Jeff Hughes trumpet, Pete Tillotson bass, Ross Petot piano

Jeff Hughes trumpet, Dan Weiner guitar, Ross Petot piano, Pete Tillotson string bass, Dave Didriksen drums, Debby Larkin vocals, Jeff Stout trumpet

What an extraordinary evening – All Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn, who could ask for anything more? Jeff Hughes and Dan Weiner are the front line, but everyone gets a piece of the action.

They kicked it off with Benny Carter’s 1930’s When Lights Are Low.  Duke dedicated some tunes to Johnny Hodges, “Jeep”, his alto sax player from Boston.  Jeep’s Blues, featured Tillotson’s string bass, and The Jeep is Jumpin’ featured Didriksen’s drumming.

Debby Larkin, one of New England’s finest vocalists, stepped in for Everything But You.  She introduced the band to this; it was the first time they’ve ever played it, with Jeff on flugelhorn.  He went back to his Benge trumpet for In a Mellow Tone (the chords borrowed from the 1922 Rose Room).  Jeff gets amazing tones out of that July 1941 handmade trumpet; brilliant, blazing sounds, like a complete brass section!

Billy Strayhorn’s Johnny Come Lately featured Ross and ‘The Boys’.  Dan’s strong 4×4 guitar traded with Tillotson’s  bass.  Deb was back with a sexy little song, Squeeze Me, the bass softly playing melody right along with her vocal.

Our Queen of the Sherborn Inn, Lynn Sickle was back after six weeks of rehab, sitting in her special seat by the piano.   This time she had her family with her.   Deb sang Lynn’s favorite song, All of Me and we all shared in a tasty piece of cake provided by Manager Phil Cocco.  Phil said “Lynn has made our lives uplifting for over 15 years.”

Lynn and Bob Sickle welcomed back with cake.

Lynn and Bob Sickle and family.

Jeff’s flugelhorn had a full, rich, smoky sound on Strayhorn’s signature tune, Lush Life.  It’s a very difficult tune for musicians to play.

Jeff Hughes plays Lush Life on flugelhorn.

John and Gisela Brunaccini dance all evening!

Deb returned with nice dance tune with Ross piano, All Too Soon.  John and Gisela Brunaccini were back, traipsing the light fantastic.

Ross was featured on an exhausting tempo with the rhythm section on his own arrangement of Juan Tizol’s – Caravan.  Dan Weiner played a fluid and imaginative special guitar feature, Jobim’s Theme from Black Orpheus. The last time we heard it here was with Don Alessi.  Tradition continues.

Dan Weiner featured on Black Orpheus, with drummer Dave Didriksen

Duke Ellington collaborated with four composers for I’m Beginning to See The Light, Debby vocal.  The band’s marvelous ensemble was apparent on Ben Webster’s Cottontail.  They moved to a Spanish beat with Billy Strayhorn’s After All.  Jeff played Chelsea Bridge with crystal clear open bell trumpet.

He was joined by another Jeff, Jeff Stout,  “one of the finest trumpets in the entire world”.  The two raised the roof on Perdido!  WILD!

Jeff Hughes, Jeff Stout, formidable trumpets

Jeff Stout and Debby have been married 21 years; Jeff joins us at the Inn whenever Deb is here.   They introduced Take Love Easy.  She said, “Musicians like it when they hear it.”

Jeff Stout joins Debby on Take Love Easy

Ross’s pearly notes were again featured with rhythm, What Am I Here For? a Duke tune not often heard,  great rhythm and piano.  Deb was back with A train, they let the drums go, then two trumpets took over. Fabulous!

Jeff’s flugelhorn caressed a great ballad that Duke wrote, Warm Valley.  (It was not geographical.)  They closed with his Good Queen Bess.

They sent us home with a good thought – We’ll Be Together Again, Jeff ending it in a soaring trumpet flourish.