New England jazz fans got a taste English stride and boogie-woogie, along with Neville Dickie's dazzling solos and entertaining stories  at the Sherborn Inn on Tuesday, August 3rd.  He'd just returned from the Tri-State Jazz Society in Delaware and was on his way to Orange County.  This was Dickie's 8th appearance at the Sherborn Inn.  He entertained the fans with some Fats Waller, ragtime, boogie-woogie, and his forte, Stride.  Joining Dickie were Dave Bragdon, drums, Stan McDonald clarinet and soprano sax, and Jeff Hughes on trumpet. 

Neville called up his 'partners in crime', Stan McDonald and Jeff Hughes, for Save It Pretty Mama, with Stan on vocal.  He acknowledged the several requests he received from folks who have been waiting for him all year. He recognized Lynne Sickle, sitting in her usual seat by the piano, saying "She's been here for 25 years and hasn't missed one yet."  All the musicians at the Sherborn Inn play All Of Me for Lynne, even Neville Dickie, but she's never heard such an eloquent interpretation!

The camaraderie between these musicians is evident, Neville has been playing here since 2001. The friendly, congenial gentleman from Surrey is featured on many tunes, but most of the time he becomes a part of the band, cheerfully backing the local musicians with his eloquent interpretations. 

 Jeff was featured on a lovely tune for Mrs. Bragdon, Fat's Waller's It's Been So Long, with Neville and the band behind him.   Willie the Weeper and Wild Man Blues were fantastic.  Stan moved to soprano sax for What Is This Thing Called Love, with Jeff on flugel horn, and Neville in beautiful stride - you never know where he's going with it!

Neville explained that Marlene Dietrich's Golden Earrings was really "a love story", with Neville lightly tickling the notes with his right hand while the left was in full stride.  They filled a request for one of his favorite Bechet tunes, Indian Summer, even though it was out of season.  We're looking forward to it following this fine, hot summer.  Winter will be here before we know it.  They wrapped this set up with a barn-burning Tijuana.

Ross Petot took over the piano in the interim, playing familiar ballads It’s Nice Work If You Can Get It, I Got Rhythm,  turn-of-the-century parlor piano, along with some of his own ragtime, stride and barrelhouse compositions.  He's had a deep personal relationship with this kind of music over the years, and recently cut a new CD of his own compositions  "New Ragtime & other stuff". 

Ross is here tonight at Neville's special request, and we all anticipated the four-handed piano that was sure to come.

Neville joined him for a four-handed, intertwined duet on James P Johnson's How Can I Be Blue.  With Ross at the bass end they were on fire, brilliantly interweaving, jumping up and trading places, improvising on Johnson's masterpiece with Bragdon beating passionately behind them.  Brilliant.

Neville was a ferocious wild man on Swanee River Boogie Woogie, then he asked Stan what he wanted to do.  Stan fondly remembered his former trumpet player and mentor Walter Miller, and requested Chicago Breakdown, that Miller did so well.  We've lost many music friends.  Last year, George and Janet Borgman were here listening to Neville.  We've lost George, but Janet was here enjoying Neville's great performance, accompanied by their son Eric.  Neville asked if he was still awake? 

Neville enjoys giving the band's on top of the beat drummer Dave Bragdon a workout. Nagasaki was a test.  Not a problem - we could actually hear the melody  in his drumming.  Neville said 'Have you ever seen a prouder Mother?" 

The band was recalled for the WWI tune Roses of Picardie, prompting him to remark "The world hasn't learned much over the last 75 years." 

Jeff Hughes was marvelous on 1953 Selmer trumpet, as was Stan McDonald on clarinet on a tune originally meant for two clarinets, Bechet’s Fantasy, a heart-wrencher that Bechet played with Al Nicholas 50 years ago.  They took turns playing lead and harmony, with Neville's dazzling piano behind them.

At the Finale, Neville began improvising a boogie woogie beat, challenging the others to join him, "just to see what comes out".  Fabulous Lover Come Back To Me.  Perfect way to end a fine evening.

Neville said "It's always a pleasure to play with this group, there aren't many of us.  It was my pleasure to play with Dave Bragdon."  He thanked Ellen McDonald for all the work she does in keeping Traditional Jazz alive at the Sherborn Inn, and asked the fans to please continue supporting live jazz.

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The Sherborn Inn is located at the junction of Routes 27 and 16 in Sherborn, MA. The Sherborn Inn is an accessible building.   Reservations are recommended; call (508) 655-9521.