It might have been the Holiday Hangovers, or the 20° weather, but there weren’t many folks at the Sherborn Inn this Tuesday. Their loss. We spent the evening listening to virtuoso professional musicians and some fine Coleman Hawkins-style tenor sax, the kind that hits you right in the solar plexus!
Hank Victor delivered what he promised – swing arrangements of compositions by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. Hank is a former guitarist with the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestras, as is multi-instrumental reed-man, Tom Ferrante . They work well together – backed by drummer Bill Kane, and Mike Ball, string bass, who likes to scat along to his solos, like Slam Stewart.
They began with Lester Young’s Jumpin With Symphony Sid, then S’ Wonderful in a Bossa Nova Beat; an upbeat Jerome Kern All The Things You Are, guitar and sax having a musical conversation.
Ferrante plays sweet sax, straight from the heart on a lovely ballad, Johnny Green’sBody and Soul,
Guitar intro to a jazzed-up version of Duke Ellington’sDon’t Get Around Much Anymore, fine drum solo.
Bill (Twobeat) Kane keeps the right beat, his tempo never falters and he doesn’t get in the way of the music.
Side trip to South America for a unique arrangement of Girl From Ipanema, Mike’s string bass lifting the band.
His imaginative bass solo was backed by Bill’s soft brushes on drum.
Tom was featured on clarinet with a an electrifying version of Fats Waller’sHoneysuckle Rose.
They all four were really swinging with Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, instruments intermingling, clarinet and guitar playing off each other. Green Dolphin St., The Way You Look Tonight, all the tunes we love to remember. One that Hank likes, but doesn’t get to play too often, Willow Weep For Me featured Hank’s melodic guitar and virtuosic solos. His electric guitar was invaluable, sometimes in the front line, sometimes comping behind the solos.
They moved up into what we consider ‘modern’ with Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man, then Hank announced they would play the Wizard of Oz’s, Over The Rainbow. The Wizard would have been shocked by this passionate, low register tenor sax that left us with goose bumps!
Tom started Duke’s In a Mellow Tone on saxophone, then switched to flute, backed by Mike’s relentless pulse on string bass.
That’s All was not the end. Someday My Prince Will Come was a fast waltz. They closed with a blazing version of Juan Tizol’s Perdido. Fabulous!
It’s a pity there weren’t more people here to listen to this fine band. Hank Victor knows how to pick the finest musicians, as well as tunes from the 30’s and 40’s that will never go out of style. It was the perfect conclusion to a stressful Holiday Season! Maybe you can catch them next time.
Bios:
Hank Victor has been a professional guitarist and electric bassist for over fifty years. He has performed with the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestras and has recently been leading swing jazz groups at Bullfinch’s Restaurant and the Sherborn Inn. Currently, he teaches guitar and electric bass at Boston College.
Most of Tom Ferrante‘s performing career has been in the Colonial, Schubert and Wang Theaters of Boston. A retired Associate Professor of Saxophone at UMass-Lowell and former director of Bands at Waltham High School, Tom was also a member of the Herb Pomeroy and Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestras. Tom has been a featured jazz clarinet soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra under John Williams and Keith Lockhart.
Bill Kane’s 50+ years of gigging in the Boston area have covered some very diverse territory, from name stage shows at Caesar’s Monticello in Framingham and the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset to many dinner theater productions at the Chateau de Ville in Randolph. Bill also appeared at the Wonderland Ballroom in Revere for over ten years. He is currently involved with two big bands, and continues to do a great deal of work with smaller groups, from first rate society bands to lounge quartets.
Michael Ball began his musical career in the midwest playing concerts and club dates with such Jazz greats as Jay McShan, Clark Terry, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell, R&B legend Bo Diddley, The Coasters and many more. Michael is a New England Conservatory graduate and has received numerous awards.