Ken Steiner's Army of Babies
with Tyra Penn
at the Sherborn Inn
July 1, 2008
| Bassist Ken
Steiner and his Jazz Babies returned to the Sherborn Inn with
special guest, vocalist Tyra Penn, and some fabulous
jazz/swing/blues. In consideration of Tyra's band, "the Army of Snakes,"
Ken renamed this band "Army of
Babies" ....just for this occasion. No, it wasn't Trad, or
Dixieland. But sometimes we need to expand our horizons...just
a little bit. It Don't Mean a Thing If It Aint' Got That Swing,
and they got it.
The fans and musicians at the Sherborn Inn weren't prepared for
the dynamo that is Tyra Penn. With vivacious
energy and drive, she instantly became "Squadron
Commander", and the crew paid close attention, even Whitney.
|
|
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby? Them There Eyes, had such
clout that conversations stopped and people sat up and listened. She changed Helen Hughes' intonation
to something not quite so jovial on the
naughty He May Be Your Man, But He Comes To Me Sometimes,
making the song her own. |
 |
Some of the tunes she picked have never been heard at the
Sherborn Inn, like her theme song, the one Eartha Kitt said was
unsingable, My Discarded Man.
Citing poet Ismael Reed
and Iron Maiden's Dave Murray, she added a touch of Avant Guarde
jazz and a lesson on the Iliad with
Prophet of Doom. |
|
The Band was tremendous, consisting of five of New England's
finest, Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet and tenor sax,
Mike DiBari guitar, Dave Bragdon on drums, and leader/bassist Ken
Steiner on acoustic bass. Rosetta featured a nice, melodic duet between Craig's silky
clarinet and Dave's muted trumpet. |
 |
Jumpin' at the Woodside was a real barn
burner. Freed from the minimal drumming of Traditional jazz,
Dave Bragdon really went wild, with a fierce Mike DiBari keeping up
with him! |
 Dave Whitney's exciting trumpet stirred this band, especially with
the "Mad Man from New Orleans", Louis Prima's Oh Babe, and he
also had the vocal on All Of Me. Dave is at
Angelica's in Middleton, MA every Friday with the Steve Hershman Trio, and twice a
month with his own Dave Whitney Big Band. |
 Inserting some Spanish tinge, Besa Me Mucho, had outstanding
reed-man Craig Ball displaying his talent
on tenor sax. Craig is leader of the White Heat Swing Orchestra and
can be heard every Wednesday this summer on the patio at the Boston Harbor Hotel. |
|
Tyra closed the evening with an emotional, passionate vocal on
Summertime, with bassist/leader Ken Steiner zealously picking that bass.
Sherborn Inn
'regular', Betty Weaver, said of Tyra, "Refreshing - She feels
the music like a musician, she uses her voice as an
instrument." The
fans left the Inn hoping this lively group would return
sometime, and expand our horizons ......just a little bit more.
Both Tyra and Ken may be heard at 10pm at the Sahara Restaurant,
146 Highland St. in Worcester, MA Tyra with the Red Riders, and Ken
with several bands on Friday nights. |
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| By Marce, Updated July
3, 2008
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