GREENSBORO – The Vermont Jazz Ensemble came to the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro and gave a wonderful concert of classic jazz and big band of the ’30s and ’40s dance numbers on the evening of Friday, May 2. Many of the 17 musicians have been veteran players for decades in this band, as the original group was founded 49 years ago.
The ensemble started off the program with a fast paced tune with a nice dance swing to it, “Let’s Keep Things Simple,” which demonstrated their well integrated wall of sound, with short solos by trumpet, clarinet and drum players. Next came “Love for Sale” by Buddy Rich, which featured Don Schabuer on guitar and the largest saxophone player.
“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” went from trombone scoring to long trumpet elaborations, with a curious jumpy rhythm stretch, ending with Randy Wheeler on bass trombone. “So Soft, So Loaded” had artistic director Kyle Saulnien playing the bass viol and conducting with his hands in a theme that was shared by the piano, guitar, trumpets and trombones.
“I Got Rhythm” was a very catchy piece by George Gershwin (with lyrics by his brother Ira), but which suffered from an arrangement that lost the delightful drive of the original and cluttered up the fine melody.
Duke Ellington’s “Take The A Train” is a perpetual favorite of the jazz repertoire, and three couples took to the floor beneath the stage to dance to this piece. “The Karaoke” by Artie Shaw had a strong beat with great momentum and gave Joanne Scott a chance to do some skilled permutations on her clarinet. “Fly Me to the Moon” was sung by guitarist Don Schabner with his expressive voice, accompanied by one of the saxophonists on the flute. “Come Fly With Me” continued his singing and got seven couples out dancing. Sissy’s Strut seemed promising but the tune got stuck in its development.
After intermission, “Mamba” had a quick tempo and curious broken rhythms with a saxophone solo and then engaging improvisations by Andy Gagnon on his drum set. “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” highlighted Tony Barrows on his saxophone, while “It Could Happen to You” brought out all the brasses in full force “Strictly Jive” by Chick Wells again filled the floor with dancers enjoying its great beat. “Crazy Rhythm” by Fletcher Henderson combined the saxophones, trumpets, trombones and clarinet in a fine arrangement.
Irving Berlin’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” was a memorable song, enhanced here by Mike Craydus’ piano work. “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Cole Porter had a beautiful melody and well crafted lyrics, as sung by Don Schabner, which he followed with “You Make Me Feel So Young.”
“The Chicken” was the last selection on the program, involving all the players rotating in turn, with a short encore, to which the audience responded with an appreciative standing ovation. Other musicians in the band not mentioned above were Jake Whitesell, Frank Kochman, Ron Eldred, Bear Irwin, Tim Sessions, Kyle Casazza, Rich Steele, David Ellis, Cole Picard and Tom Allen.
We hope to hear many more decades for the Vermont Jazz Ensemble, keeping alive one of the most original traditions in American music.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
