August 26, 2009 - Wednesday Night SMACK DOWN!

Mercy, that was fun! It was the annual no holds barred, bare knuckle, knock down, drag out battle of the big bands, as we traded swinging sets all night with the venerable Brass Trax Big Band. Tom Fox's merry bunch of blowers plays at Hackney's every Wednesday night, along with special guests (us tonight).

Dan Gorski in the house, but he refuses to have anything more than three beers. Nancy.

Another OJBAlum crawls out of the woodwork - Daniel Deacy, tenor Sax from WAY back - now sporting a cool old fashioned Irish moustache and a penchant for Guinness, me thinks.

Brass Trax blew serious chops all night - most notably a Gordon Goodwin chart called (Something) IV. Gotta find that one. Kudos to Steve Hawk and Keith Brady, who both pulled double duty in the rhythm section, on drum and bass respectively. I suppose if we had to chose a highlight, it would be the reemergence of 'Late In The Evening', a chart that has fallen by the wayside as we work thru rhythm section personnel changes. Here's hoping that one stays - we nailed it pretty good.

Rumor has it Phil Enns and Keith Bauman closed the place down around 2a. OJB likes that. Thumbs up! And god bless those sassy waitresses. They are fun and attentive to our needs as a band with an unquenchable thirst.

Set 1

Let The Good Times Roll, Don’t Be That Way, And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine, American Patrol, Travelin Light, Main Stem, I Only Have Eyes For You, Come Fly With Me, Caledonia

Set 2

Every Day I Have The Blues, Intermission Riff, Route 66, The Very Thought Of You, Big Noise From Winnetka, Lady Is A Tramp, Is You Is My Baby, Late In The Evening