'Septet' performs, honors legend

Bear's Place and the Al Cobine Septet celebrated the late jazz composer Hoagy Carmichael Thursday night on what would be Carmichael's 104th birthday. The band played mostly Carmichael songs, opening the show with "Back Home in Indiana," introduced by Mike Lucas.\nCarmichael graduated from the IU School of Law in the 1920s and became an established jazz composer and musician during his life.\nThe next song, "Too Close for Comfort," featured a piano solo by Lucas heavy with improvisation.\nThe ability to ad lib is a staple of every great jazz musician said David Miller, founder and director of Jazz Fables. \nThe song also featured a trumpet solo by Mark Buselli. Throughout the show, the jazz sound was insulated by the support of baritone saxophone player Elliott Jackson.\nCobine's band proceeded with a medley of Carmichael tunes both fast and slow. Cobine, the leader of the band, kept the group together throughout the years. The introductory riff was provided by trombone player Dave Pavolka, who made a further statement later in the song with a solo eventually blanketed by the other instruments. \nTopping off a feel-good first set was the upbeat "Bernie's Tune," which saw another trombone solo and Cobine's first sax solo of the night. \nDeno Sanders, the band's drummer and IU music school alumnus, provided concise rhythm. Sanders said he considers himself somewhat of a "local favorite" in Bloomington, having played here for many years in bars and other small venues. His first gig was a wedding, an opportunity given to him by the Cobine. \nSanders said he feels "indebted to Al for the privilege of playing with him." \nThe Septet touched on a wide variety of old jazz arrangements, including the universally familiar "Heart and Soul." Cobine initiated the melody for this classic. By the second set, most people in the crowd of all age groups were tapping their feet and bobbing their heads.\nAl Kamarauskas, a casual jazz fan in attendance, said he expected an evening of soothing jazz to round out a hectic week. Kamarauskas, from Arizona, said he was particularly impressed by the show.\n"(The music scene in Bloomington) seems pretty big for a town this size," he said. \nCobine said during the set break he has worked with the likes of Carmichael and Tony Bennett, as well as many female vocalists such as Petula Clark, famous for the oldies classic "Downtown." He was also a member of Bob Hope's accompanying band when he was in town for the opening of Assembly Hall on campus. \nThursday night jazz through Jazz Fables, an organization founded and directed by Miller, has existed since 1989, creating a jazz music scene in Bloomington by providing concerts every Thursday night.\n"It brings a different kind of people in here" from the usual bar crowd, said Bear's employee Mike Scott.\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Beal at mdbeal@indiana.edu.