The Sherborn Inn presents world-class, classic jazz  every Tuesday night, thanks to the hard work and good judgment of Ellen McDonald.  But this evening was particularly outstanding, with the Bria Skonberg and Jim Fryer Borderline Jazz Band.

Bria Skonberg trumpet/vocals, Jim Fryer trombone/vocals, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Ross Petot piano, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ed Wise acoustic bass, Kevin Dorn trad drum.  This was rousing, free-wheeling  Dixieland.

Bria is from Chilliwack, British Columbia.  As this was her first trip to New England., native Jim Fryer, who was raised in Westboro, Massachusetts, took a detour coming from their Monday gig at the University of New Hampshire and gave her a quick tour of Boston's Faneuil Hall, stopping at the Union Oyster House for some Chowdah.  

Still riding high from their great reception at UNH, they began with my favorite, Limehouse Blues, followed by a tune on their CD, with Bria starring in Buddy Bolden's Blues.  Her diction is razor sharp; on her sensitive vocal, All of Me  she had the unique support of Fryer on euphonium sharing the stage with Clark on baritone sax.

Ross Petot and Jimmy took the first chorus on Louis's Struttin' With Some Barbecue, with Jim throwing in a little bit of Struttin All Around  backed by Ross's dynamic energy and pulsating rhythms. The dance floor was packed for Pennies from Heaven and the mellow Wabash Blues.

A high spirited jazz duet by  trombone and banjo augmented Bria's song about A Girl Named LuLu.

Surprise guest, Dave Whitney stepped up out of the audience, trumpet firmly in hand.  Thirty-three years ago, Dave happened into Robinson's Music Store in Westborough, a favored hangout for many musicians, and for the first time, he met 17-year-old Jim Fryer.   Dave took him in as an understudy, and as the saying goes, "The rest is history."  Jim Fryer is now known internationally as an exceptional musician and educator, and traditional jazz trombonist.  He's most grateful to Whitney for having been at the right place at the right time. (www.jfryer.com)

Jim had also been sneaking into Sticky Wicket at the time (under age) to hear the New Black Eagle Jazz Band.  He gives credit to these fine musicians, having learned about solid tailgate trombone from Stan Vincent, chorus from Tony Pringle, and passion, emotion, and the feeling for jazz music from Stan McDonald.

Dave Whitney joined Bria on trumpet for Shine, brilliant interchange between two trumpets.   Dave on muted trumpet, John Clark on mellow baritone sax, backed Bria's sweet, relaxed, vocal on Sugar.  Breathtaking.  One of the finest arrangements/vocals of this tune we've ever heard.

Kevin opened Everybody Loves My Baby.  Fryer, in consideration of the folks in the left corner who had been only seeing his back, focused his trombone facing towards them, while Jimmy sang it in triple time.

Like Slam Stewart, Ed Wise was featured, bowing and singing along with his bass on Johnny Mercer & Matty Malneck's If I Had a Million Dollars (from the 1934 movie, Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round)  A sensitive and steady player, Ed Wise conveys a Million dollars worth of creativity!

Trombonist Tom McAllister summed up this evening: "It was an experience of a life-time".

The next day, they continued Bria's Eastern tour with Connecticut College, The Garage in Greenwich Village, Tri-State Jazz in NJ, a Private club in Fairfield County (that replaced their gig in the Silvermine Taven, that unfortunately has closed,) then to the Pennsylvania Jazz Society, Bickford Theatre, NJ, and Tom's River NH.

Now Jim Fryer is back at the New Orleans Steakhouse (now the Cajun Queen) at 680 Amboy Ave. Woodbridge NJ 732.634.6060 where he  and his Usual Suspect play twice a month, when he's not out with Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, or the Titan Hot 7.