Tonight I was privileged to listen to some great Swing and Jazz music at the Sherborn Inn. The group, led by Jeff Hughes on cornet and flugelhorn, Craig Ball on clarinet and tenor sax, Jimmy Mazzy on banjo and vocals, Steve Taddeo on drums, Jason Meyer on bass, and guest on piano, Al Vega. Al Vega is 89 years old and still gigging. He is beginning his 7th playing decade and as strong as ever. Looking at him, he no longer looks in his 20s but listening to him, you could never guess his age.
Mr. Vega plays the vibraphone as well, but more recently, he took a job playing at the Copley Plaza because he liked 'sitting at a real piano'. He plays there every Tuesday and Wednesday evening.In the 50's he started at the Hi-Hat Club as the house pianist and has played with so many well-known musicians, the list would fill an encyclopedia of greats.
On Friday he plays at Antonio's in Revere for people 'who don't like coming through the tunnel in Boston'. On Sunday he plays at Luckie's in the South End, and all-Sinatra show with Adam Herbert.
All this, accomplished currently, also includes his 53rd year of coaching Pop Warner baseball. This wonderful, talented, humanitarian man who may be little known to most people in this area, is as much of a Boston icon all those who are more readily recognized as such, like Arthur Fiedler, Ted Williams those who have public buildings or sites named after them. .Despite all he can claim, he remains humble, accessible, and a delight with whom to reminisce. I hadn't thought about the (mostly for musicians) after hours club in Roxbury called the Pioneer Club since the late 40s or early 50s when I went there a few times.
Click here for more bio on this inspiration for musicians and people planning to retire.
On Friday he plays at Antonio's in Revere for people 'who don't like coming through the tunnel in Boston'. On Sunday he plays at Luckie's in the South End, and all-Sinatra show with Adam Herbert.
All this, accomplished currently, also includes his 53rd year of coaching Pop Warner baseball. This wonderful, talented, humanitarian man who may be little known to most people in this area, is as much of a Boston icon all those who are more readily recognized as such, like Arthur Fiedler, Ted Williams those who have public buildings or sites named after them. .Despite all he can claim, he remains humble, accessible, and a delight with whom to reminisce. I hadn't thought about the (mostly for musicians) after hours club in Roxbury called the Pioneer Club since the late 40s or early 50s when I went there a few times.
Click here for more bio on this inspiration for musicians and people planning to retire.
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