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April 20-21, 2013 It was an absolute BLAST!! Fifteen great New England, New York, New Jersey and Florida musicians assembled by the genius of Jeff Barnhart presented a kaleidoscope of marvelous, toe-tapping Traditional Jazz and Swing (and some of Your Father's Mustache, some Country and Rock) at the historic Schiavone home in Guilford, Connecticut. Featured on trumpet - Lew Green & Gordon Au; reeds - Noel Kaletsky & Joe Midiri; trombone - Craig Grant & Paul Midiri; piano - Jeff Barnhart & Ian Frenkel; banjo/guitar - Bob Price, John Gill, & Joel Schiavone; bass/tuba - Brian Nalepka & Frank Tate; drums - Tom Palinko, Kevin Dorn, and John Gill; vibes - Paul Midiri. This House Party started Saturday noon with non-stop music for four hours, continued Saturday evening and again Sunday. JazzMen were on the move constantly - in through one room, out through the other. (Move it! - one way only!) This was better than any Festival!! Joel and Donna opened their historic 1804 home, removed the furniture, and added padded chairs to two 'parlors'. The Green Room was in the kitchenette - but the musicians mingled with the crowd.
On to the fabulous music!! Lew Green led his group on Winin' Boy Blues, Jeff Barnhart vocal, Noel Kaletsky clarinet, Paul Midiri trombone, Brian Napelka tuba, John Gill drums. We finally had the opportunity to see and hear the multi-talented John Gill.
He was on guitar for a Country set honoring Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison (twice, by request.) The only tune that was repeated in these marvelous twelve hours. Harking back to the 50's and 60's he was accompanied by Jeff on piano, Brian on string bass, Kevin drums on Blueberry Hill. The fans were merrily singing along; Blue Suede Shoes, Jerry Lee Lewis's Great Balls of Fire. Jeff Barnhart led a Bix group, with Lew cornet, Craig trombone, Bob Price banjo, Joe Midiri clarinet, Palinko drums, Nalepka on tuba - Singing The Blues. He turned the 'stage' over to the Bass players - Brian Nalepka, bass and leader, supported by Joe, Bob, and Tom. Price's banjo took the intro to Keep Your Sunny Side Up, with Brian on vocal.
Jeff begins with the verse on Always, with Noel, Gordon, Craig, Bob on banjo, Frank string bass, and Tom drums. New York's Gordon Au, with a 1950's Selmer Trumpet from Paris similar to the one Louis Armstrong used, led the "Swing Six" with Riverboat Shuffle. Fabulous!Gordon leads a nice rendition of I Wish You Love, marvelous solos. The future of Traditional Jazz and Swing is in good hands with these two gentlemen from New York. It will be around for a long time. Thank you!
"Wild Man" Gordon shook the rafters .... with the help of Noel & Jeff, John Gill on drums, Bob Price banjo, Brian Nalepka tuba.
Craig Grant takes the lead on trombone for Lover Come Back To Me with Frank Tate on string bass, Palinko on drums. Kudos to the audience - they listenedd; there was no talking while the music was playing, we could even hear every note of Frank Tate's marvelous string bass.
Interlude with two great pianists, Jeff Barnhart reaches back to 1833 for Chopin's Clair de Lune, starting out seriously Classical, then jumping into Jazz. Ian Frankel chose an intricate, swinging You Do Something To Me.
It was way past the time for Joel's Banjo Set. We are all aware that the primary reason for the House Party is so Joel Schiavone can play his banjo to an appreciative, live audience, and lead his dedicated volunteers in the Sing-Alongs. Joel loves this; he's in his Glory reminiscing in Your Father's Mustache,.
Volunteers and fans were singing along, just like 'the good old days' Glory, Glory Hallelulia, Dixie, Carolina in the Morning, Mammy, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Daisy, And the Band Played On, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, and the grand finale - 1918 The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise (great trombone!)
This was the first time vibes were introduced at a Jeff and Joel's House Party, with the inimitable Midiri Brothers, with Paul on vibes, Joe reeds. Brother Joe challenged Noel Kaletsky to a duel on clarinet. Spectacular! Believe it or not, this lively tune is Sleep. Moonglow, Midiri Brothers set, with Ian Frankel piano, Frank Tate string bass, and Kevin Dorn drums. Paul Midiri solo on vibes with Irving Berlin's wistful What'll I Do. John Gill returned to the mic with guitar for American Roots – Rock & Roll. My Little Runaway, Folsom Prison. Jeff Barnhart dedicated You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog to Joel Schiavone. (We aren't going to touch that one!)
Jeff lead the Fats Set – with Frank Tate, Gordon, Price, Craig, Palinko, Noel. Jeff dedicated this one to the Stock Market, I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling; great string bass with Gordon comping on trumpet. Jeff expressed what everyone else was feeling - This Joint is Jumping! Jeff and Joel's House Party promotes and preserves Classic Traditional Jazz with twelve hours of toe-tapping Joyful Jazz, with a continuous flow of outstanding musicians playing with passion and intensity. This is only a small sample - you must experience this yourself. It has been said that This is better than an invitation to dinner at a fine restaurant and a show, and a lot more fun! Many thanks to all the Volunteers who made this possible! We're looking forward to the next one on October 11, 12 and 13, 2013. Jeff and Joel will present a special Friday night event: from Paris, France, Daniel Barda, trombone, and Alain Marquet, clarinet, members of the Paris Washboard, supported by many more outstanding musicians. www.pariswashboard.org, Hope to see you there! That weekend will sell out quickly - only 80 seats available per session. Get your tickets now! Registration Form
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