Shades of the Sticky Wicket!! We were packed in like sardines, elbow-to-elbow at the Sherborn Inn's Senior Jazz Luncheon, listening to the Black Eagles play some of their most memorable tunes.  (We were also enjoying a fine 3-course dinner, complete, for only $22.)

They started with Short Dress Gal, and Special Delivery Blues, with bassist Jesse Williams bouncing up and down as he played.  He obviously loves playing with this band! The band was great, Stan solo on muted trombone, with Pilsbury softly playing chords in the background, mature artistry.  Billy was on tenor sax - just for this week, preparing for a taping this weekend.   First time he has ever played a tenor with this band - since 1985.

From Louis Armstrong's 1926 Hot Five,  a very lively Oriental Strut, with Pete Bullis on banjo, still wearing his red sox.
 

Newest member of the band, Jesse Williams, was born just about the same time this band was formed.  But you'd never know it. 

Playing a vigorous acoustic string bass, he has a formidable technique, playing classic Traditional Jazz, plucking and slapping that bass just like Pops Foster on Bogalusa Strut.

(This is a file photo - (I forgot my camera) he doesn't use music when he's playing with the Eagles - he listens and plays whatever they need.)

As Pilsbury said "We can't go wrong because Jesse and Bill Reynolds are RIGHT THERE!" Combustible combination!

1930's Old Fashioned Swing - not the one you're thinking of - it's about an old fashioned swing on an old fashioned porch.  Soulful and plaintive.

Bill Reynolds closes his eyes - listening to what each member of the band is playing, and gives them proper support - not too much, just enough.  He uses light snare drum, or holding a cymbal and barely tapping it with the sticks.  Pilsbury wearing his familiar piano scarf, introduced a bit if Latin beat, just because.

Nice vocal by Tony, When Your Hair Has Turned To Silver.  Describes most of the members of the band now!

A Blues recorded in the late 20's that Tony learned in the 50's in Liverpool, Tree Top Tall Papa - Jesse bent over the bass, quickly sliding down the length of the huge instrument, and playing the lower bass  like a guitar.  Outstanding! Fans were bowled over, they loved it!  This tune is related to drugs, as were many of the songs of that era. But drugs were legal in the 20's and 30's.  They started naming off all the tunes that related to drugs - but there were just too many to list here.  Satin Doll?  Really???

Billy was featured on tenor sax with Body and Soul -  exuberant, exploding, ending with a fiery coda. 

Approaching the end of the evening - much too soon, Bogalusa Strut was a real barn-burner, pushed by Billy's drum and Jesse dynamically slapping that bass, the band went wild!

Instead of their usual closer, Purple Rose of Cairo, they ended with the Cradle Song, or Brahms' Lullaby. Tony said "Just to show you we can play classical, too!"

Personally we prefer their Classical Traditional Jazz.  Nobody plays it better than the New Black Eagle Jazz Band.  It was an emotional, powerful performance.

The Black Eagles will be playing at the Sherborn Inn May 10th, the Amazing Things Arts Center on May 20th, and the Newport Jazz Festival on August 6th.  Stay tuned.