Neville Dickie tours the U.S. every year around this time.  Neville is from Surrey, England and is known worldwide for his stride piano, boogie woogie, with a powerful left hand and flashy fingering on the right hand.   We all looked forward to his 13th appearance at the Sherborn Inn; thanks to Ellen and Stan McDonald.

He was joined by Steve Taddeo on drums, Stan McDonald on soprano sax, and Jeff Hughes trumpet.  He is a charming entertainer, and enjoyed having a few beers and renewing acquaintances with the fans that come out to hear him every year.  They come from all over New England – he fills the house.

Neville began his renowned “showing off for the Company”, backed by Steve Taddeo, with Jimmy McHugh’s Doing The New Lowdown, marvelous.
He said there’s nothing complete without Fats Waller, Keeping Out of Mischief Now.  He’s known for his rapid left stride, but we like his active right hand toying with the melody.

He once heard Stan and Ross Petot play the Harlem Hotcha, written by James P. Johnson.  It was originally done by the Omer Simeon Trio with Johnson on piano, Simeon clarinet and Pops Foster bass.  Neville’s lightening left hand was supported by Steve feeling his way on snare drum and hi hat, trying not to be intimidated by the famous Dickie.

Neville invited Stan McDonald and Jeff Hughes to join them, with a piano intro to Rose of The Rio Grande.   Neville played chugging, rocking chords, Stan on hot soprano sax also did the vocal, Jeff’s trumpet softly in the background.  Neville started with the verse on a  Darktown Strutters Ball,  fingers floating over the keys.  Stan on sax and singing.

Back to the duo of Neville and Steve with I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Neville playing in 6ths and left hand patterns like Jelly Roll Morton, giving his playing a “New Orleans” flavor.  (I was coached by Ross Petot.)

Neville had several DVD’s for sale, he included a free CD with each one sold.  He played ingenious stride on one of the tunes on his Back to Boogie DVD, Bells of St. Marys.  He explained how the composer,  Douglas Furber, was on a boat leaving South Hampton in England when he heard the Bells of St. Marys as the boat was leaving.  It inspired him to write the tune. Dickie ended the piece with dramatic bell sounds on piano.   Going back to boogie woogie, he turned to the jazz style of Albert Ammons with his 1940’s boogie, Shout for Joy.

Neville invited Stan and Jeff back.  Neville’s right hand played warm, soulful, cascading piano to Jeff’s glorious horn solo on Bunny Berigan’s I Can’t Get Started.  Sweet!

Neville said “You won’t hear anything better than that!”  We totally agree.

Neville enjoys sharing the stage, playing backup piano in the quartet for Maggie.  The Ensemble’s powerful performance, with Stan’s scorching soprano sax turned Tijuana into  a barn burner!

Our own dynamic pianist, Ross Petot, sat at the piano playing haunting and elegant melodies during intermission.  His hands crossed playing stride on I Hate Myself For Being So Mean To You by Isham Jones; Somebody Loves Me,  Who’s Sorry Now, But Not For Me, Love For Sale, King of Araby.

In the middle of Araby, Neville returned and took over the treble end of the piano.  The two together are remarkable piano pyrotechnicians.  The baby grand vibrated with impeccable rhythm!  We look forward to this every year!

Neville Joins Ross at piano

They trade places, playing 4-handed piano

Neville back at the piano with the volatile Finger Breaker.  Jelly Roll Morton composed Finger Breaker; Willie ‘the Lion’ Smith called it Finger Buster.  Either way, it’s extremely fast and difficult.  Harlem Blues went from Blues to intense Boogie.  It was the first blues ever published – 1940 – by Blue Note founder, Albert Lion.

Quartet resumes with All By Myself, Jeff backing Neville with soft trumpet;  James P Johnson’s Old Fashioned Love, Stan on sax and vocals. Neville boogied with a hispanic tinge on Dardanella.

Steve back with Neville playing marvelous left-hand boogie woogie on Golden Earrings, from the movie with Marlene Dietrich.   Swanee River Boogie was ecstasy!  We never get enough boogie!

Closing time was approaching; Neville wanted to give Taddeo a chance to play.  He said he’d make it easy, started Honeysuckle Rose with a slow, rolling left hand.  Steve went along, adding a soft drum roll.  By now he was comfortable with Neville, and tore into his Gene Krupa walk-around routine, stepping away from the drums with sticks tapping the beat, tapping on anything within reach, table, glasses, dishes, never missing a note.  That caught Neville and the ladies at the nearest table by surprise!  He tapped on, back towards Neville and returned to the drums to audience applause.

 

 

 

Steve has been teaching drums to student George Hannah. George sat in on drums, playing just the right accents and sounds with Neville on Indian Summer.  We’ve been watching him grow up with drums – he’s come a long way!

 
The quartet returned with Wild Man Blues, with trumpet in glissando, staccato phrasing. They closed this evening with sax and trumpet intro to Lover Come Back To Me.

Myron Idleson called this the Mount Rushmore of Jazz Concerts.  He said their talent is a gift from God, and their playing is their gift to God.  I’ll add ‘to us too’.

Neville headed for New Jersey to play with the Midiri Brothers for the Tri State Jazz Society, then on to Maryland.  If you’re ever in England, Neville and wife Pat started the Sutton  Jazz Club where he plays monthly at The Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey.  http://www.jazzpiano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/advance_dates.htm

Neville doing Pine Top Boogie in 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndAtEgHTiGo
2010 at the UK Festival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QusM01B4miw

We look forward to having him back here again next year.

Steve will be in concert with the Midiri Brothers here on August 12th.  Dick Donovan’s Big Band directed by Steve Taddeo is at the American Legion, 140 River Rd. Middleton MA every Monday evening.

Jeff will be back at the Sherborn Inn with The Wolverine Jazz Band, Swing Times Five,  and Debby Larkin, Dave Whitney, Dan Gabel.  They all want him.  And  He’ll still be wearing a hat.

Stan’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band will be back at the Sherborn Inn June 17^th.

We are so fortunate to have all this marvelous jazz!!  I count my blessings every day!

Marce