Blue Horizon Jazz Band’s first 2014 Fall Session at the Sherborn Inn

Posted on September 16, 2014 by admin

All the Blue Horizon Jazz Band ‘regulars’ were back!!

This was a special evening with no summer substitutes; all the Blue Horizon ‘regulars’ were back with their powerful brass front line.

trumpet and soprano sax on either side of string bass

Jeff Stout and leader Stan McDonald make a powerful team. Stu Gunn’s steady bass gives them freedom to fly!

They began with All By Myself, Stan taking the first of many vocals. Jeff’s trumpet was crystal clear on Roaming, Ross’s piano picking up riffs. Their repertoire consisted of tunes from the 20’s to the 40’s, strongly based on melody. They have a genuine passion and feel for this music: Tishumingo, Bechet’s Lastic, Roses of Picardie, Gershwin’s Strike Up The Band. Rosetta was hard-charging and wild! Honky Tonk Town had Stu weaving from side to side with the beat.

The front line is bolstered by the deep rich tone of Gerry Gagnon’s trombone.

Stan played a forceful soprano sax solo on Save It Pretty Mama. He played low register clarinet on a rhythmic Wild Man Blues, with every instrument taking spontaneous, off the cuff solos on its many breaks.

I Would Do Most Anything For You, Taddeo maintained a resourceful Traditional Jazz beat on his Swingerland drums all evening with the use of brushes,wood block, bell, choke cymbal and pinging the hi hat stand.

Ross Petot was featured with the rhythm section on You Can’t Take That Away From Me, keeping the music fresh by using his magical left hand as a walking bass line instead of his famous stride piano. Marvelous!

Ross Petot strayed from his famous stride piano to keep the music fresh.

Trumpet and sax were perfectly synchronized on When I Leave The World Behind, undergirded by Steve’s drums and Stu’s pulsating string bass.

The band has had fine substitutes like Paul Monat cornet and John Kafalas trombone over the summer (Gerry moved to impressive tuba). But it was refreshing to have the whole band back for the Fall Season. They sent us home with a gentle, sweet, Rose of San Antone.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band is in its 19th year at the Sherborn Inn. They’ll all be back, along with our New England Fall Foliage on October 21st. Take a nice ride and join us!

New Black Eagle Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn, September 11, 2014

Posted on September 11, 2014 by admin

New Black Eagle Jazz Band

Tony Pringle cornet/leader, Billy Novick clarinet and alto sax, Stan Vincent trombone, Herb Gardner piano, John Turner string bass, Peter Bullis banjo, Pam Pameijer drums

The musicians of the travel-weary New Black Eagle Jazz Band were relieved to be back at their Home Bass, the Sherborn Inn, 33 North Main St. Sherborn MA. One lives in Connecticut, one at Cape Cod, one in Marblehead, others Hudson, Sudbury, Norwood. Just getting together is an event! This summer they drove to up to the Berkshires Jazz Fest, down to Mt. Gretna in Pennsylvania, Music Mountain in Connecticut, back up to Deertrees Theater in Maine, as well as more locally at the Regatta Bar in Boston, and Amazing Things in Framingham.

Tony Pringle leads the NEW Black Eagle Jazz Band with an iron hand.

The NEW Black Eagle Jazz Band began at the Sticky Wicket in October 1971, after founder Tommy Sancton of the original Black Eagle Jazz Band left for Oxford University in England. The NBEJB’s 43rd Anniversary is coming up next month. (see below)

Under the direction of leader Tony Pringle, The Eagles continue to maintain that real spirit of New Orleans Traditional Jazz.

C. H. Pameijer

Their original drummer at the Sticky Wicket, Pam Pameijier came up from Connecticut tonight. His reliable and dependable drumming revitalizes the whole band!

Herb Gardner plays trombone all over New England and in NY, and piano with the Red Molly.

Herb Gardner is the new pianist with the Eagles, but definitely not new to the neighborhood. Herb was featured on Nobody’s Sweetheart Now showing a deep respect for the melody in his choice of notes.

Curse of an Aching Heart was followed by one of Tony’s favorites – Pleading The Blues. Papa Dip is an up-tempo tune about Louis Armstrong that was played by the New Orleans Wanderers – this band hasn’t played it in 10 years. Nice Spiritual, Lead Me Savior, Give Me Your Telephone Number. Billy moved to alto sax for Rosetta; Papa Di Da Da,

Billy Novick is renowned for his Alto Sax.

