Videos by Harold McAleer
Frank Stadler – piano and leader, Jimmy Mazzy – banjo, Blair Bettencourt – reeds, Scott Philbrick – cornet, Dave Whitney – trumpet, Lee Prager – trombone, Al Bernard – sousaphone, Bobby Reardon – drums.
Leader Frank Stadler announced that there would be an exception to the usual tune selection; this time they would play only old favorites and most requested tunes. They generally avoid repeating tunes! He left the choice of tunes to the guys, varying the tempos.
An obvious change was Blair Bettencourt on clarinet and tenor sax. It’s been a while!
In the late 70s, Marce and Jimmy Enright were dancing at the back of New England Life Hall to the two-beat jazz of The Yankee Rhythm Kings with Jimmy Mazzy and Blair Bettencourt,
The Seacoast Stompers first tested the sound system with a snippet of At The Jazz Band Ball.
Sound-check was done by none other than Fran D’Agostino, who runs the Jazz Jam every Tuesday here at the AJC.
He got it right!
The Seacoast Stompers have built up a significant following of devoted fans that fill the Café on the first Saturday of the month. Alice and Cathy Riley came in from Seekonk, Jack Phelan, pianist for the New Liberty Jazz Band from Swampscott, Dave and Nancy First from Carlisle, Eve Welts, Sally Meyer and friends from Lincoln, Al Ehrenfried, Alice Brunton of Acton, dancers Evelyn and Charlie have been here from day one. The Amoskeag Strummers were well represented.
There’s not much space for dancing; but dancers will make room:
Charlie & Evelyn
Alice & Al
It was great to see Bob McHenry, former Seacoast bassist sitting up front and center, enjoying the music.
Blair Bettencourt’s tenor sax turned Sweet Georgia Brown into a real rabble rouser!
Fabulous tenor sax on a dazzling Stealing Apples
Bob & Marjorie McHenry enjoy Blair’s playing
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams. Jimmy vocal. He couldn’t resist “Dedicated to Luca Brazzi, swimming with the fishes.” (from Boardwalk Empire).
Time to take it down a bit with Mama’s Gone, Goodbye, Jimmy vocal, Whitney playing marvelous wa wa trumpet.
Cornet, trumpet, trombone, with gut-wrenching tenor sax were fabulous on another old favorite, and most often requested, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans. Dave with poignant vocal; if you ever visit New Orleans, you can’t leave it behind – it becomes a part of you.
T’ Ain’t No Sin To Take Off Your Skin and Dance Around in Your Bones (Walter Donaldson). Scotty knew many more verses..
I Would Do Most Anything For You, Claude Hopkins’ theme song. Claude was a world famous Boston pianist, and has returned to play in the area with many of our local musicians.
Classy, polished piano performance by Frank.
He requested a ‘down tune’ (as opposed to an upbeat tune). Everybody looked at Jimmy. I’ll Be a Friend With Pleasure.
Dave Whitney, jazz historian, gave interesting backgrounds to all these tunes. “Louis would say Margie is a good ol’ good one.”
Scotty and Lee, both on muted instruments challenging each other – incredible! We love it!
Make Love to Me, a 1954 pop song by Jo Stafford, became a No. 1 hit, using the New Orleans Rhythm King’s music from the 1923 jazz standard Tin Roof Blues…
Sweet intro into Tin Roof Blues,
fantastic clarinet, wa wa cornet and trombone. We love it!
Jimmy’ unique single string banjo was backed by Al Bernard, wrapped in sousaphone.
Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden made hits out of a lively Oh Baby from the 1920’s.
Carrie Mazzy came up for fine vocal on A Good Man Is Hard To Find.
Jim & Carrie were packed and ready to go to the Keswick Festival in England.
Hubby Jimmy followed with One Meat Ball, hinting about a restaurant (not the AJC!)
Frank said it was time for a barn burner. This is one of the most requested Classic tunes.
Goodman had a hit with both his big band and quartet.
Strutting With Some Barbecue was played in indescribable tempo!
Tough on a trombone – Lee breezed through it.
Time for a Swing tune. Jimmy with Duke Ellington’s I’m Beginning To see The Light, a Harry James hit in 1944. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, had friendly, competitive duet with cornet/trumpet.
Sunny Side of The Street, Dave Whitney scatting vocal, with Blair’s tenor sax, tuba, and piano playing harmony.
Frank asked Dave to pick a tune – he likes Back o’ Town Blues. He and Jimmy have done this before, with Jimmy responding with his own Mazzy quips. Scotty’s multiple notes hit the top of the register, almost squeaking.
Dave was on low, growling trumpet; he never disappoints his public.
Finally Frank asked Bobby Reardon for a tune.
From the seedy side of London, he picked a real war horse, Limehouse Blues. The Seacoast Stompers terminated as fiery as they had begun.
They’ll be back, Frank hopes with the full crew (they are all independent minds!) on the first Saturday of every month for the rest of the year. With their fans in tow, they’ll be here on June 1.
