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Danny Long in Chicago
Danny Long in Chicago
Date Posted: September 14 2010
Written By: Randy Freedman
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The Chambers Seafood Grille & Chop House in north suburban Niles was one of the venues which in June of 2010 played host to the highly successful Chicago tour of Chicago/Phoenix jazz icon, pianist/vocalist Judy Roberts. This tour received multimedia fanfare in print, on the Internet, TV, and radio. Shortly thereafter, on July 16 and 17, Chambers was host to pianist/vocalist Danny Long, another Chicago jazz great who, like Roberts, has relocated to Arizona.
Long left Chicago for Arizona in 1980––much earlier than Roberts––and regularly partners with Roberts at Remington’s in Scottsdale. Having enjoyed hearing Long on recordings but never in person, I made Chambers my destination both evenings that weekend. Accompanying Long for those performances were the other members of his “Original Chicago Trio”: drummer Greg Sergo and bassist Nick Schneider. They were joined by special guest Greg Fishman on saxophone and by Long’s daughter, vocalist Trish Longo.
Owners Tony and Joe Maranto were on hand and, as always, were gracious hosts who saw to the needs of Danny Long fans, and made newcomers feel welcome, seating them alongside Chambers’ jazz audience regulars. Seeing and knowing the owners gives Chambers a very different and much warmer vibe than corporate-owned franchise restaurants and clubs.
Long draws his musical repertoire primarily from the Great American Songbook and show tunes, but unlike some of his jazz contemporaries (and a surprising number of snooty younger jazz performers) is not afraid to mix in an occasional appropriate popular tune as well.
Intimate venues like Chambers lend themselves to audience requests, which Long graciously fulfilled time and again, even when those requests were inappropriately made during the middle of a Long performance. When one woman not only interrupted Long with a song request but endlessly insisted that he must remember the name of a musician who was in high school in Chicago at approximately the same time he was, Long sarcastically offered to “turn over the rest of the set to you,” as the audience laughed and applauded.
Long’s vocal delivery is soft spoken and relies on intelligent and subtle phrasing to convey his message, some of which can be lost against indiscriminate audience noise. Sounding upbeat, optimistic and certainly swinging, Long’s group offered a well paced and fun evening of jazz.
Musical highlights included Long’s vocals on “Summertime” and “Love Came On Stealthy Fingers.” Trish Longo added her unique and youthful voice to Long’s “Everybody’s Boppin’” and “I’ve Got Rhythm.” Schneider and Sergo both had outstanding solos on “Straight No Chaser. “Sergo’s understated and complimentary drum style was a perfect match for Long’s softer delivery. Schneider seemed to anticipate instinctively where Long was taking each tune, undoubtedly a result of their many years playing together.
Just a few days earlier on Chicago Jazz Radio while being interviewed by host Mike Jeffers, Long opined that he thought Greg Fishman “is the best saxophone player in the world.” Obviously praise like that is hard to live up to, but, given the loud and immediate response each time Fishman was featured or soloed (as he did on “Caravan”), the Chambers audience agreed. Fishman also contributed a charming original samba titled “Delaware Place” that the band performed as an instrumental.
Longevity (no pun intended) is often regarded as a measure of success, and certainly Danny Long’s musical career is no exception. When Long next brings his multiple talents back to Chambers or elsewhere in the Chicago area I highly recommend that you take the opportunity to hear him. And should you be visiting Arizona, why not check out Long and Roberts at Remington’s in Scottsdale? Be sure to tell me all about it when you get back.
For more information contact: thechambersonline.com or scottsdaleplaza.com/
Chicago freelance writer Randy Freedman is a jazz connoisseur, photographer, food critic, humorist, and devoted music fan. He is a regular contributor to Chicago Jazz Magazine.
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