After hearing Lost in the Sauce at Bemis Hall for the Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library, some of us headed right around the corner to the Forge Room at the Colonial Inn in Concord for Jimmy Mazzy & The Last Minute Men.  The Forge Room of the 100-year-old Colonial Inn, is appropriate for Jimmy, whose mind is a repository of hundreds of gems going back to the early 1900's.   The band is called The Last Minute Men because you never know  how many musicians will appear at the last minute (like Craig Ball and Jeff Hughes). Jimmy and Moishe Feldman, a brilliant Russian pianist, play with a conglomerate of Friends EVERY Wednesday at the Colonial Inn, 7:45-10:45pm.

They were playing My Blue Heaven with Moishe Feldman on piano when we arrived.  Unfortunately, Moishe had to leave, but Carol Moeller took over the piano for My Buddy, with Jimmy vocal.  Carol's father was known as "Flying Fingers" and played for silent films.  Carol is a vivacious pianist and has been backing Jimmy for many years.

Craig Ball often drops in with his powerful, high register clarinet. Jeff Hughes was here too, with his 1923 King Liberty trumpet.  Dave First (retired?), on washbucket bass, Jack Martin and Framl Bachelor trombone, Derek Lane-Smith on concertina.

Jeff's specialty, Down By The Old Mill Stream, Composed and Published by Tell Taylor, started out reminiscent of  the old 1910 tune, but soon turned into barn-burning Traditional Jazz.  Nobody could sit still. The crowd was feeding off the band, and the band reciprocated.

On another note, Nick the bartender has been cheerfully serving this crowd for a long time, and this was his final day.  A collection was taken to help him on his way, and he was sent off with Carrie and the rest of us singing  We'll Meet Again.

One of life's great pleasures for the last forty-plus years has been, and still is, listening to Jimmy Mazzy sing and play banjo.  (Eat your heart out, Europe!)  The Colonial Inn is his home base - and a perfect venue for any Wednesday evening!  7:45-10:45pm.  Drop in sometime!