More than 300 music lovers had their souls refreshed by the Al Corey Big Band on a rainy Sunday afternoon in June at the Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center. The occasion was a well-deserved tribute to pianist and educator Gerry Wright, who has spent the best part of his 80 years sharing his musical acumen with young people and music lovers all over New England, our great country and the world.

From hard-driving, toe-tapping big band standards to haunting piano solos, the Al Corey Orchestra again demonstrated its world-class musicianship. I have, in my lifetime, had the privilege of hearing, live, the big bands of Count Basie, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Maynard Ferguson, Tony Pastor, Stan Kenton and others. The Al Corey Big Band has, for many years, been their equal and more — with our own home-grown talent — year after year after year. Many have played in some of the bands listed above.

The highlight of the afternoon was a Gerry Wright solo, “Emily,” played in Wright’s style of understated elegance. We could have heard a pin drop. Another feature was an Al Corey personal favorite, “Tenderly,” which Corey would play as a saxophone solo, but this day featured Wright and clarinetist Rick Gordon.

So from my soul, a big thank-you to Wright, to Brian Nadeau for keeping the band together after “Uncle Al’s” passing, and to each and every musician during the past 60-plus years for sharing with us your unparalleled gifts, making all of our lives so much richer.

Bob Woodbury

Winslow