Billy was featured on a smoking Body & Soul, backed by the supportive rhythm of piano, bass and drum.

Stan Vincent, New Orleans knows how to play tailgate trombone

Climax Rag was a simmering hot number, not a Rag. It was originally written as a Rag in 1914 by James Scott. Stan Vincent plays it with a low, smouldering trombone.

John Turner, Trad Jazz string bass

John Turner fits in well in the rhythm section with his authentic Traditional Jazz acoustic String Bass.

Wild Man Blues was a rousing stomp. They closed with a familiar favorite, a real oldie, Panama, sending us home with more fond memories.

The Band will be traveling back to Cape Cod on Tuesday, September 30th at the Woods Hole Community Hall, 68 Water Street, Woods Hole for JazzFestFalmouth.org.

They’ll return to the Sherborn Inn on October 9^th. This will be their last Sherborn Inn gig for this year, so be there!

Wolverine Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn, September 9, 2014

Posted on September 9, 2014 by admin

Wolverine Jazz Band will be celebrating 19 years together in December

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark reeds, Tom Boates trombone, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

All stellar Jazzmen who invoke the spirit of New Orleans Jazz, The Wolverines returned to their monthly gig at the Sherborn Inn. We are fortunate that they rehearse their CDs with us! Bored with playing their nearly 20 years of material, they searched for new things. (Jimmy has a million of ’em.)

They began this first Jazz evening of September at the Inn with a salute to Fall, Jimmy singing a sweet Shine on Harvest Moon.

They shuffled around the early part of the 20th century with Walter Donaldson’s Love Me or Leave Me, King Oliver Creole Jazz Band’s Mable’s Dream, it’s on their new CD.

They have many King Oliver tunes in their book. King Oliver had one of the best and most important bands in early Jazz, but he didn’t have many vocals. Jimmy came up with I’m Lonesome Sweetheart.

Tom Boates, one of the top trombonist in New England

Tom Boates was featured on New Orleans Stomp; Kid Ory would have approved!

Dave Didriksen’s drumming pushed the front line into lovely polyphonic sound, with Rick adding a fine tuba solo.

Dave Didriksen

Rick MacWilliams

Ross Petot, stride pianist

Ross was featured on I Hate Myself for Being So Mean To You! with a raucous interchange between trombone and clarinet.

I’m in Seventh Heaven will also be on the CD. (Where did they find all of these that we never heard of before???)

John Clark has become proficient at baritone sax.

A new tune for them was one J. C. Johnson wrote for the Paul Whiteman Band, played by Bix Beiderbecke, When. Jimmy vocal, with fabulous baritone sax by Clark.

A tune written by a trombone player, Santo Pecora, She’s Crying For Me, John on bari sax, had Tom on nice muted trombone, backed by drum & tuba.

Jimmy with left fingers wrapped around neck of the banjo. He learned from listening to radio and couldn't tell how they were holding it.

Jimmy has a unique hold on the neck of the banjo that no one can replicate.

Another Classic tune on their new CD, Jimmy sings the verse on a sweet September in the Rain.

Roll on Mississippi, Clark running the gamut up and down the scale on clarinet, Jimmy played his usual fantastic single string banjo.

Jabbo Smith’s Michigander Blues was dedicated to both Sue Lewis & Bob Sickle’s birthdays (actually last Tuesday.) Happy Birthdays, Kids!

There’ll Come a Day, San Antonia Shout, King Oliver’s 1930 Olga. John Clark took a rare vocal on Oceana Roll. He sounds fine! Who Wouldn’t Love You, a fast tune Jimmy did with the Paramount Jazz Band.

Couple in their 90's swinging on the dance floor

John & Gisela Bruneccini danced the night away celebrating their 66th Anniversary.

John & Gisela Bruneccini danced away celebrating their 66th Anniversary.

Jeff has a varried collection of antique trumpets and cornets.

Django’s Nuage is on the new CD. Jeff was amazing on his 1953 Selmer “Balanced Action” finely ornamented trumpet.

The finale, a good ol’ good one, Panama; Boates squeezed in a snippet of ‘It’s a Small World.” on trombone. (He had to be quick!)

