THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9601310151
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
ANDY PENCOLA comes from a family of jazz musicians. You can bank on its being obvious when his four-piece band performs Feb. 11, at American Legion Post 49.
The event is billed as an ``oldies dance,'' meaning it will swing to the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and, most prominently, Duke Ellington. It'll be the music of the 1930s and '40s, with a smidgen from the '60s.
``No question in my mind,'' Pencola offered, ``Duke's the greatest writer of jazz music who ever lived.''
And, he said, ``Duke Ellington is the most challenging. The number that always goes over best is `Take the A Train.' People always get out on the dance floor when we start playing that one.''
Benny Goodman's ``After You've Gone'' and other arrangements will be performed.
``We also play some Mickey Mouse,'' Pencola said - not referring to the Disney rodent but the somewhat derogatory term swingsters of the '40s attached to such ``sweet-not-swing'' bands as Guy Lombardo and Sammy Kaye.
``We play some `Sentimental Journey'-type music. Those songs are not a real stretch,'' Pencola said. `` `Sophisticated Lady,' `You Go To My Head' - songs like those are far more challenging.''
He promises to play it all - the tough stuff, the soft sounds and - here is where he dips into the '60s - Latin-flavored items such as bossa nova, samba ``and a lot of material by Antonio Carlos Jobim.'' For the uninitiated, he wrote such tunes as ``The Girl From Ipanema.''
Pencola also does some writing, usually jazz-flavored items. He wrote ``Crack in the Sidewalk,'' an adaptation of ``Under the Sycamore Tree,'' with music by Pencola, music and lyrics by Woody Chapman.
It was a very well received Smithfield Little Theatre presentation.
Pencola's next goal is a six-week series of Sunday afternoon dances in the area.
Meanwhile, he keeps busy as a music teacher, working with 60 students, individually. Lessons are given at the Reynolds Drive home he shares with his wife, Isabella.
Collectively, Pencola started orchestras at Carrollton Elementary School and Hardy Elementary in Isle of Wight County.
Pencola, 43, Smithfield born-and-raised, was a bank officer. ``I felt a deep calling for music,'' he said. ``I took the chance, and it paid off. I'm able to support myself doing the thing I love the most.''
Chalk it up to heredity.
``I come from a family of jazz musicians,'' he said. ``Grandpa played in jazz bands. My uncle, Hank Burnette, was with Tommy Dorsey. My uncle, Jimmy Joyner, was offered a job with Buddy Rich, but was unable to go on the road.
``Grandpa's brother, Frank Burnette, conducted the Dixie Cats,'' Pencola said. ``Before that, he was a song 'n' dance man in vaudeville, playing on bills with Jack Benny and other big names.
``As for me, I'm pretty much consumed with music,'' he said. ``My passion and my hobby are all one thing.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Andy Pencola will bring his band to the American Legion Post 49 in
Smithfield on Feb. 11.
by CNB