Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 7:30pm
Groton Hill Big Band
Jerry Sabatini, Director
Meadow Hall at Groton Hill
PROGRAM
Hello (from “Central City Sketches” Suite)
Benny Carter
Featuring: Richard Allen–piano, Cody Lagasse–tenor sax, Warren Anderson–trumpet, Ken Willinger–guitar
Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
Lillian Hardin Armstrong/arr. Mike Tomaro
Featuring: Fran Morello–trombone, Cody Lagasse–tenor sax
Speak Low
Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash/arr. Bob Curnow
Featuring: Fran Morello–trombone, Ken Willinger–guitar
Fly Me To The Moon
Bart Howard/arr. Sammy Nestico
Featuring: Russell Watts–vocals
Alright, Okay, You Win
Mayme Watts and Syd Wyche/transcr. Myles Collins
Featuring: Russell Watts–vocals, Fran Morello–trombone, Ken Willinger–guitar, Dan Gilfix–drums
JJJ Blues
Tim Davies
Featuring: Richard Allen–piano, Ken Willinger–guitar, Rob Haupt–soprano sax, Dan Gilfix–drums
In A Sentimental Mood
Duke Ellington/arr. Herb Pomeroy
Featuring: Leslie Lathrop–baritone sax
Spain
Chick Corea
Featuring: Warren Anderson–flugelhorn, Russell Watts–vocals, Richard Allen–piano, Joe Canedo–tenor sax
∼ INTERMISSION ∼
Lili’s Song
SSG Paul White–Jazz Ambassadors, United States Army Field Band
Featuring: Richard Allen–piano, Cody Lagasse–tenor sax
Oclupaca
Duke Ellington/arr. David Berger
Featuring: Joe Canedo–tenor sax
Strayhorn
Clare Fischer/arr. Bill Dobbins
Featuring: Richard Allen–piano
Footprints
Wayne Shorter/arr. Matt Harris
Featuring: Ken Willinger–guitar, Dan Gilfix–drums, Rob Haupt–soprano sax
Nostalgia in Times Square Charles Mingus/arr. Sy Johnson
Featuring: JP Lanctot–trombone, Warren Anderson–trumpet, Joe Canedo–tenor sax
When Sunny Gets Blue
Marvin Fisher and Jack Segal/ arr. Rich Matteson
Featuring: Russell Watts–vocals, Rob Haupt–alto sax
Let The Good Times Roll
Sam Theard and Fleecie Moore/arr. Mark Taylor
Featuring: Russell Watts–vocals, Ken Willinger–guitar, Jerry Sabatini–trumpet
Members of the Groton Hill Big Band
Director: Jerry Sabatini
Voice
Russell Watts
Rhythm Section
Richard Allen – piano
Ken Willinger – guitar
Charlie Recchia – bass
Dan Gilfix – drums
Reeds
Rob Haupt – alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet
Randall Warniers – alto sax
Cody Lagasse – tenor sax
Joe Canedo – tenor sax
Leslie Lathrop – baritone sax
Brass
Fran Morello – trombone
JP Lanctot – trombone
Eric Fisher – trombone
Gregory Yanchenko – bass trombone
Dave Grubbs – trumpet, flugelhorn
Ed Strachan – trumpet, flugelhorn
Warren Anderson – trumpet, flugelhorn
Bill McDonald – trumpet, flugelhorn
About Our Director: Jerry Sabatini
As director of the Groton Hill Big Band, Jerry Sabatini shares his love of American Big Band music with his students. “Every song in this wonderfully diverse repertoire has its own unique personality, which includes an historical perspective and stylistic nuances that I strive to make the musicians aware of,” he says. “I really want the band to love what they are playing and to try to find their own ‘voices’ in the music.” Jerry has gained wide recognition in the Boston jazz scene as an adventurous, creative, and diverse trumpet player, improviser, composer, arranger and educator. His musical projects range from the music of traditional combos, Big Band and avant garde jazz, Roma brass bands, Middle Eastern, and Indian classical to modern classical, American pop, rock, soul, and funk. Jerry has performed and recorded in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East with some of Boston’s most innovative bands as well as leading his own progressive jazz ensemble, Sonic Explorers.