This was a marvelous evening spent with our favorite musicians. This was not a rehearsal, it was more of a demonstration – the CD is ready and will be available in November. The Wolverine Jazz Band will bring their magical Traditional/Dixieland Jazz back to the Sherborn Inn on Tuesday, October 7th. Don’t miss it!

Eli’s All-Stars at the Sherborn Inn, 4 September 2014

Posted on September 4, 2014 by admin

Eli’s All-Stars

Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, vocal, Bob Winter piano, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums,

Fresh from two sold-out performances with the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the All-Stars were raring to go. Trumpeter Phil Person completed an exciting front line, subbing for Bo Winiker.

front line, soprano sax, trumpet, trombone, sitting on high stools

Ted Casher, Phil Person, Herb Gardner

They started hot and heavy with Tijuana, a hot Latin tune. It set the tone for the rest of the evening with these world-class musicians. Herb Gardner’s trombone took the intro on Spencer Williams’ 1926 Basin St. Blues, Jim singing, followed by banjo and tuba.

Ted took center stage with a fiery Lady Be Good on tenor sax. The band followed with a brassy Twelfth St. Rag that resonated off the ceiling!

Ted in front of band blasting on tenor sax.

Ted suggests that the ladies be good.

This Jazz is pure pleasure! Always creative, Eli presented brand new material. They tried out differing duets on a Stan Rubin tune, Miss Ida Blue, first clarinet with piano, then banjo and trombone, backed by a soft ensemble. They tried three different endings until they found the one they liked.

Ted’s Harlem Nocturne on tenor sax was absolutely tantalizing; we never get enough of that wrenching tenor sax! Also can’t get enough of Jimmy Mazzy’s unique style of singing, Someone to Watch Over Me, S’Wonderful. He did a mournful, heartbreaking version of Al Jolson’s Swanee; the depth of his loneliness resounding in his voice. They don’t need any more vocalists!

Bob winter was featured in another piano solo with The Man I Love; fingers delicately floating over the piano, creating a masterpiece.

Bob Winter, pianist for the Boston Pops

Herb Gardner returned on trombone and singing Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Herb Gardner

Nice work! Herb keeps busy leading Stan Rubin’s Band at Swing 46 in Manhattan every Wednesday, backing the American powerhouse vocal trio, Red Molly, or playing piano for the New Black Eagle Jazz Band.

Phil Person was an apt substitute for Bo Winiker. Phil is an Assistant Professor at Berklee, and has performed with Al Grey, Buddy Defranco, Tony Bennett, Keely Smith, Jack Jones, Scott Hamilton, Dick Johnson, Phil Wilson, Kay Starr, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Margaret Whiting, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (directed by Buddy Morrow), Alan Dawson, Ricky Ford, Howard Johnson, and Ray Santisi, among others.

Phil Person was featured on Wait ‘til You Hear From Me, playing fluid, sweet trumpet. Remarkable talent!

Bob Winter played a cool piano intro to South, with Ted on pure soprano sax, Jeff tapping temple blocks.

Jeff tapping on temple blocks, Ted on Sop Sax

Jeff keeps Traditional Jazz Beat on graduated temple blocks

Jimmy on banjo, Eli on reverberating turbo-charged tuba. The two create synergetic magic.

It was one of the highlights of the evening!

Jimmy was featured on a tune that nobody else but Eli seemed to know, Tomorrow Night.

It’s obvious Bob enjoys playing with the All-Stars, and listening to Jimmy and Eli.

Ted Casher sang his signature song with gusto, supported by Phil’s trumpet, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal You. (He dedicated it to Arthur S. DeMoulas.) The tempo picked up with outstanding trumpet, piano, tuba – all building up to a WILD conclusion! What a way to close an afternoon of amazing Jazz here at the Sherborn Inn.

Where was Carolyn Newberger? Carolyn was sitting at the band table, sketching away as usual – she’ll have some great ones of the band.

One of her watercolors was recently accepted into the 14th Biennial North American Open Show of the New England Watercolor Society. The exhibition will be from October 15 to November 8 at the Plymouth MA Center for the Arts, 11 North St. Reception is October 18 from 2-4pm.

