There was a light breeze in Leiper’s Fork on August 11th, and lots of cool jazz thanks to a four hour performance by Laurie Wheeler and Nash deVille. The band celebrated signing their latest collection of songs with Summit Records by holding a free concert at Leiper’s Fork Antiques. Tunes from their 12-song CD released August 6, “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be”, drew in a dynamic crowd estimated at two hundred. Through the course of the three-set performance, l i s t e n e r s spilled in, out and about the store and across the street on the sunny and unseasonably lovely Sunday afternoon. Food and iced drinks set up behind store owner Marty Hunt’s four-sided counter further encouraged the ongoing flow of visitors and residents. All ears were locked into the band’s unique spin on big band classics and rarities. The aisles surrounded by Hunt’s wares were packed with audience members sitting and standing. Cleared space and a state of the art sound system provided the band with perfect staging as the music streamed outside through the open doors.

The entire album was represented including the rarely performed version of Duke Pearson’s “Jeanine” with an arrangement twist that gives the effect of music moving by as if in a slow cruising car, and the obscure Nat King Cole song “I Like to Riff”, from his early days of bebop piano. This is a song that relies heavily on improvisation as expressed in big band fashion. The Count Basie classic “Lil’ Darlin” -- written by Neal Hefty -- is given a special sound by Laurie and band with punchy vocals in place of horns, juxtaposed with more spaces than tones. The small town event provided a unique and intimate atmosphere for the show of appreciation by the Wheelers who live near the village. By all appearances from that summer afternoon, the feeling is mutual.
“Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” can be found at Leiper’s Fork Antiques as well as Tower Records, Barnes & Noble and Borders Book Store.