Jazz by the Bog by Susan Smythe There was excitement in the air as patrons began to filter into the Narthex of St. Aidan’s Anglican Church for a musical trip to Tijuana, Mexico, eagerly awaiting the opening of the sanctuary doors to find the optimum seat for our third concert of this season’s JAZZ BY THE BOG concert series. Tijuana 2 Night! was the musical group engaged to fly us back to the 1960s when Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass emerged as a prominent musical group, led by the renowned trumpet player, composer, businessman, and bandleader, Herb Alpert. They appeared several times on the Ed Sullivan show and toured until 1969. London’s version of this group of exceptional musicians in their own right is very familiar to our audiences; however, we hadn’t heard this particular collaboration before in our series and they did not disappoint! From the first strains of Spanish Flea right through the evening to the swinging but crisp notes of the last tune of the night – Whipped Cream – the group delivered. Paul Stevenson’s brilliance with both trumpet and flugelhorn shone through all evening on tunes such as Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom Time , Chuck Mangione’s Feels So Good , and a duet on Lemon Tree , with Barry Usher on saxophone, which blended nicely as the “other” horn. Percussionist Rob LaRose, ever the comic relief when called upon, helped Barry with Lemon Tree … by adding bongos (okay) and kazoo!!! The audience loved it. Nevin Campbell provided wonderful keyboard accompaniment, making use of the versatility of the electronic instrument as a marimba in a few numbers. Emcee for the evening was bassist Darryl Stacey who heads up this group. Darryl is not only one of the area’s finest bass players but also has a great voice for speaking and singing, as proved on a few numbers, most notably, Herb’s hit single, This Guy’s in Love With You . The evening flew by quickly as we all recounted when or where we were in our youth when many of the very familiar Tijuana Brass hits were played for the first time. The audience was kept amused, not only when a member was invited to participate onstage for Acapulco 1922 as the very important car horn tooter,
but also by the clever banter of the musicians themselves, who set the tone for a lively and fun evening. Thank you to the band for providing a great end to the 21st season, and to our loyal patrons who return to support this fundraiser for the work of St. Aidan’s church. We look forward to seeing everyone in the Fall, as our 22nd season takes off on Friday, October 24, 2025, with Jazz Ten, a contemporary Big Band. We follow that up on Friday, January 30, 2026, with Rachelle Courtney and Nevin Campbell for some warmth and comfort, and we wrap up another year on Friday, April 24, 2026, with Remembering Burt Bacharach featuring Take 3 & Company. Visit www.staidans.net for updates. Visit The Crump Family Farm for Local Farm to Table! Follow us for Summer Events on the Farm • Sunflowers – Aug 1st • Weekend Events & Birthday Parties • Food Booth Events • Summer Market • Kids’ Barn with Animals Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 5 5372 Egremont Drive, Ilderton 519-200-3431 thecrumpfamilyfarm@gmail.com thecrumpfamilyfarm.ca
Your Perfect Match awaits you at The London Animal Care Centre and The Catty Shack!
Bringing people and pets together www.accpets.ca
C atty S hack THE
To advertise here, please contact Tami@VillagerPublications.com London Animal Care Centre – Licensing, Bylaw Enforcement, Adoption and Lost/Found Services: 121 Pine Valley Blvd., (519) 685-1330 The Catty Shack: 756 Windermere Rd., (519) 432-4572
Page 12 Hyde Park – Oakridge Villager • July-August 2025
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs