Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble at the Sherborn Inn, Tuesday, September 3, 2013 with Bob MacInnis cornet/flugelhorn, Craig Ball clarinet/soprano sax, John Clark alto sax/clarinet, Robin Verdier piano/leader, Al Bernard tuba, Bill Reynolds drums

Bob MacInnis was sitting at the piano when we arrived, playing soft melodies, inviting people to come in and hear how Robin Verdier would once again transport us back to the captivating dances of a fascinating era, the 20s and 30s.

Arrangements – hardly anyone ever talks about arrangements, yet they are so important to the sound of a song.  Every song changes when played in a different arrangement. This is Robin Verdier’s forte.  He takes the original arrangements of the pop dance tunes of 20’s and 30’s, and adapts them to create complex harmonic structures and technically sophisticated melodies.  If some sound vaguely familiar that’s no accident – he was also arranger for the Paramount Jazz Band.

Robin has picked a talented crew, with the front line of Craig Ball, leader of the White Heat Swing Orchestra, John Clark, leader of the Wolverine Jazz Band, and Bob MacInnis, who is in a league all his own.  We only have him for another month – he heads back to Florida October 8^th where he’ll be playing someplace almost every night.

 

 

 

The Rhythm section consists only of Bill Reynolds drums and Albie Bernard tuba, working together, providing a cushion with just the right chords.  Then there’s Robin, who does it all – assisting both front line and rhythm and ensuring that everything is authentic.

 

The Ensemble opened with the 1926 Clarence Williams’ Candy Lips, Tiny Parham’s 1930 Now That I’ve Found You.

 

Robin is particularly fond of Nullabor – written Dave Dallwitz, a musician from Australia.  (They have great Traditional Jazz Bands of their own.)

Nullabor was possibly taken from an Australian aborigine song, with heavy drum accents, the rhythm section driving the front line.   Bill Reynolds gave it a heavy drum intro, there were few solos, great ensemble ending in rolling drum.

 

They did some reminiscing of the fine band directed by Ed Reynolds, The Back Bay Ramblers.  Now 95, he was sitting up front, taking pleasure in the music. (Ed is Bill’s Father.)   If Dreams Come True, ensemble played in a syncopated pyramid, very refreshing.  They also took the 1927 Anabelle Lee from the Back Bay Ramblers.

 

 

Craig unpacked his soprano sax just for Sidney Bechet’s Southern Sunset.

 

 

One of the sweetest writers in the Great American Songbook was Walter Donaldson.  Albie played the melody on tuba for his I’ve Had My Moments, with front line again in a lovely pyramid.

Albie doesn’t just play bass notes – he  went WILD on Running Wild.

The Gershwin’s were represented with the 1929 My One And Only.  Irving Berlin with Puttin’ On The Ritz, Con Conrad with Moonlight.  Robin presented many other composers you’ve never heard of before – check his list at the bottom of this page!
They wrapped up with Ferde Grofe’s Daybreak (Mississippi Suite), their finale theme.

The Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble brings in a different crowd.  Many are musicians who appreciate the quality of the music; Lorrie Carmichael of the former Squirrel Hill Jazz Band, Bob Crane singer, (former Massachusetts Treasurer). Carol Mueller plays piano with Jimmy Mazzy at the Colonial Inn, Bob’s brother Dan MacInnis.  It was a reunion of many fans too, some we hadn’t seen in years.

Hear the marvelous sound of the Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble at https://sites.google.com/site/verdiersite/mcje

Bob MacInnis heads back to Florida soon.  You can hear him at the Island Pub and Erin’s Isle in Naples, Florida. He’ll also be doing some Florida cruises this year.

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Set 1
Candy Lips                           1926 Clarence Williams
Now That I’ve Found You     1930 Tiny Parham
Nullabor                                1951 Dave Dallwitz
Dream Child                          1929 Hank Palmer
If Dreams Come True         ~1938 Edgar Sampson
* Miss Annabelle Lee            1927 Sidney Clare & Lew Pollack
Southern Sunset                   1932~ Sidney Bechet
Variety Stomp                        1927 Waller & Trent

Set 2
Fate                                       1922 Byron Gay
I’m Crazy About My Baby      1931 Hill & Waller
Moonlight                               1921 Con Conrad
I’ve Had My Moments            1934 Walter Donaldson
My One And Only                   1927 George & Ira Gershwin
Puttin’ On The Ritz                 1928 Irving Berlin
Shake It And Break It             1920 Frisco Lou Chiha & H. Qualli Clark
Big Bear Stomp                      1944 Lu Watters

Set 3
I’ll Dance At Your Wedding   1938 Joe Davis [Fats Waller?]
How Am I To Know               1929 D. Parker & J. King
Mine, All Mine                       1927 Stept, Ruby, & Cowan
What-Cha-Call-‘Em Blues     1925 Steve Roberts
Okay, Toots                            1934 Walter Donaldson
Happy Feet                            1929 Yellen & Ager, King of Jazz
Running Wild                         1922 Gibbs, Gray, & Wood
Daybreak (Mississippi Suite, 1926 Ferde Grofe
(final theme)

* New arrangement