Feature Article August 1, 2001
LAND O'LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Paul Chabot and friends play St. James againby David BrisonIn last weeks review of Christina Wotherspoons concert, Jeff Green urged readers to run, not walk, to hear Paul Chabot perform for the third consecutive year with his musical swinging friends. About 120 people took his advice, but considering that they were mostly seniors (your reporter felt young at age 67), I dont think many of them ran; maybe they shuffled fast.
They did, however, respond warmly and enthusiastically to the vocals of Barry Dale, backed by a trio featuring Paul Chabots piano solos, the fine back-up (and occasional riff) of Mike Perlin on bass, and local boy gone wrong Cam Giroux (of Luther Wright and the Wrongs), on drums.
The music consisted of old show tunes that many of us were imprinted on in our youth: Lets Fall in Love, I Get a Kick Out of You, Youd Be So Nice To Come Home To, Youll Never Know (just how much I love you), and many more. Most of those gathered knew the words in fact there was a large contingent from the Arden Glee Club, who will sing many of the same tunes in four part harmony in a concert to come.
Paul Chabot and Barry Dale both are part of the Big Swing Band, which is playing at Confederation Park in Kingston throughout the summer. Barry Dale provides the vocals for the band, and Paul Chabot does most of the arranging in addition to his fine work on piano.
Dale is fondly remembered by Cam Giroux and his brothers as Harrigan, the little green leprechaun, in the childrens television show when they were little.
After intermission, Allan Scott requested, I Left My Heart in San Francisco. When Dale asked him what key he wanted it in, he replied, Tony Bennett. The tune was not on the program, but Dale gave his own flawless rendition a highlight of the program.
Many in the audience lived through the big band era, when these tunes were performed in the 30s and 40s in outdoor concerts and dance halls. The arrangements at St. James were big band without the benefit of the full big band. Others in the audience grew up in the 50s when the same tunes were performed by smaller jazz groups, many, but not all, with jazz vocalists. The setting for this music was more intimate jazz bars and caf. Given that that this was essentially a jazz trio (piano, drums, and bass), and Chabot normally plays jazz piano and Perlin and Giroux jazz trio backup, I expected quieter, more intimate, and improvised renditions, both vocally and instrumentally. Given the strength of Dales voice, it didnt seem necessary to have a mike (the acoustics are wonderful in the hall), and the renditions were more appropriate for a big band in a larger concert setting. This was a minor reservation, probably idiosyncratic to your reviewer and not shared by others. Dale is a marvelous performer who has a wonderful voice with varied and sensitive shadings. As one member of the audience later said, a real pro.
