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MUSIC Ashland swing band's musical heritage kept alive Easy Valley Eight's sheet music arrangements passed along to 238 West combo Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 7, 2016 at 6:55 PM Updated Mar 7, 2016 at 7:20 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 7, 2016 at 6:55 PM Updated Mar 7, 2016 at 7:20 PM » Social News With the passing of several members, Ashland’s Easy Valley Eight swing band faded into retirement, as did its compendium of some 300 unique arrangements of classic dance songs, many by local Dave Richardson. One veteran member of the swing band, trombonist Dave Hoxie, realized those old “charts” had to be, not only saved, but revived and played by a new band. He made that happen — and the new group, called “238 West,” has started rehearsals featuring several players from the old band and all that old, magic music. The band, named after the highway that members travel for rehearsals, is “not perfect yet, but it has that sound of a Big Band with only half the members,” says Joe Fascilla on trumpet. “It’s an eight-piece band and we play out of that amazing book.” When they get it down, he adds, they’ll be playing at service clubs, wineries, dances and Howie’s on Front Street in Medford. “It’s mostly older folks who love this music,” says Fascilla, “but we see it catching on with high school kids, too.” The swing music library from Easy Valley Eight is one of nine that Hoxie knows about that are scattered all over the country. Musicians are working to preserve the caches in some safe repository accessible to the public. The music was kept by Ashland lawyer Bert Cottle, leader of the Easy Valley Eight, but he died a few years ago, passing it off to band member Warren Moore of Ashland, who is now in his 80s, and retired from playing. He passed it to Hoxie, who stores it in a rehearsal hall upstairs in his garage in Central Point. The Easy Valley Eight was the house band for Standing Stone Brewery and played their final gig there in January 2012. Bassist Bruce McKern, a member of both the old and new bands, says, “It’s a lot of fun to revisit this great swing music. It’s a great book (compendium). These guys were young adults in that era, the '30s and '40s, and really knew it. But there’s been a lot of attrition and we’re a lot older.” The arranger of the book, Richardson, was not in the Easy Valley Eight, but, says McKern “his arrangements were really well-thought out and innovative, with great voicing, very playable, enriching to listen to and play. He could dash off a song with eight pieces in 10 minutes.” Drummer Dave Hegdahl, who had Moore for his band director at Ashland Junior High School, is a veteran of the Easy Valley Eight, the spinoff band and many other swing bands. He says the 300 “charts” they’ve inherited are “top flight, so much material there, the drum book alone is amazing. They’re so well-written and designed to dancers. “It’s great to have a band back together. Hoxie picked up all his music and now has put it together with new people. It’s one of a kind. If we had lost this music, it would have been gone forever ... We rehearse every other week. Our musicianship level is so high, we all can sight-read it ... It won’t get into the landfill now.” Asked their favorite songs or bands, the musicians said there’s just so much of it, it’s hard to narrow down to a few, but up came the names of Count Basie, Billy Strayhorn, "American Patrol," "Sentimental Journey," "In the Mood" and "Here’s That Rainy Day." Jim Lambert, a roadie for the Easy Valley Eight, says, “The charts have a unique quality." Moore adds, “His arrangements were just fantastic and I couldn’t think of a better solution than to pass them off to the new band. The more people play it, the more another person gets to be a piece of the puzzle, so this amazing music lives on through the human connection.” Morgan Cottle, an Ashland teacher and son of Bert Cottle, says “Now the music lives on in honor of both the composers and the arranger. There’s something about this music. You just want to get up and dance to it.” That first rehearsal of 238 West, several weeks ago, says McKern, “was quite a trip down memory lane. We’re working with a lot of great arrangements. We had such a good time with Easy Valley Eight. They were a lot of good guys. Now this band is bringing a fresh perspective.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 7, 2016 at 6:55 PM Updated Mar 7, 2016 at 7:20 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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