On September 13th Eli’s All-Stars kicked off Highland Jazz’s 32nd Concert Series in Newton, MA. They’ll be back again at the Sherborn Inn on Thursday, October 2nd. Don’t miss this one! November and December Thursdays have been cancelled because of too many Holiday Functions.

See you October 2nd??

Marce

Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library starts 35th season!

Posted on September 3, 2014 by admin

To celebrate the start of their 35th season, CJALL presented the Library with “The Jazz Shelf”, a collection of books on Classic Jazz.

Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library

Presenting was Vern Welch of CJALL and accepting was Lisa Rothenberg of the Library and Haskel Strauss of the Friends of the Lincoln Library

Vern and Friends

Jazz Books at Lincoln Library

By Harold McAleer

Billy Novick clarinet, Guy Van Duser guitar, September 2, 2014

Posted on September 2, 2014 by admin

Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser

Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser were featured at the ongoing Tuesday Jazz Series at Sherborn Inn on September 2nd.

About Billy: Billy moved to Boston from New York and attended Berklee College of Music for a year, met some musicians, and fell into the local ’70s music scene, playing in various bands. While rehearsing for a dance performance in 1976, Novick was introduced to the innovative guitarist Guy Van Duser, and the two began a collaboration that continues to flourish. In 1986 Novick became reeds player for the New Black Eagles Jazz Band. He has also done considerable composing and arranging. “When I was a kid I wanted to be a composer even more than a musician.” Billy wrote New Orleans Farewell.

A Studio Musician, Billy has been featured on more than 250 recordings as a sideman or arranger for other artists. He’s also written and played background music for commercials – you’ve probably heard him on TV or Radio. He received worldwide recognition for his score of The Great Gatsby with the Washington Ballet at the Kennedy Center. (They practiced on us at the Sherborn Inn.)

The delights of tonight’s performance were many, both are true artists and great story tellers. They took off with a roaring Royal Garden Blues, followed by a fluid, sweet Embraceable You. They tested the audience on a number they played when they first came together 30+ years ago, both singing and harmonizing on Ready For The River. Sweet! Muscat Ramble, James P Johnson’s Love; a Scott Joplin Rag, Easy Winner, is easy on piano, but difficult on guitar. Not for Van Duser.

Victor Young’s Indian Summer. They faked their way through some Mariachi before moving back to our kind of music, a second line dirge played at New Orleans Funerals – Sing On. Fats Waller’s Jitterbug Waltz.

St. Louis Tickle came from 1906 World’s Fair and then became a Dixieland Tune. Billy explained that Midnight in Moscow was originally meant to be Nightime in Leningrad, but The Soviet Ministry of Culture, one of the most important government offices in the Soviet Union, insisted it become Evening in Moscow. They changed the lyrics and the version. The British Jazz group, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen had a hit with the song in 1961 under the title Midnight in Moscow. And there you have it!

Guitar verse and melody on Stardust were breathtaking!

About Guy: We wondered why Guy wraps his fingers completely around the neck of his guitar; it’s because his fingers play both chords (down) and melody (up) at the same time. He was recovering from a cut on his index finger on right hand. We’re thankful he was here, and that it wasn’t his thumb! He has practically invented a finger-picked guitar style, closer to jazz piano than guitar.

He explains it at Berklee, where he is a Professor in the Guitar Department: “I’m kind of the oddball. I’m here because a lot of people are curious about this technique, finger style. I show them how to take melodies on the guitar—solo line melodies—and play those melodies while playing the chords at the same time. You’re trying to get two layers going. You’re using mostly your thumb just to play the lower notes of the chord while the fingers pick out the melody notes on the upper strings. The fingerpickers do that in such a way that the thumb is alternating back and forth on the string, being the rhythm as well. So I’m not just playing the chord under the note, I’m recreating a beat: boom-chick, boom-chick, boom-chick.”

They played tunes we never heard of, and others recorded by many bands. S’Posing was recorded by Fats, Miles Davis, Sonny Stitt. Billy sings it! “Mine” was the only popular song to come out of the Gershwin show ‘Let ‘Em Eat Cake.’ Scott Joplin’s Spicey Cake Walk. was a rouser!

1931 – I’ll See You In My Dreams. Guy explained that nobody sets it up with the lyrics on the verse like Ukulele Ike (Cliff Edwards) did. He was the featured voice for Jiminy Cricket for all those Disney years. Guy did it singing the lyrics on the verse just as Ike did. Effective.

