Meet Peter McEachern, ‘Dean’ of NW CT Jazz
His trombone is a familiar sight at school, at camp, and on stage
Peter McEachern (photo courtesy Peter McEachern)
We all have favored environments in which to listen to music, and of course, those environments can change to match our mood – sometimes it’s the intimacy of a small club where you can almost literally reach out and touch the musicians (I just got a flash memory of leaning over from our table at The Side Door and offering drummer Jonathan Barber part of our dessert tray). Sometimes it’s the wide open skies of an outdoor show. Sometimes the implied gravitas of a 1,500-seat theater.
Hands down, though, there is no place I enjoy listening to jazz more than while I’m driving on a back country road. The curves, dips and climbs of a two-lane highway, the verdant majesty of the tall maples, oaks, and pines around me, and the uncrowded nature of these secondary byways all lend themselves to really absorbing the soundtrack of the flow and swing of a good jazz CD (the experience is also helped if you’re one of the few hardcore drivers left who drives a stick shift).
One of my favorite “CD testing” roads in the 8495 is CT Route 4 between the rotary (traffic circle for you non-New Englanduhs) in Goshen and Sharon. Through the Housatonic Valley town of Cornwall, past the Appalachian Trail trailhead just west of the river, and up Sharon Mountain, the road is a gift to the spirit of movement that a good song augments.
Just west of Goshen, at a dip in the road next to the Marshepaug River, sits an old mill building impressively restored. Coming eastbound, a sporty driver will shift down for a wide lefthand curve, straighten up, cross the river (which, like many New England rivers, is really just a brook), then hit the gas as you climb away from the river and the mill, which now houses the gallery of painter and muralist Danielle Mailer and the offices of the Litchfield Jazz Festival. And for trombonist Peter McEachern, the building holds numerous connections. He is Danielle’s husband. He has taught at the Litchfield Jazz Camp longer than just about anybody. Oh, and he and his brother own the building.
Peter is a native of Westfield, MA, but has been a fixture of the northwestern Connecticut arts community for decades. He’s been the chair of the music department at Salisbury School, a boarding prep school for boys, for 20 years. And he’s been teaching at the Litchfield camp since 1998; to the best of his recollection, nobody has served longer on the faculty of the camp other than saxophonist Mike DiRubbo.
Keeping it fresh, Peter also released his latest album, Streamin’, in November on the Truth Revolution Records label under the Peter McEachern Quintet name. The record has garnered a very positive notice from Stereophile reviewer Thomas Conrad: “McEachern makes you think of trombonists like Curtis Fuller and Grachan Moncur III. He has that bluster. He sounds like he might knock you down if you got in his way.”
I don’t think Peter is the knock-you-down type, though he did have slight issue with one of Conrad’s assertions, that he “is an accomplished trombonist with a small discography.”
“I don’t know that I have that small of a discography,” Peter told 8495Jazz. “I do compared to jazz stars. I know my place is further down the totem pole and it is what it is – but I don’t think it’s that small.”
Indeed, he has released recorded music steadily, both as a leader – with six CD’s under his name, the first released in 1993 – and as a sideman or combo member; he recalled that he’s on three with legendary Americana/blues legend Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, and three with the New England Jazz Ensemble.
“Things work out differently for many musicians,” Peter said philosophically.
And, with Streamin’, one can almost discern a thumbnail timeline of Peter’s distinguished tenure in the regional jazz firmament, blending his experience as a teacher with that of a gigging musician. He met three members of the quintet – saxophonist Noah Preminger, pianist Julian Shore, and bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere – as students at the jazz camp. And he’s long collaborated with drummer Michael Sarin, who played regularly with Peter and the late bassist Mario Pavone over the years.
As for the philosophy behind the record, Peter said he wanted to recall the tone of some of his work with Mario as well as make an album with some popular appeal.
“I wanted to give a nod to my work with Mario, because he had passed, so there are some things that are angular. But I also wanted it to be accessible and swing. It’s meant to be a hybrid of those concepts. I didn’t want the music to be overly hard because as great as these players are I knew we wouldn’t have much rehearsal time, and as it turns out we never had a full rehearsal before we recorded it.”
