To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War ll, a special collaboration between the Aaron Tolson Institute of Dance, The Dana Center at St. Anselm College and the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra will present Swingin’ to Victory this Sunday November 9th at 4pm at the Dana Center.
The program goes well beyond the average Big Band show. There is a multi generational composition to the event. The father and son team of Skip and CJ Poole have crafted a program based on firsthand experiences of New Hampshire’s very special Clayton Poole.
I was invited to attend all three rehearsals and could hear both the dramatic shift in performance as well as learning the connections alongside the musicians. All the photos here are from rehearsal but these folks clean up really nicely for show time. Clayton Poole shared many interesting and sometimes amazing backstories specific to particular bands and events. He worked with legendary entertainers like Mel Tormé, Cab Calloway, Rosemary Clooney, Maynard Ferguson and Johnny Mathis.
He told me and the performers repeatedly, “We are striving to not just play the notes; but attempting to allow the listener to hear this music as it might have been like to experience those original big bands perform live!”
COLLABORATION
Aaron Tolson graduated from Memorial High School and has performed, choreographed, and taught at numerous festivals around the world. His non-profit New England Tap Ensemble promotes the art of tap in the community and is a perfect fit for the energy and drive to share skills that both he and the Poole family exemplify. Learn more about Aaron here and The Aaron Tolson Institute of Dance at St. Anselm College was covered by InkLink back in 2023.
Together they have created a completely self-produced unique program with guidance and quiet support from Dana Center Director, Joseph Deleault. Joe, who I met decades ago at the Manchester Community Music School is an award-winning international performer, composer, and session pianist. Recording credits include Jon Bon Jovi, Carly Simon, Joan Osborne, Natalie MacMaster. His piano can be heard nightly on the opening theme to NH Chronicle.
The show is a salute to Veterans and it is also a wonderful multi-generational opportunity to see skills shared across generations and the power of lived history passed along in real time to the next generation of dancers and musicians.
JAZZ REHEARSALS
I watched the musicians build upon their already professional foundation. Skip is clear that music is hard work. Attending all rehearsals, I’ve listened to the quality and tightness of the sound go up significantly. One can’t help but start tapping your feet to the music.
Each piece they reviewed began with a quick listen to an original recording. Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Harry James, all compositions created and played by some of the greatest names in jazz. After a quick listen, they played and Skip always has a frame of reference to share in the first person. He was that young musician learning his way. Today he encourages “don’t play as written, play as it was recorded” as they strive to fully re-create the sound.
Skip’s past research of the Benny Goodman archives allows his company CP livemusic Productions the opportunity to keep the original Jazz vibes real and alive in performance.
In rehearsal, all the nuances of performance come to light. When the vocalist sings, the instruments that play the melody lines fade. “The instruments need to be behind the vocalist” says Skip. That prep was evident last night when I attended the last rehearsal for the show. Taylor O’Donnell stepped onto the stage -picked up the mike and they flew through the pieces as all had been refined and readied in the previous rehearsals.
YOUTH
The 19 members of NHJO are all New Hampshire residents. They range in age from 17 to 75 years old.
The last rehearsal included Aaron Tolson and his student dancers up on stage. They tapped their way through the program with everyone bouncing along.
Here too, performer and educator Aaron offered not only tips and demonstration of form but also for the students, this was the first time they were backed by a full 19 piece orchestra. To watch and listen as the connections tightened into performance level quality leads to great anticipation for Sunday afternoon’s concert.
Brilliant on all levels, the jazz music, the song, the dance, and the retention of the original jazz sounds came together as the next generation of performers learn and grow right alongside those who have mastered the skills for decades.
MUSICAL GHOSTS ALIVE
Standing on the stage, during a break in the rehearsal Skip was able to point out the exact spot Rosemary Clooney came out on stage in a long-ago rehearsal.
As Taylor O’Donnell arrived, Skip calls out “I’m beginning to see the light” and once again I had to wonder whether he was introducing the next tune to rehearse or he was enlightening the musicians and me to more of the glorious history coming alive.
O’Donnell will be singing the famous Irving Berlin tune “God Bless America” made famous by Kate Smith. Skip commissioned his decades long chief arranger Jerry Ascione to make this show version exactly as Kate Smith would have sung it with a big band backup. O’Donnell gets right into it as they perfect the nuances that make this upcoming concert so special. No small task invoking the spirit of Kate Smith.
Sing, Sing, Sing is one of the most famous jazz tunes of the Big Band Era. It’s a 1936 song with words and music by Louis Prima that the NHJO plays in a totally recreated Benny Goodman performance. There’s a Benny Goodman behind the scenes story that enlightens the musicians and their commitment to getting it exactly right.
And there is also a drum part repeated five times that requires some cue to the rest of the band as to when to come back in so they can “end together.” I won’t give away the clue but do listen for it. The piece will have you moving to the rhythm.
THE 19 PIECE BIG BAND JAZZ SOUND
The band members range in age from 17 to 75. Nick Valiton on piano is the youngest. A senior in high school who while auditioning for NH Jazz All State won the highest piano score in the state.
Here’s the NH Jazz Orchestra led by Clayton (Skip) Poole:
Alto sax, clarinet & flute: – Greg Mostovoy – Kelsey Wynn
Tenor sax, clarinet & flute: – Lisa Noordergraaf – Charlie Jennison
Baritone sax, bass clarinet, alto sax & clarinet: – Don Davis
Trumpets & Flugelhorn: – Bob Maccini – Bob Couturier – Rob Cary – Bill Papp – Justin O’Donnell
Trombone: – Bryan House – Alex Richards – Max Lalos
Bass Trombone: – Drew Coraccio
Tuba: – Hailley McConnell
Drums: – Jim Lattini
String Bass: – CJ Poole
Guitar: – Bob Arpin
Piano: – Nick Valiton
Vocals: – Ms. Taylor O’Donnell
Tickets can be purchased directly from the Dana Center using this link.
and let’s end the rehearsals and preview with this quick take by CJ Poole and Aaron Tolson….