Isham Jones’ Wabash Blues sold two million records in 1921, cementing Jones’s niche in the musical pantheon of the early Twenties. Billy and Guy closed this evening with their own captivating version.

This was a refreshing and informative evening with Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser. Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators will perform again with the Sacramento Ballet Company in California October 23-26. http://www.sacballet.org/ Tickets are available.

The Great Gatsby with Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators

Guy Van Duser will be playing solo guitar September 13th 8pm at Coffeehouse off the Square, Old Ship Church, Hingham, MA

You can find where Billy and Guy will be teaming up at http://www.billynovick.com/. marce@nejazz.com

Jazz Jesters at The Sherborn Inn, August 26, 2014

Posted on August 26, 2014 by admin

The Jazz Jesters

Jeff Hughes cornet, Craig Ball clarinet and tenor sax, John Clark clarinet/alto and baritone sax, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

They are busy musicians, Ross plays in several bands and teaches, Craig leads the White Heat Swing Orchestra, John Clark bounces between Massachusetts and Connecticut, and his Wolverine Jazz Band plays at festivals and on many town commons. Steve leads the Swing Senders and directs the Dick Donovan Big Band. Al plays tuba and sousaphone in many Classical bands as well as Jazz bands. Jeff has multiple bands, the most active at the moment are Swing Times Five and the Jazz Jesters. Jimmy is always Jimmy, and we are most grateful to have him here with us.

Jeff and John dug down deep for some very old material, some of the best and hottest of the 20′s and 30′s, making it relevant to today with their own splendid arrangements. They came up with tunes we’ve never heard before, inventive and resourceful arrangements by our own Dr. John Clark, hot and sweet music reminiscent of The Jazz Decades.

They soared with their theme This Is My Lucky Day, Craig starting on tenor sax, John Clark on clarinet. These two dynamic reed-men create magnificent music with two clarinets, alto, tenor, and baritone sax, between them.

Albie had his smallest Conn Tuba that he saved from a demolition pile. He favors it when playing classical music; in Trad Jazz it pushes the chords and with Taddeo’s drums, keeps the beat. Ross Petot’s piano adds riffs and fills. The whole polyphonic sound has some folks dancing and others sitting on the edge of their seats. Fantastic!

They have a following of ‘regulars’ who never fail to appear for Jeff’s Bands.

Elke and Joan

Betty

Paul

Connie

Bob

Geri and Jerry

Stan and Gail

Charlie and Gisela Brunaccini

John and Gisela have been married over 60 years. They knew all the right steps, and danced all night!

John said “We enjoyed hearing the old original arrangements of great memorable tunes by talented musicians.”

There were more: Bix’s Davenport Blues, Sweethearts of Sigma Chi, Alabama Stomp, River Stay Away From My Door and Cabin in the Pines (that Jimmy sang with the Paramount Jazz Band.) Blame It On The Blues; a classic 1920’s tune played by many bands, Deep, was another John Clark arrangement.

Featured soloists were Clark on bari sax with Deep Down South. Jeff sang Archie Bleyer’s ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night. Jimmy was featured on a ballad It’s Wonderful, (not Gershwin’s S’Wonderful.) Craig’s clarinet reached for the sky on House of David Blues. Ross was featured on Avalon, and did the arrangement for Lila. SteveTaddeo let his Gene Krupa loose on his own theme song, Dinah.

The band continued with a quintessential 1920’s tune, You Don’t Like It (Not Much!) and closed with Fats /Waller’s Zonky, with dueling clarinets and trumpet, exuberant rhythm – it was WILD!

This exciting and exhilarating band will return with more new arrangements of these marvelous old tunes on October 28^th. Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this!

Bourbon St Paraders Trio on Cape Cod Canal Jazz Boat, August 24,2014

Posted on August 24, 2014 by admin

Rick MacWilliams, Michel Lavigniac, Paul Nossiter

Bright sunshine and clear skies greeted folks at the sold-out Jazz Boat on Sunday, August 24^th. As we left Onset Harbor, The Bourbon Street Paraders Trio played their theme song, Bourbon St. Parade. “Lets fly down, or drive down, to New Orleans.” Great idea, but for those of us who can’t make it to New Orleans, the Jazz Boat is a good substitute on summer Sundays.

