Scott Philbrick and Lee Prager

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Café                              by Harold McAleer

Frank Stadler – piano and leader, John Clark – reeds, Scott Philbrick – cornet and vocal, Lee Prager – trombone, Jimmy Mazzy – banjo, Al Bernard – sousaphone, Bobby Reardon – drums

It’s wonderful when a group of consummate jazzers like this get together to swing the oldies.

Needing no practice, they dive right in after deciding the number, and pass the solos back and forth smoothly with a slight nod or motion from Scott or whomever, and then decide on the fly how to take it out – whether with a drum burst or an ensemble cadenza or what.

When I video, I zoom in on the players and can concentrate on the playing undisturbed by the audience around me or distracting sights.  It makes me feel part of the band and sensitive to the ebb and flow of the performance.

I was especially impressed during Tishomingo when Scott and Lee traded fours with their mutes on the brass horns – and also when John Clark and Albie did the same.

Scotty takes off his skin – and dances around in his bones

Carrie Mazzie warbles this sweet 1929 ballad:

John Clark on alto sax

Stompers boogie down to 12th St. & Vine in this swinger.
Kansas City

Can’t help dancing at Acton Jazz to the Seacoast Stompers:

It was a great session of true professionals. It doesn’t get any better than this!
The Seacoast Stompers will return to the Acton Jazz Cafe on March 1st.

Harold McAleer

Tune List

Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 All of Me
3 I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
4 Jada
5 Lulu’s Back In Town
6 Louisi-An-I-A
7 Tishomingo Blues
8 Song of the Wanderer
9 Wolverine Blues

Set 2
1 Tain’t No Sin to Take Off Your Skin…
2 When You and I Were Young Maggie
3 You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me
4 Mandy Make Up Your Mind
5 As Long As I Live
6 Kansas City
7 Louisiana

Set 3
1 Moten Swing
2 Mean to Me
3 Who’s Sorry Now
4 Someday Sweetheart
5 I Got the Stinger
6 Limehouse Blues