by Marce

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The Dixie Diehards Jazz Band promised and delivered “a heady dose of New Orleans traditional jazz, second line street parade music, gospel and early jazz classics” at the Sherborn Inn.

Alan Shapiro trumpet/Music Director, Rick Foster trumpet/vocals, Dolly Fruzzetti vocals,  Bill Dube clarinet, Paul Peterson saxophone, Ron L’Herault trombone, Chris Wadsworth banjo, Steve Shaw tuba,  Dr. Dale Ellenberg drums.

Alan Shapiro, 1st trumpet (left) leads the Dixie Diehards.
Rick Foster 2nd trumpet on many tunes.

Rick Foster has many rolls as ebullient interlocutor, vocalist, trumpeter, and Historian – with extensive knowledge of the early jazz repertoire. 

His vocals are relaxed and natural; he understands the lyrics, and takes us places with the songs.

We took the first trip down to New Orleans, with the band in classic jazz polyphony onWay Down Yonder in New Orleans.  Nice clarinet solo by Bill Dube, Ron on muted trombone, Peterson on tenor sax, trumpets in fine freewheeling ensemble!

They continued that era with the 1902 Scott Joplin’s Entertainer, and the 1919 Rag.Bourbon St. Parade began nice and easy, but quickly turned into a barn burner!

Rick explained that much of the early jazz started out as spiritual, but the next one had some ‘country’ in it – Lonesome Road.

Ron L’Herault was filling in on trombone, reedman Bill Dube has amazing command of the tenor sax as well as clarinet.

Classic jazz started in New Orleans, and spread all over the world.  Another early number, Yellow Dog Blues, is actually about a railroad.  West Coast Jazzers jump up and shout during the breaks, but  stoic New Englanders sit and just listen!  Maybe some West Coast, or Potomac River Jazz, Tri-State Jazz, Pennsylvania Jazz, New Jersey Jazz Society members could come here and teach us?  

Rick introduced charming and charismatic Dolly Fruzzetti, for W. C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues.

Dolly sang All of Me for an avid fan, Lynn Sickle, whose birthday was the next day.  The Sherborn Inn staff had a ‘cake’ of ice cream ready for her to make a wish.  (We didn’t ask her what she wished for, but I’ll bet it was for much more Dixieland Jazz.)

Many of the New Orleans tunes were morose; those were tough times. St. James Infirmary Blues refers to someone’s deceased lover.  Funeral marches always began with a slow, somber beat.  After the internment, the tone changed, and the marchers celebrated the deceased’s great life, with the “second line” following the band back to town.  Dixie Diehards demonstrated with a lively, upbeat Didn’t He Ramble. Feet were stomping – it was difficult to sit still – we should have brought our parasols!

Influenced by Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, Dr. Dale Ellenberg maintains a heady tempo.

Steve Shaw  brings a wealth of experience to the band with a powerfuloompah tuba beat.

Rick jumped ahead a few years with a vocal on Jambalaya (and a crawfish pie and file’ gumbo.)  Soprano sax and clarinet soared with the melody, bouncing off each other.

Banjo player Chris Wadsworth let loose with a rapid right hand on a lively I’m Alabamy Bound.  Fantastic!

(You might remember him playing with Jean Kelly at the Colonial Inn.)

We moved back to 1927 with Bix Beiderbecke’s Singing The Blues (‘til My Baby Comes Home)

Jazz has had all kind of connotations and changes over the years.  Duke Ellington transitioned to Swing in the late 1920’s.  The drums kicked off Ellington’s The Mooche,Ron L’Herault on muted trombone, Peterson driving on soprano sax, Dube on terrific trilling clarinet. 

Today Wynton Marsalis is promoting the old classic jazz, encouraging the next generation with the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competitions.  (Medfield High School is one of the 15 finalists who will participate May 4-6 at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The Diehards played a tune Wynton Marsalis wrote, Happy Feet Blues, drum intro with a second line beat, Chris banjo solo; sounding just like New Orleans street music!

We were delighted to have the gracious Dolly back for a number of tunes, Louisiana, Blue Skies, Second Hand Rose, Stranger on the Shore.  She is a joy!  Dolly has a long and impressive list of credits as a piano player, singer and entertainer. 

Rick has always maintained a strong devotion to Louis Armstrong.  He returned with a wistful Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? and I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter. Great ensemble by the Diehards, with Ron hitting lowest register on the trombone that caught everybody by surprise. 

They wrapped it up with the ubiquitous Closer Walk, with a whistled segue to the Saints, concluding another fine Tuesday afternoon of Dixieland Jazz at the Sherborn Inn.  There’s lots more coming – check the Schedule.

Thank you Dixie Diehards Dixieland Jazz Band, and Dolly Fruzzetti, for taking us on a marvelous trip back in time to New Orleans!