What a fantastic way to spend a Labor Day Weekend Sunday!  Bright sunshine, ocean breeze, cruising up and down the Cape Cod Canal on the Viking, listening to great jazz!  Most of the 90 people were on board for the boat cruise.  Thirty were on board to celebrate a wedding. But all left with a new appreciation of Traditional/Dixieland Jazz.

The water in Onset Bay was more choppy than usual, maybe left-overs from Irene, or anticipating Katia and/or Lee.  This IS hurricane season.  But conditions on the boat felt warm and friendly, and the waves quieted when we entered the Cape Cod Canal. The Bourbon Street Paraders hit the Patty Page standard, Old Cape Cod.

On shore, there were people riding bikes, walking dogs, kids flying kites, in-line skating on both sides of the Canal.   An occasional blue heron would cock his head looking for the source of the sax sound floating across the water.   We were listening to Sidney Bechet's Le Marchand de Poisson. (The Fish Vendor).  

Michel's banjo introduced Hello Dolly, with Lee singing, then on sax, segueing to Babe and then Masquerade.
The musicians work well together, Lee generally taking the first chorus, then Michel on banjo with Rick backing him on tuba, then vice-versa, with the tuba playing the melody and the banjo taking the chords.  Steady, continuous  jazz!

As we slip under the Sagamore bridge, they go into Chris Barber's theme song, then Baby Won't You Please Come Home.   Further up, we pass small boats exiting the Sandwich Marina,  Many boats are still out of the water because of Hurricane Irene.

Now we've navigated the whole Cape Cod Canal and find ourselves in Cape Cod Bay, where the boat will do a slow turn and head back down the Canal.

The band takes a break and heads downstairs to the inner deck, where family & friends are having a surprise wedding reception for Bonnie & Travis, who were married the previous day. 

The band soon returns to the top deck for requests from Frank and Sue Noonan of East Wareham, who own a music store at 2856 Cranberry Highway.  He plays trombone and bass trumpet in a New Bedford band that visits nursing homes in the area. Good choices - Muskrat Ramble, Margie.  Then the Bourbon Street Paraders move into an incredible Apex Blues and After You've Gone, starting nice and easy, then fast and wild, the banjo and tuba racing.  The crowd loves it!  The Cape, sunshine,  ocean breeze, and Dixieland jazz. It's spectacular!

Calming down, Michel begins a tune we've never heard before, from a corny 1942 WWII movie, The Fleet's In.  (It didn't get much play, ( I was 6.)   Great vocal by Lee - I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight,  about someone who can never be forgotten:

"I'm stepping out with a memory tonight,
To paint the town the way we used to do.
I'll dine at the old cafe where we had so much fun,
And order cocktails for two, instead of the usual one.
Then after dark in a hansom through the park,
While reminiscing, I'll be kissing you.
A lot of folks may think that I'm crazy,
Well maybe they're right
But I'm stepping out with a memory tonight."

Enough corn - they took it up tempo again with a famous New Orleans tune, very difficult to play, filled with curves, nuances and inflections - South Rampart Street Parade.  Lee prefers playing low register, but holds long sustained notes on the soprano sax with this tune, hitting a radiant high register. Wow!

We're back to the MMA - Massachusetts Maritime Academy, at the beginning of the Cape Cod Canal.  Tour is almost over - it's time for the Finale.

After three hours of almost constant playing, you'd expect the band to take it easy.  Not this group!

Onset Bay is still choppy, but we're 'shining away our blues'ies' with an exhilarating Shine.  A Russian lady on board (coincidentally named Irena) has just become an American Citizen this week at the TD Garden in Boston (with a few thousand others.) The group welcomes her with a scorching Midnight in Moscow, a hit tune in 1961 recorded by a British jazz group, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.

Now we're sailing around an island, avoiding the lobster traps.   The audience is really wound up.  Some are standing in the aisles, dancing.  The Paraders add fuel with another request from the Noonans, Sheik of Araby, and then an incendiary At The Jazz Band Ball.   

We're approaching the dock.  Lee starts a stimulating strain of The Saints, and the crowd cheers.  This is actually a song they've heard before!!   But he doesn't go there.  Quick segue into Mama Don't 'low - introducing the Flying Frenchman Michel Lavigniac, and Rick MacWilliams.  Then "Mama don't 'low no singing and dancing in here!"  Too late.  The aisle is full of gyrating people, clapping and dancing to Mardi Gras! 

All saying they'll be back next year.   See you!!

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The Viking moves to Florida in the wintertime for more fun and frolics. 

Sundays Lee moves to the Top of The Hub in Boston on clarinet with Kurt Wenzel piano 1-5pm.

Wednesdays Lee Childs and Kurt Wenzel at Del Mar Chatham Bar & Bistro  907 Rt. 28, Chatham, MA 508.945.9988 6-9:30pm until Labor Day.  Mondays and Tuesdays he'll be Diamond Jim Brady at Isaac's in Plymouth for the winter.

Thursday and Saturday Lee Childs and Kurt Wenzel at Embargo, 453 Main St. Hyannis, MA 508-771-9700 6-9PM.

Friday Lee Childs & Kurt Wenzel at Alberto's, 360 Main St. Hyannis MA, 508.778.1770, 6:30-10:30pm

September 24th, 10am-2pm The Bourbon St. Paraders Quartet will be at the Golden Ball Tavern on Main St. in Weston, MA. This very successful Fundraiser features Antique Dealers from several states and is held every year on the last Saturday in September at the Golden Ball Tavern  built 1768, on Rt. 20 (bypass) in Weston, Massachusetts. Lee Childs's Bourbon Street Quartet has been entertaining at this Antiques Show for 25 years. They stroll around the grounds of the Tavern which are converted into a huge antique show with over 140 dealers. Food and alcoholic beverages are served all day. Rain or shine. Hope to see some jazz fans there!  Great opportunity to hear this great Dixieland Jazz Band for FREE!

Lee Childs Bourbon Street Paraders Trio will return to the Cape Cod Canal 3-hour Jazz Cruise Sundays beginning the end of June, 2012, 1:30pm-4:30pm for their 32nd year at Onset Pier, 184 Onset Avenue, Onset, on Hyline's Viking.  www.hylinecruises.com  or 800.492.8082.  Bright sunshine, ocean breeze, cruising up and down the Cape Cod Canal, listening to great Dixieland Jazz!  The world's longest continuous jazz gig!