Jazz Orchestra Brings Swing To Life

Spokane Jazz Orchestra The Met, Sat., March 14

The golden age of big bands sold every seat in The Met Saturday night. The Spokane Jazz Orchestra saluted the Big Band Era by putting a spotlight on the music of Benny Goodman and giving the nod to a handful of the best bands of the period.

Clarinetist David Keberle, older brother of the SJO’s music director, Dan Keberle, took on the Goodman role for 12 tunes in the second half of the concert. Keberle’s sound on the clarinet was dark and relaxed, and a reasonable imitation of the Goodman style. For the most part, his improvisations turned back the clock to stay within the parameters of the time.

Keberle pulled off the sonic sleight of hand as only one could do who has been steeped in Goodman’s music over a period of time. And he has the technique to make it happen. Without the fast fingers, controlled note bending and unsymphonic attacks, the right notes would have meant little.

Sure, the clarinet’s cleanliness lends itself to mellow ballads, but in the right hands, its voice can be bump-and-grind grungy. As for down-and-dirty, Keberle’s take on “Sing, Sing, Sing” left no doubt except how much the evening’s activities were going to cost you.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra made audible efforts to portray the peak of the big band craze as well. Acquiring Goodman’s original charts didn’t hurt. But it is hard to wash 50 years of development in jazz out of your horn.

The first half of the concert included tips of the hat to the bandleaders whose styles defined the era - Count Basie, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Stan Kenton were all there.

More than just pulling up the charts and playing them, it sounded like the SJO really tried to copy each of the bands’ sound. A little squinting of the ears and one could almost imagine a cutting session with all those bands getting together.

The vocal quartet, Topflite, chimed in with some close-harmony numbers in the ‘40s style. Their presentation was polished and slick, and the audience’s reaction attested to the energetic vibes group vocals can send out.

I overheard “The old folks like this stuff” but most of the audience was way too young to have heard it the first time around. I also overheard a teen expressing a desire to start a big band. It seems the swing era isn’t dead yet.