USAF BAND AT COA

USAF BAND AT COA

Tuesday September 18, was a great fun day for Medfield Seniors at the Council on Aging Center. The seniors celebrated their September birthdays and were entertained by the United States Air Force Bay Winds, a trio of clarinet players with long experiences in entertainment.

The music started with a Bacchanal by John Sebastian Bach arranged by Zefir Brezeanu. It was quickly followed by suite (Arnold Cooke):

• Mvt I – Allegro con brio
• Mvt II – Allegretto scherzando
• Mvt III – Andante pastorale
• Mvt IV – Allegro vivace

There was a short intermission and immediately followed by Bravura by C. E. Duble arranged by Mark Craig; a Trio (Alfred Prinze):

• Mvt I – Adagio
• Mvt II – Furioso

And another short intermission. And what I considered the highlight of the afternoon when they played the Circus Bee by Henry Fillmore arranged by Jari Villanueva and then Habanera (from Aires Tropicales) by Paquito D’Rivera and then shtetl Tanzen (Village Dances, in Klezmer Traditon by Michael Kibbe.

The players were practically dancing as they played. Probably carried away by their music and I noticed a few old men and women tapping. I was tempted to stand up and dance but lacked the gumption to actually do so.

The musical ended with a Salute to the Armed Services in this order Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and the last but not the least the Air Force. As each armed service was saluted the veterans stood up and accepted the gratitude of the seniors for their services and of all Americans who are enjoying the fruits of their labors in form of peace and tranquility and democracy and freedom.

The artists were led by Master Sergeant Jennifer Dashnaw from Peekskill NY, a cum laude graduate of SUNY Purchase who has served in Nebraska, Germany, and Washington DC. She began her military career in 1995. Master Sergeant Kevin Connors a local (Belmont, MA) artist who rejoined the Air Force Band after assignments in USAF Europe Band and the Golden West. He played the Bass clarinet. He is a graduate of UMASS Amherst and of New England Conservatory of Music and participated in the summer musical activities in Tanglewood Music Center. His military career started with the Army in 1990 and he joined the Air force in 1994. Technical Sergeant Christy Bailes from St. Petersburg Florida received her Bachelor of Music from Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY. She started her career in 1993. She joined the Air Force Band in 2010 performing with the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band and Bay State Winds.

The seniors who saw the Winds are very lucky as the Band is being deactivated. They will be able to claim that they were one of last people to see these wonderful performers in action

The Band presented the COA Director, Ms. Roberta Lynch with a picture of the entire US Air Force Band in action. The picture is being hung up at COA for public sharing.

It deserves a look.

Obi (Ben) Aduba 

The Other Side of Medfield.