By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
A swing- and jazz-loving crowd filled the community room of the WPL, anticipating the first concert in the library’s free Sunday Spring Concerts series, sponsored by the WPL’s 21st Century Fund. The first concert featured the Boston area’s Portrait in Jazz, a sextet led by Westwood resident Brad Ellenburg, with Gary Bohan on flugelhorn, Chris Hildebrand on saxophone and clarinet, Bob Abruzese on stand-up bass, Jody Bregler on drums, Brad Ellenburg on guitar, and Cara Campanelli on lilting vocals. The talented group has been together in some form since 1993, and their ability to stir up a crowd with their outstanding classics and originals is top notch. In her introduction, Community Engagement & Outreach Librarian, Molly MacDougald noted that Portrait in Jazz has toured Europe, Russia, and Austria, and has played at such notable U.S. venues as the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Carnegie Hall, among others.
In Westwood, the group featured beloved swing and jazz classics, including “Bye, Bye Blackbird,” “All of Me,” “Girl from Impanema,” “Misty,” “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” “Almost Like Being in Love,” and “Take the A Train.” Portrait in Jazz also played originals written by group members. The forward-driving “Free for All” by Brad Ellenburg included plenty of group-member solos. “Spring with Stephanie,” a lilting jazz lullaby written by Chris Hildebrand for his young daughter, was sweet and soothing.
The capacity audience was thrilled to hear some of their favorite tunes played live in an intimate setting. Swing and jazz lovers in the audience snapped their fingers, swayed, and tapped their feet to the sweet music played by the accomplished musicians standing just feet away from them! According to Maureen Salkin, “It was the best!” Stephen Kaye, who traveled to the concert from the South Shore, said he “loved it. So charming. [The music] invoked so many memories.” He “always gravitated toward swing and jazz, particularly smooth jazz.” Stephen Meirovitz said “[This was a] great show. [I] like jazz and bluegrass, where each person takes a solo.” Carol Meirovitz added that this was “one of the best concerts I’ve been to.”
