Swing Band Gets Toes Tapping at Normandie Farm

Normandie Farm restaurant is known to most Potomac residents for its popovers, but for lovers of American music from the 1930s and 1940s, it is known as the place where the David Sager Swing Quintet plays every Thursday night.

The quintet has been playing in the lounge at Normandie Farm on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. since July. According to Sager, the musicians may change slightly each week, but the music is all swing and jazz. Songs like "New Orleans" by Hoagy Carmichael and "Save It Pretty Momma" by Don Redman are just two examples of the tunes played by Sager and his crew of professional musicians.

Sager can be found leading the quintet on trombone. Australian-native Anita Thomas, a regular member of the quintet, plays clarinet, saxophone or bass. Both musicians banter back and forth with the audience during their 3 sets.

Sager said the audience seems to grow each week as word gets around about the group.

By day, Sager works at the Motion Picture, Broadcast and Recording Sound Division at the Library of Congress and Thomas is a student at Frederick Community College studying to be a surgical technician. In fact, last week Thomas performed her first set in her scrubs, after having rushed through heavy rush-hour traffic just in time for the 6 p.m. start time.

Sager comes from a family of musicians. Growing up, he and his brother learned to play instruments and a cousin taught music. Sager's strongest influence came from his uncle, Leon Brusilloff, conductor of the Metropolitan Police Boys Band as well as the Theatre Orchestra in D.C.

Sager moved to New Orleans to pursue his passion for jazz and American music from the 30s and 40s. Within the 12 years he lived there, he met his future wife. It was also in New Orleans that he met his mentor, Banu Gibson and began a 25-year association with the band New Orleans Hot Jazz.

Anita Thomas has been in the United States for 10 years and in the D.C. area for more than 2 years.

On Thursday, Sept. 15 traffic was at a standstill on the beltway because of heavy rain, but all was swinging in the lounge at Normandie Farm. Several tables of swing and jazz fans had come just to hear the quintet.

Audrey Van Dyke, a member of the Potomac River Jazz Club, dined on the famous popovers and thumped her feet to the music.

"It takes a lot to bring an Alexandria resident to Potomac on a weeknight in rush hour traffic, but Dave and company have what it takes," Van Dyke said.  

Debbie and Bob Lew, also members of the Jazz Club, danced to the music in the corner of the room. The couple celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary.

"These are some of the best musicians around," Debbie said.

Local residents were also in attendance and warmly embraced the sound of the quintet.

"You guys are great. Really, really great," said a woman at the end of a set.

Sager can sometimes be found at the restaurant's monthly jam session led by David Robinson. Other regular members of the quintet are Brooks Tegler, on drums. Thomas is a regular, but also waiting on word of a possible upcoming gig in Singapore. On Thursday, Sept. 15 Dan Hall played bass and Victor Prudovsky was on piano.