The entire group’s articulation – the crisp, clean notes – is spine-tingling, and the band’s dynamics are a treat, illustrating so well that a group can drive and swing like mad and not have to play loud! Stan Vincent and Tony Pringle, standing closely together, play just as closely in harmony, Pringle’s vibrato and mute work showing the Ken Colyer influence. “Pam” Pameijer’s drums “pulsate” – he engages in no theatrics, few “solos,” and none of the “tags” that so many drummers feel are obligatory.Įli Newberger plays tuba like a string bass, or at least makes it sound like one I found myself wondering when the man breathes while playing measure after measure of light 4-beat tuba, especially in the driving ending choruses.
Peter Bullis’s banjo does not behave like a runaway freight car on a decline. The rhythm section drives the front line, yet never pushes the tempo. Ensemble work is their hallmark, and they blend so well, due in large part no doubt to the fact that in the past dozen or so years there has been only one change in personnel, Hugh Blackwell taking over on reeds from Stan McDonald. Listening was key to their extraordinary ensemble unity and ability to imprint their signature onto both well-known and very obscure Classic Jazz tunesīT: In the Black Eagles each musician is a virtuoso, yet none tries to upstage or outblow another. Outstanding PersonnelĭR: In the classic band each musician was a master of their instrument, responding with rare sensitivity to the others as they built collective momentum. We heard – and saw – them execute so many of the intricacies we associate with the Eagles, such as the complex introduction to “Steamboat Stomp,” the exciting trading of measures back and forth between Newberger on tuba and Blackwell on clarinet in “Black Cat on the Fence,” Pilsbury’s “fracturing” the rhythm on his piano solo in “Cherry” and none of the rhythm section losing his place as all came in right on cue – one could go on and on. Such a turnout testifies to the band’s reputation, and to a man they lived up to it. The room was just about filled – I saw very few empty chairs until the hour passed 10:00 – and I was told that the previous night the place was absolutely jammed. New Black Eagle Jazz Band with Hugh Blackwell foreground. And they swung all night long, right through the twenty-three tunes that comprised their program. Lucky Rock Blues Recalling Two Bold NightsīT: At almost 7:00 pm on the dot on Monday, Novemthe New Black Eagle Jazz Band swung into “1919 March” at The Bold Knight. You’ll find the remainder of this music, eight sets from these concerts, at the end of the article. A warm and personable master-of-ceremonies, Tony’s British Midlands brogue is charming. The rich cornet tones of Tony Pringle’s powerful lead are on display.
#Black cat rag player piano full
There was some anxiety about whether an audience sufficient to cover the expense of this dual concert would materialize, but as it turned out it was hugely successful, Sunday’s concert seeing a full house and Monday’s nearly the same.ĭR: This “sampler” set highlights the charismatic singing and dazzling pianism of Bob Pilsbury featured on “Cherry.” Note his Earl Hines-like free rhythms. The secretary of the South Bay Society, Harriet Vogel, backed by the club officers, contacted the band and the result was booking two concerts on back-to-back days at the location where the society held its monthly meeting: The Bold Knight in Sunnyvale, California. In the San Francisco Bay Area there were at the time several jazz clubs and societies and the South Bay Traditional Jazz Society made the decision to try to book the band for an appearance while it was out here for the San Diego Festival. The band seldom visited the West Coast at that time, and many people were enthused about having the chance to finally witness a live performance by this band, an experience until then largely limited to those who lived on the East Coast. Bert Thompson: In 1984, the New Black Eagle Jazz Band was booked to play at the San Diego Jazz Festival, held each year on Thanksgiving weekend.
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