An abundance of chops and chemistry

Lew Del Gatto and Dan Miller

A newly formed organ jazz-inspired band in southern Florida is shaking things up from its home base in Naples and a regular weekly gig in Fort Myers. The Dan Miller-Lew Del Gatto Quintet ventured north to Sarasota last night to open the South County Jazz Club’s five-concert series at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center.

Dan Heck

The band was formed in May and has been working steadily ever since. Trumpeter Miller is a veteran of bands led by Harry Connick Jr., Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman and Wynton Marsalis. Tenor saxophonist Lew Del Gatto spent 25 years in prime time as the baritone player in NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” band. The band also includes pianist Stu Shelton, drummer-singer Patricia Dean and guitarist Dan Heck, who earned his pro stripes with his Seattle-based band Bebop and Destruction before moving to the New York jazz scene, then the fertile music scene in and around Naples.

Patricia Dean

Chops and chemistry were evident throughout the night at the Glenridge. Miller spent more time on muted trumpet, adding poignancy to many of the bop explorations. Shelton shifted his Nord Soul 2 electric keyboard between piano and organ modes as warranted. (Personally, I wanted to hear a bit more organ, a bit less piano than the evening offered). Shelton also added a walking bass line all night with his left hand. He’s good at it, much to the frustration of area bassists who’d like to be along for the ride.

Stu Shelton

Highlights included their take on Eddie Durham’s “Topsy,” Fats Navarro’s “Barry’s Bop,” a Hank Mobley arrangement of Randy Weston’s “Hi Fly,” J.J. Johnson’s “Wee Dot,” Del Gatto’s original “And Friends” (an invigorating stop-time tune based on “Just Friends”), and Miller’s original “Little Miss.” Dean’s vocals were featured on two beautiful standards, “The Nearness of You” and “Broadway.”

 

Del Gatto, Miller and Heck’s unison work, with complementary subtleties, was strong all night – and simply marvelous on their rich interpretation of the Horace Silver ballad “Peace.” Del Gatto was a force throughout the night, including his take on Jobim’s "So Danço Samba.” 



The Miller-Del Gatto band plays Tuesday nights at The Roadhouse in Fort Myers. Del Gatto and Miller are also members of the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra, a sextet that brings in monthly guests throughout the season. That series begins November 26 with guitarist Russell Malone.