The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival and The Connecticut Blues Society

present

The Jazz & Blues Extravaganza

The Festival Band 2011

The Festival Band consisted of Charlie Freeman piano (not pictured), Mike Hashem banjo, Craig Ball clarinet, Al Bernard tuba, Scott Philbrick cornet, Steve Taddeo drums, and Harry Arnold trombone.   From the first note, their high energy level ignited the crowd.  First time they ever played together,  it’s all spontaneous.  They listen to each other and respond.  These musicians are skilled at their instrument, play emotional and imaginative solos, and fiery ensembles.

Scott Philbrick has been a capable and resourceful manager of the Festival Band for most of its 25 years.

Scott played Boston hotels as a teenager (where he first met Bobby Hackett) and clubs including the infamous “Lenny’s on the Turnpike”.  He started a 30-year stint in TV production at age 19 on the Dave Garroway Show and appeared many times playing trumpet with the likes of Arthur Fiedler and B.B. King.  He’s played with Doc Cheatham, “Big Chief” Russel Moore, Buzzy Drootin (one of Bobby’s favorite drummers), Tommy Newsome, Bob Havens, Leon Redbone, Dave McKenna, Cy Laurie, B.B King, Vince Giordano, Jimmy Mazzy, Turk Murphy, Banu Gibson, Jerry Fuller, Ted Goddard, Spiegel Wilcox, Neville Dickie, George Masso, Eddie Hubble, Bob Crosby Bobcats, Major Holley, Eddie Davis, Cynthia Sayer, and Gray Sargent.

He’s been named New England Musician of the year, and has a 4-year chair at the Royal Academy of Music in his name for jazz trumpet of which he’s extremely proud

Scott had ‘fond memories’ of the early festival days.   Everybody Loves My Baby reminded him when: “Playing on the Steam Train was not fun – Jeff Barnhart joined them several times for an added front line.”    “Lake Greenberg” at TGCTJF in the early Essex days,  (when 2X10 boards were laid across streams so people could go from tent to tent after a heavy downpour).   And the night at the camp when all the lights went out and they had no sound system. We were there – The bands sounded GREAT!   Candles were set on the paths so folks could find their way back to their cabins.

Ed Metz Sr. was one of the early piano players.   Ted DesPlantes filled in when we lost Ed.  Having Charlie Freeman play with the band this day was a real treat. 

Charlie Freeman provides the backbone for many Dixieland Jazz Bands, big bands, and other music combos in New England

Craig Ball is leader of the White Heat Swing Orchestra and plays reeds with Lost in the Sauce and the Seacoast Stompers..

Mike Hashem was featured on full chord melody style banjo and vocal with Somebody Stole My Gal.  Scotty asked for requests and was bombarded from all sides!  He settled for Avalon. “Key of F – the peoples’ key,”  featuring Craig on clarinet and Steve drumming, backed by by Charlie Freeman’s magical skills on piano.  

Steve Taddeo of Waltham, Massachusetts had ample opportunity to display his Gene Krupa style.  He has studied Krupa’s every move, and absorbed his style with a passion, from the drum-walk-around, to making GK faces.  Dr. Jazzwas a hot one,   the front line on fire, Hashem  blazing away on banjo, Al’s prodding, pulsating tuba. 

Al is devoted to this music, and drives from Rockport, Massachusetts to anywhere in or out of New England to where he can play that mammoth tuba.

He definitely expands the musical aspects of the tuba – makes it look so easy, and fun.

Steam Trains are his other avocation; he is an Engineer, and you’ll find him spending weekends on the Steam Trains  in New Hampshire.

Steve was featured in a GK drum-walk-around on Dinah, but was hampered by the lack of front steps.    He usually picks up a crash cymbal by its stand and carries it around the room, alternately drumming on the cymbal and anything else within reach, tables, chairs, drinking glasses, bar bottles, without missing a beat.  That cymbal is a 1939 Zildjian Crash Cymbal from Buddy Schutz, who played with the Benny Goodman Big Band.  That loud crash at the end of “And The Angels Sing” was this cymbal.

He considered jumping off the stage, but probably would end up with a broken leg. 

He had to settle for drumming on the mic stand and Buddy Schutz’s cymbal.  

Scott called for dueling banjos from the movie “Deliverance”.  But they only had one banjo – Mike Hashem. So Al provided the second banjo on his tuba. Al emulating Mike almost note for note.  This is a real trial for the tuba!  Then the banjo took off with several other tunes,  Al closely following right behind him. Unbelievable!!  (Albie and Mike started this routine at Sweeney’s Gay Nineties in Rowley, MA in the 70’s, when the Deliverance movie first was released.)

On a more serious note, The Sheik of Araby was a great upbeat tune, with Hashem on vocal, backed by Charlie’s pyrotechniques on the piano..

Mike is a ‘Journeyman’ banjo player and antique collector from Ossipee, NH

Harry Arnold played in the Coast Guard Band for 25 years. He is also leader of the Freight Train Five.

Mike Hashem’s spectacular fingering and rapid right hand were featured on banjo  with Somebody Stole My Gal.
Skip Hughes joined the band in the last set, adding momentum to the ensemble with his deep, burnished trombone and booming voice on Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor.

Steve Taddeo, New England’s Gene Krupa

This band isn’t for hire, it only plays at The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival.  But we hope to hear Scott Philbrick with the Festival Band sometime next year. This is probably the best way to introduce our music to a younger generation, and create additional revenue to continue The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Fest – and Blues – for the near and distant future.

It can’t happen without YOU!    http://www.greatctjazz.org/