Swing Senders Dream Team at Bemis Hall June 10, 2015

9 piece Swing Band

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders Dream Team

Paul Monat cornet, John Clark tenor sax/clarinet, Craig Ball clarinet, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Bill Doyle guitar, Ross Petot piano, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo Drums, Caroline Griep vocals, and special guest Jack Soref, guitar.

Harold McAleer videos,
Marce photos

Steve Taddeo presented his Swing Senders at Bemis Hall on June 10th, with an amalgamation of New England’s finest musicians, and special guest, Jack Soref on guitar.  With a great four-piece front line and two guitars, we were guaranteed an evening of outstanding Swing!

They began with Steve’s explosive drum intro into Savoy.  Paul Monat  said It was like being in a Gene Krupa concert!

Caroline singing

Caroline Griep does it all with style.

 

 

Caroline Griep puts heart and soul into  I Can’t Give You  Anything but Love, with the Quintet of John Clark on tenor sax, Craig Ball clarinet, Soref playing Django style guitar, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve drums.

Paul on cornet

Paul Monat Wishing Upon a Star

 

 

 

Paul Monat was featured on When You Wish Upon a Star, citing his idol, Wild Bill Davison.  The high ceiling of this large hall provided a beautiful echo enhancing Paul’s excellent cornet.

Caroline was back for Slow Boat to China.  Her voice is rich, with a great range and many layers.

Justin was featured on Just You, Just Me, bowing the base in rich harmony, bolstered by intricate improvised solos.

On one tune, Taddeo joined him with their own version of “Big Noise From Winnetca”

Justin playing string bass while Steve taps on strings with drum sticks

Justin and Steve mimic Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart

Harold filmed an impressive video of the Swing Sender’s Theme Song, Dinah.

There was an innovative interchange between the two guitars on Everybody Loves My Baby, backed by two clarinets.  They all love making music!

Jack on lead, Bill on rhythm guitar

Jack Soref, Bill Doyle

Dave Didriksent at drums

Dave Didriksen sits in.

 

Steve asked Dave Didriksen to sit in on Flat Foot Floogie.  Dave is a fine drummer, and manager of the group Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin.

Dave took over the drums. He said it was worth it to give Steve Taddeo a rare chance to sing. Who knew Steve could sing?

Caroline returned with a soaring vocal on Jeeper Creepers.

The band broke into quartets; the first featuring Jack Soref on a tune we had been anticipating, Django’s Minor Swing,  with Bill Doyle adding rhythm guitar, Justin on string bass, and Steve drums. Judge for yourself:

 

John Clark on tenor sax

John Clark on tenor sax

 

 

Can’t We Be Friends was led by John Clark with a brilliant interchange between tenor sax and string bass.

 

 

 

 

 

Ross on piano

Ross Petot makes sure there are no blank spaces.

 

 

Moonlight in Vermont captivated the audience with only Ross Petot backing Caroline Griep – just the two of them, letting the song shine through.  Beautiful!

 

 

 

Djangology gave Soref another chance to feature his expertise on Django Rheinhardt.  For half of 2011, Jack studied the music of Django Reinhardt at its source by moving to Paris, France.   We hope to hear more from him in the future.

Finale, with a drum intro into Stomping at the Savoy.  Wonderful solos… concluding with  Steve Taddeo’s extended solo on his Antique 1939 Slingerland Drums, in high energetic and buoyant style, crossing cymbals, using press rolls and cymbal techniques.  The room exploded!
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This really was a Dream Team!  The musicians and audience were high from this fantastic Swing music and didn’t want it to stop.   John Clark continued with I Got Rhythm, fine trombone by Gerry Gagnon and classic interchange between Craig Ball clarinet and Jack Soref.  They hadn’t discussed how to end this, so Taddeo made it a wrap!

Steve Taddeo always come through with the finest musicians and amazing Swing. Save the date: Wednesday, August 12th.  Steve is bringing back the marvelous Midiri Brothers to Bemis Hall.  Details to follow.

Marce

Jack Soref, Gypsy Jazz

Video by Harold McAleer

Jack Soref plays Django’s Minor Swing with Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, MA on June 10, 2015.  (more coming)   http://www.jacksoref.com/

Jack Soref, Guitar, Born and raised in Madison WI, Jack has performed all over the USA as well as internationally on stages in France, and Scotland, and at festivals such as Django in June, The Brooklyn Djangology Festival, The Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest, and Riverside Farm Market and Café Gypsy Jazz Fest. He has performed in concert with such Gypsy Jazz luminaries as Violinist Tim Kliphius, and Guitarists Adrien Moignard, Gonzalo Bergara, Aurélien Bouly and Titi Bamberger. Additionally, Jack has been a guitar instructor at Django in June’s week long Gypsy Jazz music Camp in 2009, 2010, 2012, and soon to be again in 2013.

For half of 2011, Jack studied the music of Django Reinhardt at its source by moving to Paris, France. While there he jammed with the old masters like Boulou Ferré and Romanian violin maestro Florin Niculescu as well as the young virtuoso’s currently storming the Paris scene. He’s back in the U.S. and can be found playing all over the Greater Boston area.