2/24/03 Update

 

Cover Feature

Reedman/bandleader Stan McDonald, who's especially admired for his soaring soprano sax playing in the Sidney Bechet tradition, recalls his many musical adventures with jazz greats and the years when he helped build the superb musical reputation of the New Black Eagle Jazz Band. Lots of photos (historic and current) illustrate the interesting chronicle of this highly talented musician who now leads the excellent, in-demand Blue Horizon Jazz Band.

 

Stan is the subject of jazz writer George Borgman’s feature article of the February 2003 issue of the MISSISSIPPI RAG with Stan’s photo on the cover, entitled, "Stan McDonald, Soaring Sax in the Bechet Tradition." The article can be accessed in part (The month of February only) via this web link: http://www.mississippirag.com   Copies of the issue can be obtained through the site.

 

Jazz is now happening at the Bridgwaye Inn, Marshfield, Massachusetts  - which promises to become another premier location to hear traditional jazz in New England.  Proprietor Phil Cocco and Ellen McDonald are pleased to be collaborating again on a series the first Sunday of each month in 2003.  The Blue Horizon Jazz Band kicked off the series February 2 and will be featured next on May 4 and July 6.

 

The band continues its 8th season of appearances at the Sherborn Inn, the third Tuesday  each month.

 

We’re proud to be returning for the third consecutive summer July 28th to the Bar Harbor Music Festival, and this year on the way we are very pleased to appear July 27th at the Chocolate Church in Bath, Maine.

 

Walt Miller has taken a leave of absence as trumpet/cornet player.  Scott Black has been doing most of the trumpet honors and will be traveling with the band.  Scott also tours regularly with singer Leon Redbone.

 

We would be happy to receive invitations south and west of New England.

 

8/29/01 Summer ’01 update.

 

At the height of the 6th season of Tuesday Jazz at the Sherborn Inn, General Manager Phil Cocco announced he would leave at the end of June to become owner of the Bridgwaye Inn in Marshfield, Massachusetts.  The bond between Phil and the musicians and fans was expressed with an engraved plaque of appreciation,

and the following rendition to the tune FAREWELL TO STOREYVILLE a.k.a. GOODTIME FLAT BLUES performed by the Blue Horizon Jazz Band in his honor with these special lyrics by Stan McDonald, June 19, 2001:

 

Verse:

Now Phil Cocco, has made a go

Of keeping jazz alive,

At the Sherborn Inn, through thick and thin

But now he’s found a dive . . .

 

To call his own, sit on the throne,

The King of Bar and Grill,

A sporting house it may not be,

But a Marshfield Storeyville.

Chorus:

Close up the bar now,

It’s almost 10 o’clock!

Roll up that sidewalk,

Shoe-out the old-time flock

 

We wish you well, Phil;

Just keep that good old sound

--that till a-jingling,

and bring the band a round

 

Go hop that steamboat,

The one that’s Bridgwaye-bound

Way down in Marshfield,

You’ll never run aground!

 

With Phil’s support the Sherborn Inn has become one of the Northeast’s best places to hear top-notch traditional jazz, and we are assured that the Inn will continue the Tuesday jazz policy (except for the month of December which is reserved for holiday functions).  The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will continue to play the third Tuesday every month.

 

More good news:  This past Thursday (August 23rd) Stan and Ellen visited the Bridgwaye and had a warm reunion with Phil.  Plans are under way to start Sunday jazz at the Bridgwaye.  Ellen will be coordinating the jazz as she has and will continue to at the Sherborn Inn.  The Bridgwaye is an appealing venue, located next to the North River.  The music room holds about 200, has a stage at one end, and a water view along the side.  We need to locate a good quality but affordable piano!  The Bridgwaye is accessible to fans south of Boston while the Sherborn Inn is easily reached from Boston’s western suburbs.  Stay tuned . . .

 

Bar Harbor Band Photo:

The band was enthusiastically received at the Bar Harbor, Maine Music Festival in July.  String bassist Barry Bockus ably substituted here and on many jobs this summer for tuba player Gerry Gagnon who reunites each summer with his former full-time band, the Pittsburgh Boiler Makers.

 

Artist’s Rendition:

John Mahoney captured a moment in this sketch of the band on 4/19/00.

Several people have been kind enough to link us to sites, and for now I am reciprocating below, because I don’t yet know how to create a new button or page for the purpose.  These are sources for finding out where to hear jazz in New England and beyond:

http://www.nejazz.com  is Marcelle Enright’s ambitious effort to list traditional jazz throughout New England.  Marce has given the BHJB a page of its own on her site.  (Scroll to the bottom of the Home Page and click on the band name.)  Check it out!  http://www.speakeasy.org/~dricklin/worcjazz  maintained by Don Ricklin will give you the Worcester (Massachusetts) Jazz Scene including at least a 25-mile radius.  It’s not limited to traditional jazz but includes a lot of it.

http://www.mississippirag.com/ connects to The Mississippi Rag, the authoritative source of information about traditional jazz worldwide.  New England is ably represented by correspondent George Borgman.

Come see us when you can.