The album was recorded at Stone Studio in Austerlitz, NY, and in keeping with the artistic imperative to keep one’s ears open, one of the songs, “Steamroller,” was inspired by a road crew doing work on the dirt road outside the studio during the recording sessions: “It shook the whole building and we had to stop several times,” Peter said.
Of course, there are more aesthetically pleasing non-musical inspirations he takes from other sources, such as his wife’s visual arts work.
“Her use of color is so vibrant and rich, and that has a good effect on me,” Peter said. “And also, a lot of her compositions have a lot of movement in them. There’s a lot of motion and momentum and that affects me. But also, conversely, she gets inspired by the music I do – we work off each other.
Painting by Danielle Mailer (Courtesy Peter McEachern)
“We all get fed by all the arts. That makes the ones we focus on that much more rich.”
We all get fed by all the arts, and Peter, whether he’s entertaining at a gig or teaching the next generation, is among those who help ensure the table is never empty.
Speaking of Litchfield…
The fine folks at Litchfield Performing Arts have announced the lineup for this year’s Litchfield Jazz Festival, which will be held July 24-26 at the stunningly bucolic Frederick Gunn School campus in Washington, CT.
The festival, the 31st, will honor the legacy of its affiliated jazz camp, now celebrating its 30th year, which has tutored some of the most talented jazz musicians on the scene.
“All the players on this year’s main stage have deep roots in the camp and its development,” LPA executive director Vita West Muir said in announcing the lineup. “These top-flight artists will be delighted to see you there!”
For the full schedule, which begins with the festival’s traditional Friday night gala, and lineup, click here. Public ticket sales start Feb. 17.
Matt Dwonszyk’s latest record is on the way
Bassist Matt Dwonszyk, whom 8495Jazz refers to as the regional jazz scene’s Mr. Everywhere, has recorded a new album, Live At The Side Door, with an official release date of March 6. The first single, “Morning Dreams,” was released Friday.
Matt told 8495Jazz he’ll be promoting the new collection at shows at clubs in New York and in Connecticut: March 3rd - Smalls Jazz Club, NYC; March 10th - Ornithology Jazz Club, NYC; March 14th - The Side Door Jazz Club, Old Lyme, CT; April 1st - Black Eyed Sally’s, Hartford.
Ken Peplowski dies
Woodwind master Ken Peplowski, who was a regular performer at many clubs and festivals in New England, died last Sunday in his cabin on the Jazz Cruise ‘26. He was 66.
He had been battling multiple myeloma, but at press time, no cause of death had been released. He was remembered by numerous colleagues as a talented, humorous, and kind man.
“A brilliant musician, a pioneer of the clarinet, and a gentle soul, he touched so many people through his artistry,” pianist Emmet Cohen said on his Facebook page. “Ken contained a quirky, comedic genius, and would light up any room or stage. We played some incredible gigs on The Jazz Cruise this week, and shared a beautiful moment on stage just last night. He took a captivating solo on “Night in Tunisia,” and kissed me on the cheek after introducing the band. I can’t believe he left us so soon— only 66 years young — but forever etched in our hearts.”
“Steamroller,” off the Peter McEachern Quintet’s Streamin’ album, was inspired by a road maintenance steam roller that interrupted the album’s recording sessions. In Stereophile, reviewer Thomas Conrad said the album “sits squarely in the center of the great hard bop tradition,” and “contains so much creativity and commitment that it reaffirms the vitality of its genre.”
Out and About with 8495Jazz
These listings are a curated sampling of shows in the region. As an independent resource for jazz news, 8495Jazz does not receive any consideration, free tickets, or affiliate fees for these listings. Please confirm events are still happening directly with the venue.
8495Jazz Mardi Gras Gig Guide
In case we have been mentally lost in the coldcold cold and snow that won’t melt, here’s a reminder Mardi Gras is fast approaching, and even though the 8495Jazz world headquarters is 1400 miles from Frenchmen Street, there are numerous shows celebrating the Fat Tuesday spirit coming up from local jazz luminaries as well as visiting NOLA musicians. So get those beads out!