A soft breeze made it a pleasant trip up and down the Cape Cod Canal with the Trio playing some tunes that originated in New Orleans, others from the 20’s to the 50’s: Hoagie Carmichael’s Up a Lazy River, 1920’s Whispering, 1948 Frank Loesser’s Slow Boat to China, Louis Armstrong’s Someday You’ll Be Sorry.

Paul Nossiter is singing Clarence Williams’ Baby Won’t You Please Come Home as we cruise by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and its training ship, the Kennedy.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Paul has an extensive background in music in this country and in Europe. He’s played with many of the great Jazz Players. I Want a Little Girl was his wife’s favorite song. (George Wein gave him the gift of Jimmy Rushing singing it at his wedding in Newport RI! ) Paul gave us his resounding version here on the Cape Cod Canal.

In 1974, Nossiter played with Dick Sudhalter’s New Paul Whiteman Orchestra in London. Michael Steinman wrote about it on Jazz Lives. Eventually Nossiter settled in Cape Cod. For the last 60 years he’s been breathing new life into melodies that will never get old.

We slowly progressed up the canal with New Orleans Shuffle – WOW – grab a railing and hang on! In the past, The Viking turned around in Cape Cod Bay; if we kept going, we could go whale-watching near Provincetown. But we turned around after the Sagamore bridge. People bicycling and jogging on the trail along the canal waved as they shared the Muskat Ramble with us.

The band took a short break. Folks moved to the lower deck where there’s a full bar and snacks. But you are allowed to bring your own lunch and beverage if you wish, anything except liquor.

We passed the Herring Run – quiet in June. Active in April when the herring come in off the ocean to fight their way against the current up the steps to spawn in Herring Pond. It’s active again in early fall, with many blue herons watching, as the tiny fry swim down the steps and back out to sea. They instinctively know to return where they were hatched in the spring.

a hole in the rock wall that leads to the steps

The Herring Run

stone steps with water running down them

The steps – only the strongest herring make it.

Tuba Player Rick MacWilliams is leader of the Commonwealth Jazz Band that plays before and after Celtic Games at the TD Garden, and lunchtime in the summer at Norman B. Leventhal Park, Post Office Square, Boston, and he’s also with the famous Wolverine Jazz Band. Rick maintains the chords – sometimes pushing the band, sometimes playing melody as in I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.

Rick sitting with tuba between his knees

Rick MacWilliams

This is Parisian Michel Lavigniac’s 36th year with the Bourbon St. Paraders. We’ve been listening to him for over 25. His solo of The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise was a resonating approach to the end of this cruise.

Our journey always ends with the Viking easing back into Onset Harbor with everyone clapping and singing to The Saints.

August 31^st was the Bourbon Street Paraders’ last cruise on the Viking for this year. They’ll be back next summer, from the last week of June to Labor Day 2015. See you there?

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn August 19, 2014

Posted on August 22, 2014 by admin

John Kafalas trombone, Paul Monat cornet, Stan McDonald clarinet and soprano sax, Ross Petot piano, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band presented another fine evening of Traditional Jazz at the Sherborn Inn on August 19^th, with some changes in personnel. Gerry Gagnon moved to tuba, John Kafalas filled in for him on trombone. Paul Monat was back. He’ll be playing all around New England until September.

They kicked it off with congenial ensemble on All By Myself and Sugar, Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me. Gagnon plays a swinging tuba, 1955 Conn 20J recording bell-front, with a deep sonorous sound boosting the rhythm section. Monat said “It felt like playing on a magic carpet”. Gerry was tubist with the Boilermaker Jazz Band of Pittsburgh until 1994, when he moved to New England and joined The Blue Horizon Jazz Band. Seven or eight years later, Stan moved the band to string bass, and Gerry changed to trombone. Stan took the vocal on Darktown Strutters Ball, backed by this rock solid rhythm section with Ross Petot on piano, and Steve Taddeo drums. The evening was dedicated to John and Elizabeth, who chose to celebrate their 67^th wedding anniversary at the Sherborn Inn with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band. Congratulations!!

Stan played elegant clarinet solo on Bechet’s lovely Blues in the Air. Clarinet and cornet collaborated on Memphis Blues, rich voices interweaving in New Orleans polyphony.

