Ross Wooldridge and His Sextet Shows How It’s Done at Music at Fieldcote, Sunday July 8
Everything was right, musically speaking, at the
Fieldcote Museum Bandshell in Ancaster. The volume, the blend of instruments, the
beautiful singer, the swing style, the solos, the place and the time were spot
on. With all the pieces in place, the audience travelled back in time 70 years,
and may as well have been listening to Benny Goodman himself. Ross Wooldridge
and his Benny Goodman Tribute ensemble made it all happen. The July 8 concert
was a special encore performance to mark the release of Wooldridge’s first CD,
recorded here in July 2010.
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| Ross Wooldridge |
Ross Wooldridge, a Hamilton native and graduate of Mohawk
College’s Applied Music program, has recently relocated to the Hamilton area (Brantford)
after years working the Toronto music scene. The Fieldcote audience happily
enjoyed the benefits of Wooldridge’s years of experience and natural talent.
Eight-hundred people filled the grassy slopes in front of
the bandshell and hung on every selection Wooldridge performed. Surprise guest
vocalist Alex Pangman, “Canada’s sweetheart of swing,” joined the group for
several selections to enrich the musical experience. “Although Benny Goodman
didn’t often use vocalists with his small groups, there were enough such
occasions that it didn’t detract from the authenticity of the tribute,”
Wooldridge explained.
Alex Pangman is a treasure. Her presence added even more
substance to the show, so that the audience’s cup was not just filled, but
overflowing. Dressed in a spiffy black and white polka dot dress, wide brimmed
hat and sunglasses, her snowy complexion and up-done red hair made it easy to
complete the time travel experience. As she sang we were taken back to an
imaginary summer dance hall, circa 1940, where her presence as the live
performer would have been up close and personal, and she would have electrified
the room.
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| Alex Pangman |
Pangman’s latest CD, 33, was released to great acclaim in
April of this year, and displays her love and authentic performance of swing
era songs, all from the year 1933. It was clear from the moment she took the
stage that the audience was charmed.
In his tribute, Wooldridge was careful to follow the
arranging style of Goodman, and he also ensured that he hired musicians who
would be capable of achieving the true swing style.
Wooldridge selected widely from different periods of
Goodman’s works and drew repertoire from various iterations of Goodman
ensembles. After a generous program of twenty one selections, bolstered by
Pangman’s vocals on several, the audience was satisfied and they showed it with
a standing ovation.
The stellar tribute band consisted of Glenn Anderson, drums; Chris Banks,
bass; Jesse Barksdale, guitar; Danny McErlain piano; Don
Thompson, vibraphone.
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| Chris Banks, bass |
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| Danny McErlain, piano |
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| Don Thompson, vibraphone |
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| Glenn Anderson, drums |
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| Jesse Barksdale, guitar |
Everyone took turns soloing, with Anderson saving his for
the very up-tempo I Got Rhythm. Each sideman turned a nice riff on more than
one occasion, and the rich improvisational vocabulary of each saved us from
“solo monotony,” and kept everything fresh and to the point. Of course,
watching Don Thompson (double Juno Award winner, Best Jazz Album) on the vibes
is always a special treat. His casual stance in front of the instrument belies
the fact that a fiery mallet attack is about to erupt at any moment! All five
sidemen were sharp, making constant visual contact and easily trading riffs and
feeding off of each other’s ideas.
Concert Highlights
Pangman’s theatrical stage presence was just right and
not overdone. She performed the resurrected song A
Hundred Years From Today beautifully, presenting it as if it were a special
gift. “If we had millions what would they
all mean, a hundred years from today?” A final chorus of just Wooldridge
soloing with Barksdale chunk-chunking
along added to the special treatment.
Wooldridge’s stage banter kept the ensemble focused and
relaxed. The informal nature of the concert came through when a couple of
little blip mistakes were shrugged off with a chuckle and a knowing glance from
the leader.
Up tempo tunes Slipped
Disk, Running Wild, After You’ve Gone, The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise,
and I Got Rhythm kept everyone’s toes tapping. Flawless soli sections
combining clarinet, vibes, guitar and piano kept coming, with the best example
being the clarinet/vibe/guitar treatment of Flying
Home.
The audience was completely on board with smiles, tapping
toes and bobbing heads throughout. They had come for a treat and they were
getting it. Two encores by the band and a third by Pangman were called for, and
the audience took quite some time to disperse, making a scene at the CD sales
booth afterward.
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| The Benny Goodman Tribute CD, by Ross Wooldridge |
CD copies of Wooldridge’s Tribute to the Benny Goodman
Sextet are available at the Silverbirch online store. http://silverbirchprod.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=1189
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Alex Pangman’s latest recording is on Justin Time Records out of Montreal, and is called simply "33" featuring songs popular in the year 1933. It is available on iTunes, on the web and in stores (EMI distribution). An Amazon link is here http://astore.amazon.ca/greathamilmus-20/detail/B004PYHCWG
A new recording is due for next March featuring great
players like Ross, and Bucky Pizzarelli.
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| RBG, July 27 |
Her next Hamilton show is “Jazz in July” at Royal Botanical Gardens with the Brott
Music Festival.
Friday, July 27, 7:30pm, 680 Plains Rd W Burlington, ON.
Tickets, $30 regular/ $25 senior/ $10 student. Special
group rates available.
Order by phone, 1-888-475-9377, or online at http://www.brottmusic.com/contact.shtml
Order by phone, 1-888-475-9377, or online at http://www.brottmusic.com/contact.shtml
For more information
- GB
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