The Taft School, Watertown, CT
TJ Thompson and Friends (combo), Saturday, Feb. 14, 7 pm. TJ is a fixture on the NW CT music scene and his annual Mardi Gras gig at the school’s Woodward Chapel is always a full house. Doors at 6:30, so plan accordingly. No mention of cover, but it’s always been free in the past. BYOB. Snacks, set-ups, and refreshments available, or bring your own.
The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
Glen David Andrews (trombone, combo), Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 pm. Glen David is a scion of a fabled Treme jazz family (Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is his cousin). Glen David has been touring since the age of 14 with the New Birth, Lil Rascals, and Treme brass bands as well as on his own. Suggested donation $30.
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
Calvin Johnson & Native Son (sax, combo), Sunday, Feb. 15, 6 pm. GA $30.15-$41.79 including service fee.
Sacred Heart University Community Theater, Fairfield, CT
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Mardi Gras Mambo (accordion, combo), Friday, Feb. 13, 8 pm. GA $37-$42 including service fee.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gig TODAY
Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, MA
Sunday Serenades: An Afternoon of Duke Ellington feat. Alain Mallet and Edmar Colon, 3 pm. GA $34 including service fee.
Other Upcoming Shows
Palace Theater Poli Club, Waterbury, CT
Albert Rivera Quintet (sax, combo), Friday, Feb. 13, 7 and 9 pm. GA $40 including service fee.
Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
Baby Grand Jazz, Meg Okura and the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (violin, combo) today, 3 pm. Free.
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra, Monday, Feb. 9, 7:30 pm. Free.
Social Bar & Kitchen, New London, CT
Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra, Saturday, Feb. 14, 6 and 8:30 pm. GA $15 advance, $29 day of show (ticket good for one set).
Pump House Music Works, S. Kingstown, RI
Dan Moretti Acoustic Jazz Sextet (sax, combo), Sunday, Feb. 15, 6 pm. $25 advance, $30 at the door.
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
David Morgan (piano, combo), Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:30 and 8:45 pm. GA $20.76, student/vet $15.76 for 7:30 show, GA $10.76 for 8:45 show.
Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Instantiations feat. Adam Matlock (accordion, combo improv), Sunday, Feb. 15, 2:30 pm. GA $16.50 including service fee.
Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA
Hellbender (fusion combo), Thursday, Feb. 12, 8 pm. GA $17.85 including service fee.
Jams
Cafe Nine, New Haven CT
New Haven Jazz Underground jam, usually 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month: free admission
Saturday jazz jam most Saturdays, 4 pm. Free.
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesdays, featured set 7 pm, jam session afterward.
Carmine’s, East Hartford, CT
Paisley’s All Star Memorial Jam, various Tuesdays, click link for dates, 7:30 pm. House band set followed by jam. Free.
Mahoney’s, Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie Jazz Project, every Tuesday, 7 pm. Free.
Park City Music Hall, Bridgeport, CT
Scott Cushman and Friends followed by jam, first Wednesday of the month.
The Parlour, Providence, RI
First Sunday Jam (first Sunday of the month) with Ben Shaw Quartet followed by jam, music starts at 6. Jammers $5, audience $10.
The Blue Room, Cranston, RI
Newport Jazz Presents Jam Sessions, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 8 pm. House band followed by jam.
Groton Hill Music Center, Groton, MA
Jams every second Tuesday of the month through June, 7 pm. $10 at the door, no advance sales.
Jazz Societies and Organizations (great info on events, festivals, and more)
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
Jazz Fridays at Three Sheets New Haven 1st/3rd Fridays from 6-9pm
Jazz Thursdays at The Cannon New Haven every other Thurs from 7-9pm.
8495Jazz takes its name from the two Interstate highways that cross our region, I-84 and I-95. Within short driving distances from either, you can find incredible entertainment, from local jams to world-famous festivals in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 8495Jazz: From Newburgh to Newport!
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