New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Dan is originally from Rochester, New York, but moved to rural Brattleboro, Vermont, in his late teens. He started playing solo blues guitar in the styles of Mississippi John Hurt and Reverend Gary Davis. While playing in a local coffee house, he met a Traditional Jazz clarinetist who taught him many great old tunes. Then he discovered the local library had a small collection of Jazz guitar recordings by such artists as Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery and began playing along with the recordings.

On a trip back home, he heard the wonderful guitar duo of Chuck Wayne and Joe Puma, and spent every night of that visit listening and talking to those generous and accommodating gentlemen. They both told him that if he wanted to pursue his musical education he needed to move to a location with a greater community of musicians. Back in Brattleboro, he heard the legendary guitarist Attila Zoller perform. Zoller reiterated that he continue his education in a more formal setting. He enrolled in the Berklee College of Music.

He says, "What a great experience that was. Being around music and musicians all my waking (and some sleeping) hours. I learned a lot and made many musical contacts. Since I left Berklee I've performed in a variety of settings from solo guitar to big band; from traditional jazz to modern styles. I feel fortunate to be in a community that has such opportunities and encourages musical growth."

* * *

Al Ehrenfried hails from 'down Maine'. He earned a BS degree in engineering physics from University of Maine. After working at MIT Radiation Laboratory and MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, he received an MS degree from MIT in instrumentation, under Aero/Astro Course XVI. While in the U.S. Army, he did classified research at Signal Corps Engineering Laboratory and Evans Signal Laboratory.

Back as a civilian, he operated a consulting business, an instrument manufacturing business (Metritape, Inc.), and is part of an optical software business, the later two businesses being of international scope. He was president of Service to Youth, Inc., a helping agency located at Trinity Episcopal Church (Concord), and wrote a book about the struggles of youth dealing with drugs and parental alienation in the 1970's.

Musical background: Al studied classical violin, but picked up standup bass with the Bates College dance band in his home town, Lewiston, Maine. At the University of Maine (Orono), he lead a Count Basie dance band, which shrank to a John Kirby sextet when WWII recruiting hit the campus.

He moved to Boston to join the staff at MIT, and played clubs and ballrooms from the Crawford House (Scollay Square) to the Ritz Carlton. The kid from Maine got to join musical greats ranging from Frankie Newton and Bobby Hackett to Coleman Hawkins, Max Roach, and Boston's Sabby Lewis and Roy Haynes.

For years, he worked in small groups with Jimmy Mazzy, Craig Ball, Ray Smith, and Stan McDonald, and now in intimate Willow Jazz with Berklee guitarist, Dan Weiner, and occasional sit-ins.

* * *

On February 7th, 2010, at Willow Books, we heard I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, a bright tempo. Tommy Dorsey. No trombone. After ten years, Al and Dan have arranged an ending to this tune - string bass takes the "North dacoda", and guitar takes the "South dacoda". Cute. Autumn Leaves - Al loves this tune because it lets him use the low open E on the bass - it doesn't get used much.

If I Were a Bell, It's You or No One, Dan interpolating more fine tunes. He moves into some progressive jazz, Al moves to slap bass; Show Tunes - What Is This Thing Called Love. Local Artists, painters, writers, are sitting nearby, enjoying the ambiance.

Lover Man, Where Can You Be? Al plays the melody on string bass. S' Wonderful.