me, Jeepers Creepers, All of Me,  improvising and scatting with Bill Doyle on guitar on Don’t Get Around Much Anymore. 

She enjoys singing, and her pleasure comes through.

 

Paul Midiri on Vibes

Paul Midiri

 

Consummate entertainers, the Midiri Brothers drove from New Jersey to Massachusetts to be here with the SteveTaddeo’s Swing Senders.  Joe is a monster on reeds, whether on alto or soprano sax, or clarinet, had us on the edge of our seats when he hit D above high C and held it for a long note.

Lionel Hampton’s Flying Home, 1939-41,  Paul flying on vibes.  Steve closed it with the drum walk-around that is his specialty. “Got that Harold?”

Ross Playing stride piano

 

Ross was featured on Crazy Rhythm, with Bill Doyle on guitar and Scott cornet and Paul Midiri playing drums.

A trio, band within a band, had Clark on clarinet, Steve drums, Ross’s marvelous stride piano, You Do Something To Me.

 

 

Stomping at the Savoy piano did the intro with the two fabulous guitars of Bill Doyle and Scott Philbrick, John on bari sax,  Dan trombone, Jeff on trumpet, Joe clarinet, Paul vibes, Steve drums.   A scorcher!

Joe was on alto sax for his infamous version of Sunny Side of the Street, singing in the Louis voice he does so well.

Midiri Brothers were featured on Avalon.  ’nuff said!!

Dan Gabel trombone, Jeff Hughes trumpet

Dan Gabel and Jeff Hughes

 

 

Dan Gabel and Jeff were featured in a mellow Day Dream, a beautiful instrumental written by Billy Strayhorn and Duke.

 

 

 

 

Fred Waring’s Sleep is usually a Midiri’s full band feature, and it was marvelous with all the instruments, with drum intro, hot clarinet at each end.

They closed with the Swing Senders theme song, Dinah – video below in two parts, with hard driving tempo, Midiri on clarinet, Gabel trombone, ending with Paul and Steve battling it out on the drums.  Videos by Harold McAleer.

Dinah Part 1, Dan Gabel takes off on trombone.

Paul Steve drums 1
The sticks vie for dominance on this closing number of the Swing Senders at Bemis Hall — Harold McAleer videos.

Dinah Part 2

WOW!

Bob and Dan MacInnis

Bob and Dan MacInnis

 

Can’t tell you how great it was to see another set of brothers here –  Bob and Dan MacInnis.  Welcome back!!

 

 

Charlie  and Evelyn (90 years old)

 

 

Charlie and Evelyn find a space to dance no matter how crowded it is!

 

 

This was an impressive  evening of solid, hard driving Swing, with the Midiri Brothers joining the Swing Senders.  Steve Taddeo assures us there will be more to come this summer.

Meantime, the Midiri Brothers left at midnight for that long ride home.  They are seasoned musicians and inveterate entertainers!