The front line played a captivating Tijuana with John Kafalas on fierce trombone. Listeners couldn’t sit still, dancing in their seats.

Stans’ soprano sax took the intro to a spirited Save It Pretty Mama. Paul Monat surprised us, putting heart and soul in the vocal. Not bad!

There was solid melody and harmony on Roses of Picardi, with McDonald back on soprano sax. His Blue Horizon Jazz Band has complete command of the Trad Jazz language! Stan asked that the next tune be played slow as possible. Taddeo set the beat, very, very, slow on Lotus Blossom; different, and very effective.

Paul’s cornet went wild on a tune recorded many times by Wilbur and Sidney DeParis, Yama Yama Man

Ross Petot introduced the closing tune with a four bar vamp on Dardanella; fine ensemble, closing with Stan’s soprano sax.

Traditional Jazz enjoyed a revival here in the mid-1970’s, but there are very few bands in New England still playing authentic Traditional Jazz; Stan McDonald only hires musicians that are comfortable with the genre. They’ll be back, as always, on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month at the Sherborn Inn, September 16th. See you there?

Midiri Brothers, Ian Frenkel and Swing Senders at the Sherborn Inn

Posted on August 13, 2014 by admin

Dan Gabel, Steve Taddeo, Paul Monat, Justin Meyer, John Clark, Jeff Hughes, Ian Frankel

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders

Joe Midiri clarinet and soprano sax, Paul Midiri vibes, trombone, and drums, Ian Frenkel piano, Jeff Hughes and Paul Monat cornet, John Clark clarinet and bari sax, Dan Gabel trombone, Bill Doyle guitar, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo drums, and special guest vocalist Elise Roth.

Steve Taddeo finally assembled his “Dream Band”, with The Midiri Brothers, Ian Frenkel, and members of Taddeo’s Swing Senders. They blew the roof off a full house at the Sherborn Inn on Tuesday, August 12th. Many are leaders of their own bands. John Clark, impressive impresario, kept them (more or less) under control.

Harold McAleer’s videos give you a taste:

Midiri Brothers kicked it off Running Wild.

Special guest vocalist Elise Roth was featured on Johnny Mercer’s Jeepers Creepers, Milton Berle’s theme song Near You, and Am I Blue. Elise was gracious to sub for The Swing Senders’ vocalist, Caroline Griep, who was absent because of a death in the family. Elise Roth is the regular vocalist for Dan Gable and The Abletones.

Special guest vocalist, Elise Roth, with Dan Gabel, Justin Meyer , and Bill Doyle

Two masters of the cornet, Jeff Hughes and Paul Monat; Paul revived some of his Wild Bill spirit in their duet on Someday You’ll Be Sorry.

The Midiris had us in tears with Bechet’s Si Tu Vois Ma Mère.

Crucial members of the rhythm section, Bill Doyle and Justin Meyer kept the rhythmic fires burning, providing a solid foundation that let the others fly!

Bill Doyle, guitar

Justin Meyer, string bass

Joe sings some Blues, Paul moves to trombone. We love this music – you never know what will happen next!

Dan Gabel trombone, Elise sings Am I Blue?

This was indomitable pianist Ian Frenkel’s first appearance at the Inn, and we hope it won’t be the last. A true artist, Ian is well known and appreciated all over Connecticut.

Ian Frenkel, fingers flying across the keys.

John Clark, Ian Frenkel, Steve Taddeo: You Do Something To Me

Don’t Be That Way, Royal Garden Blues, After You’ve Gone, Big Bear Stomp, Wolverine Blues, all imaginative and swinging.

Taddeo was using a 1939 Slingerland Radio King drum set (identical to what Gene Krupa used) and the vintage cymbals (Avedis Zildjian) from the late Buddy Schutz. He was featured with his infamous 8-minute drum solo walk-around on Stomping at the Savoy, tapping on anything within reach!

Finale! Everybody lets go with Taddeo’s theme song, Dinah, with Paul Midiri and Steve Taddeo battling on drums,

That definitely was not rehearsed!

This was an incredible evening. Many of these amazing musicians will be BACK for a reprise, with the Swing Senders or with their own bands. The Midiri Brothers are heading for Oregon, Idaho, California, Clearwater Beach. But they’ll be back. Stay tuned.