Rock and roll revivals, or, rather, doo wop and r’n’b seem to the the mainstay of public teevee fundraising these days. Would that there were an equivalent for the oldtimers of jazz.

Saxophonist Illinois Jacquet put on a fine and fun show for a joyously receptive audience of varied ages. Jacquet has his own big band which, in themselves, were not particularly interesting except when playing full tilt, but Jacquet’s wit and the unnamed arranger were the heroes of the night. The pieces were all delightfully short and concise, as if they were being recorded for 78s, yet they played for a good two hours plus two encores without intermission.

The horns, man, the horns. Sure, there was a bass and piano and a young, happy, time-playing drummer with an unrelenting grin and bobbing head, but the sonorities of the twelve horns, not counting the leader’s own, were a real treat for tired ears. The orchestration of the two altos, two tenors, baritone sax, four trumpets, and three ‘bones had the sonic effect of good chocolate truffles, dark and bittersweet, and very little added sugar.

Players were singled out for some solos, and some played hot and some by-the-number. The blond trombonist (I could not get his name by press time) was the strongest player in the band, subtle yet solid. Trumpeter Sean Jones was introduced with enthusiasm by Jacquet, and ran an exciting solo. “A young man from Youngstown, Ohio,” announced the leader. “That’s in America.”

Jacquet’s getting-old, loss of memory schtick was sweet, and left the audience in apt doubt how much was real and how much was a put-on. He entered with a walking stick, in a bright red valet jacket, and sat in a comfortable swivel chair, to play and to conduct the band. Looking toward the band, with brilliant timing, he’d ask, “What’s the name of this?” or “I’m working under a handicap tonight.” Pause. “I’m sober.” Switching from tenor sax to alto, he warned, “these two don’t get along,” telling of the instruments’ jealousies, and indeed the alto gave him a lot of trouble starting up, but that didn’t get him down.