Electric Squeezebox-17 Piece Jazz Orch. Electrifies at 222's Snug Venue

The Electric Squeezebox Orchestra squeezed all 17 bandmates onto its compact stage with their varied instruments including a concert sized piano and played for a packed house at the 222 Venue in Healdsburg over the weekend.  The Orchestra did not have to wander far from its home in the San Francisco Bay Area where its members play regularly.  Under artistic director and trumpeter extraordinaire, Erik Jekabson, the orchestra played works either composed by its members or classical jazz numbers arranged by its members.  The musicians whose original work were performed served as conductors.  Music that was written by legendary jazz artists such as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Freddie Hubbard.  These pieces proved crowd pleasures.  Arrangements for these artists musical works were made to accommodate the instrumentation of Electric Squeezebox which included four saxophones, four trombones, five trumpets, drums, bass, electric guitar and piano.  One saxophonist also performed on flute and the guitarist played both electric and acoustic guitar.  My favorite pieces were two original works.  Coincidentally,  both were about animals.  The band members who'd written the composition explained their inception for their pieces.  The score inspired by avian invoked the sounds of a cluster of birds relying on the wind section and the inclusion of a flute solo.  The other piece was created by one of the trombonists.  He said when he was on an Africa safari, a cape buffalo got behind their jeep and lowered his horns in menacingly manner.  The trombones were the perfect winds to conjure up the ominous gargling sounds of the mammoth mammal.  Jekabson as the garrulous host and trumpeter welcomed the "newest member" of the orchestra.  We were told he was just joining them for the first time on bass.  Jekabson also paid tribute to former bandmates by playing some their jazz compositions written while with them.  The trumpeters played a number using plugs providing that unique, warbling timbre.  Electric Squeezebox gave an exuberant  performance in the 222's intimate setting for a full 90+ minutes that felt to me like ten.  I hope to hear them again.  BRAVO!