Here’s an intriguing question. How can an album win an award for Best Traditional Western music at the Western Heritage Awards …and simultaneously be ranked 7th in The Times’ top jazz albums of 2024? The conundrum was answered by Hilary Gardner’s London debut, showcasing her album On The Trail (Anzic).
This album came into being, following research, post-pandemic, into an overlooked area of American music, namely the trail songs of the 1930’s and 40’s. The link with jazz was that many of these songs were written by the likes of Benny Carter, Frank Loesser and Johnny Mercer for Broadway shows and big bands of the era – those led by Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Gene Krupa, for example. As a result, these cowboy songs have a jazz architecture and Hilary Gardner has successfully managed to amalgamate the western and jazz worlds of music. Hilary is not a lone voice in this. Jazz musicians such as John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Julian Lage (who has also recorded “Call of the Canyon”) have recently shown interest in this area of Americana.
What was so enjoyable about this show was how familiar numbers from the 1930’s were transformed and presented by this formidable band of musicians. Tempos were modified, vocals harmonies added and altered to demonstrate not just the durability of these trail songs but also the strong melodies that underpin these songs.
Hilary’s vocals have a lovely purity together with an underlying warmth, perfect for this material. She duetted with Sasha Papernik who also has a lovely soprano voice. “The Ballad of High Noon” was pared back for a sparse musical treatment that only served to highlight the harmonies of a plaintive duet. There were wistful numbers that seemed to reflect the loneliness of the open ranges. “Silver on the Sage” with its compelling vocals was a tender lullaby dedicated to dogies (which Hilary informed us were motherless calves). Their version of “It Happened in Monterey” was slowed down from original brash Sinatra big band version into a gently swinging ballad with a sweet duet from Hilary and Sasha together with an accordion solo.
Of course there were more upbeat numbers. “Under Fiesta Stars” was played almost as a rumba with Flavio Li Vigni laying down the beat. Don’t Fence Me In featured tight trio vocals from Hilary, Sasha and Justin Poindexter in the vein of the Boswell Sisters. Justin also added a spacey guitar solo reminiscent of Frisell’s work. Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson’s “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” featured tight trio vocals and was much more pacier when compared to original version. “I’m an Old Cowhand” (a Johnny Mercer composition) showed how these trail songs could really swing and gave space for a jazzy improvised solo from Justin.
A special mention to Ed Babar and Flavio Li Vigni who contributed to a memorable evening. They combined so well together behind the rest of the band and had their chance to let loose a couple of times playing improvised solos.
Photo credit: John McGloin
BAND
Hilary Gardner (vocals)
Justin Poindexter (guitar, vocals)
Sasha Papernik (accordion, vocals)
Ed Babar (acoustic bass)
Flavio Li Vigni (drums)
Setlist
Navajo Trail
Under Fiesta Stars
Don’t Fence Me In
Cool Clear Water
The Ballad of High Noon
Cow Cow Boogie
It Happened in Monterey
I’m an Old Cowhand
Silver on the Sage
Rosa’s Cantina
Jingle Jangle Jingle (I Got Spurs)
Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys
Happy Trails to You
