New Black Eagle Jazz Band
At the Sherborn Inn, May 10, 2011
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Stan Vincent, Pam Pameijer, Jesse Williams, Tony
Pringle, Peter Bullis and his red sox, Bob Pilsbury |
| The Black Eagles
returned for an
exciting evening of Traditional Jazz, playing to a full house at the
Sherborn Inn. There were so many fans that tables and chairs
had to be set up on the dance floor. Pameijer on drums and
Bullis on banjo maintained that essential Trad Jazz beat that keeps
their flame of traditional jazz ablaze. Tony Pringle cornet, Stan
Vincent trombone, John Clark reeds, Bob Pilsbury piano, Peter Bullis
banjo, Jesse Williams acoustic bass, and Pam Pameijer on drums!
lively, zealous Felt like the Sticky Wicket - and many of
the SW fans followed them here. Reunion time, families and old
friends! They started the evening with a reminiscent When
You Grow Too Old To Dream - not any of us, that's for sure!!
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Pameijer was back, with his significant, steady beat, playing
brilliant Traditional jazz! His presence seems to inspire the
musicians, re-creating the original sound that made the band famous.
He lives in Connecticut, but spent most of this winter in Florida.
Bill Reynolds aptly fills in for him, tastefully maintaining that
beat. But there's something about having Pam back that
energizes the band. |
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Tony was back too, with his infamous clipped
cornet that gives the Eagles their unique sound.
He was backed by the newest member of the band,
Jesse Williams. Jesse obviously loves playing with this group,
driving it with his powerful chords. and slap bass.
He had fun with Dallas Blues - bent
low, plucking the highest register. (You just can't DO
that on a string bass - it's the lowest-pitched bowed string instrument
on the planet!)
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Pilsbury was featured on an old Fats Waller tune, Yacht Club Swing, trading
4's with Pam, with Jesse plucking those strings behind them. Bob
was at his best two-fisted piano with the late 20's Wild Man Blues. We could feel Joe Roger's spirit
hovering overhead, his hands cupping his ears so he could hear better.
More memories - Bogalusa Strut that Hank Faunce used to open up his
Trad jazz radio show. Clark playing fine clarinet, with the
band in stop chorus behind him, then all igniting into a tight New
Orleans polyphony, front line going wild, building into a cacophony
of powerful sound. Pam's drum and
Jesse's slap bass propelling them. Pilsbury couldn't sit
still anymore, shot up off his bench, prancing, still playing
rousing barrelhouse piano!
WOW! It felt just like the good old days at
the Sticky Wicket, where some of us spent 19 years listening to this
band, (sometimes until 2 in the morning, because nobody wanted to
quit.) (Peter's expression and red sox haven't changed in 40 years.
He takes this Trad Jazz very seriously.)
We all needed to calm down a bit. Yearning was
reminiscent of The Eagles' clarinetist Hugh Blackwell, who used to
play it so eloquently. Jesse was right on top of Memphis Blues,
with a smearing gliss from top to bottom
of that huge 6-foot instrument. Amazing what he can do with
that monster!
There was a request for a spiritual, Tony responded with a
heartfelt In The Sweet Bye and Bye, fans listened quietly.
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Poor
Butterfly featured John Clark's on clarinet with Bob Pilsbury in
a fine give and take conversation, as if they did this all the time.
I missed the tune he played on bari sax!
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They finished with a foot-tapping Second Line, and Home,
before closing with Brahm's Lullaby, which seems to be their new
closing.
This audience was an important part of the performance, many
having been there since the band started at the Sticky Wicket in
1971. Some of them were:
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Ron L'Herault,
the original Band Boy, is still selling CD's after 40 years.
See
www.blackeagles.com for list. |
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Trish Bullis with
Eliza, and
some of her college friends. |
| I missed some -
Ann Friend was there. Anybody want to add names and/or
pictures send them in to
marce@nejazz.com. And come join the band on the 2nd
Thursday of the month at the Sherborn Inn. |
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| By Marce,
Updated May 22, 2011
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