 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Jay Miller
December 21, 2000
Nothing is more central to the sound of big band jazz and funk than the interplay between tenor saxophone and trumpet. That's how Garrett Savluk and
Henley Douglas first became friends and musical cohorts better than 15 years ago.
And that's the essential reason they've reunited in The Boston Horns. The Horns will headline Harpers Ferry in Boston tomorrow night and will play at
Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge on Jan 6.
Savluk and Douglas are perhaps best known in the Boston area as two of the founding fathers of the Heavy Metal Horns. In the past three or four years,
both had moved on, as the HMH developed into more of a rock unit.
Douglas began playing in Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, and Savluk soon joined the Wild Kingdom as well. About a year ago, the duo were hired to provide
horns for Shawn Mullins ' new album.
"Whenever people in music think of that tenor sax and trumpet pairing, they think of the Memphis Horns , most recently on the Robert Cray records, "
Savluk noted from his Wilmington home. ""While Henley and I were doing the Shawn Mullins sessions, we figured it was a natural to call ourselves The
Boston Horns. Afterwards we decided we really ought to put something together and continue our musical partnership."
The new band recorded a six-song EP to introduce themselves, using a rhythm section of Boston vets Ed Spargo on bass and Craig McIntire on drums.
But since Spargo and McIntire were also the rhythm section for guitarist Johnny A, they were soon too busy to continue with the horn men.
Guitarist Jeff Buckridge, a longtime friend of the duo, was a quick addition. Buckridge had performed funk and r&b with Lazy Galoot, a North Shore band
which split into two of Boston's most popular funksters, Sugardaddy and Michigan Black Snake. Buckridge, who teaches music to middle school kids in
Andover by day, also added a third songwriter to the team.
"We had been writing music with Jeff for a while," Savluk said, "and we knew he loved working in the same style we did. Now he contributes about half of
our original tunes."
Searching for a rhythm section, the new Boston horns ended up merging with a whole band. Bassist Mike "Squid" Rush, drummer Jack Howard and
keyboardist Mark Longo had been playing jazz and funk as a trio called Pass the Peas, after an old James Brown/Maceo Parker vehicle. (Pass the Peas
still plays the occasional gig, between Horns assignments.)
Vocalist Julie Dougherty was the final piece in the puzzle for the fledgling Horns. A veteran of many years in the music business, she had spent most of
her time singing in folk and country music settings. Douglas was convinced she could bring a fresh approach to funk and r&b.
"Henley and Julie had done some duets, and he felt it would be an interesting thing to try her singing with us." Savluk explained. "We're not aiming to be a
band with a lead singer, because the bulk of our music is instrumental. But Julie is willing to play that role, and she adds percussion when she is not
singing. She's been studying and practicing this type of funky, soulful music. Given her background, she doesn't approach this music like so many other
funk or jazz singers do, and that adds to the uniqueness of her voice. You can be sure you won't hear a stock r&b treatment from her."
In the past year, the Boston Horns have played Harpers Ferry regularly, along with other outposts such as the Sea Note in Hull.
"For the most part, wherever we've played, everybody has gotten into the music." Savluk reported. "It is the same as it was with the Heavy Metal Horns, for
example, where people start out the night with funny looks on their faces as they try to figure out what we are doing. Then, after they've been out there
dancing a while, and got into the groove, they don't want us to ever stop. I really do feel we have a sound that captures audiences. And so far no one has
requested 'Mustang Sally.' "
December 21, 2000
Nothing is more central to the sound of big band jazz and funk than the interplay between tenor saxophone and trumpet. That's how Garrett Savluk and
Henley Douglas first became friends and musical cohorts better than 15 years ago.
And that's the essential reason they've reunited in The Boston Horns. The Horns will headline Harpers Ferry in Boston tomorrow night and will play at
Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge on Jan 6.
Savluk and Douglas are perhaps best known in the Boston area as two of the founding fathers of the Heavy Metal Horns. In the past three or four years,
both had moved on, as the HMH developed into more of a rock unit.
Douglas began playing in Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, and Savluk soon joined the Wild Kingdom as well. About a year ago, the duo were hired to provide
horns for Shawn Mullins ' new album.
"Whenever people in music think of that tenor sax and trumpet pairing, they think of the Memphis Horns , most recently on the Robert Cray records, "
Savluk noted from his Wilmington home. ""While Henley and I were doing the Shawn Mullins sessions, we figured it was a natural to call ourselves The
Boston Horns. Afterwards we decided we really ought to put something together and continue our musical partnership."
The new band recorded a six-song EP to introduce themselves, using a rhythm section of Boston vets Ed Spargo on bass and Craig McIntire on drums.
But since Spargo and McIntire were also the rhythm section for guitarist Johnny A, they were soon too busy to continue with the horn men.
Guitarist Jeff Buckridge, a longtime friend of the duo, was a quick addition. Buckridge had performed funk and r&b with Lazy Galoot, a North Shore band
which split into two of Boston's most popular funksters, Sugardaddy and Michigan Black Snake. Buckridge, who teaches music to middle school kids in
Andover by day, also added a third songwriter to the team.
"We had been writing music with Jeff for a while," Savluk said, "and we knew he loved working in the same style we did. Now he contributes about half of
our original tunes."
Searching for a rhythm section, the new Boston horns ended up merging with a whole band. Bassist Mike "Squid" Rush, drummer Jack Howard and
keyboardist Mark Longo had been playing jazz and funk as a trio called Pass the Peas, after an old James Brown/Maceo Parker vehicle. (Pass the Peas
still plays the occasional gig, between Horns assignments.)
Vocalist Julie Dougherty was the final piece in the puzzle for the fledgling Horns. A veteran of many years in the music business, she had spent most of
her time singing in folk and country music settings. Douglas was convinced she could bring a fresh approach to funk and r&b.
"Henley and Julie had done some duets, and he felt it would be an interesting thing to try her singing with us." Savluk explained. "We're not aiming to be a
band with a lead singer, because the bulk of our music is instrumental. But Julie is willing to play that role, and she adds percussion when she is not
singing. She's been studying and practicing this type of funky, soulful music. Given her background, she doesn't approach this music like so many other
funk or jazz singers do, and that adds to the uniqueness of her voice. You can be sure you won't hear a stock r&b treatment from her."
In the past year, the Boston Horns have played Harpers Ferry regularly, along with other outposts such as the Sea Note in Hull.
"For the most part, wherever we've played, everybody has gotten into the music." Savluk reported. "It is the same as it was with the Heavy Metal Horns, for
example, where people start out the night with funny looks on their faces as they try to figure out what we are doing. Then, after they've been out there
dancing a while, and got into the groove, they don't want us to ever stop. I really do feel we have a sound that captures audiences. And so far no one has
requested 'Mustang Sally.' "
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |