Seacoast Stompers on the new Acton Jazz Cafe stage
Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet, Scott Philbrick banjo/guitar/cornet, Lee Prager trombone, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard tuba, Bobby Reardon drums.
The decor of the café has totally changed, it feels more like a nightclub now, with a full raised stage at the back of the room. Definitely an improvement; same fine food and gracious personnel. Alternating spotlights from blue to red to white give it nice atmosphere, but raise cane with the videos.
On this First Saturday of the month, The Seacoast Stompers began as always with their Flagship tune, At The Jazz Band Ball, a 1917 jazz classic done by the ODJB, and one of the earliest and most recorded jazz compositions. Scott was strumming on banjo because Jimmy Mazzy was home looking after Carrie.
Earl Hines’ Monday Date, Scott was on acoustic guitar; Whitney trumpet, Craig soaring clarinet, Lee swinging trombone, Frank piano, Bob drums, Albie’s tuba pushing the whole ensemble. Fabulous!
Frank Stadler doesn’t like to repeat tunes. They haven’t done Moonglow for a while, nice slow dance tune. Charlie was up immediately – he dances with all the ladies. He found an open corner near the bar.
Back o’ Town Blues is a nice slow Blues, one of Whitney’s favorite vocals. The musicians followed him, playing passionate solos, with Lee growling on trombone.
After You’ve Gone, trumpet intro with tuba back up, was really great Dixieland; Whitney squeezed in a bit of Little Girl. Frank played beautiful melody on piano, backed by Albie’s chords and Bob’s time keeping.
Scott returned to his cornet, now we had two horns, no waiting; Take Your Tomorrows and Give Me Today. Bix did this with Frank Trumbauer in 1928. They started with fantastic brass, and finished it the same way; it sure was great to have Dave Whitney back. Love is Just Around the Corner, Whitney vocal, the band played full force, stopping on a dime!
There’s always a discussion on the next tune, who will do what? Here was a “good ol’ good one” done by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band also in 1917 – Fidgety Feet had the audiences’ feet tapping. You can’t sit still listening to this Jazz. Albie took a melodic solo on tuba, Scott back on cornet, Bobby wouldn’t let it quit, taking multiple drum endings, nailing the end with a final cymbal crash.
Bob Reardon supports the band with his fine drumming.
Nobody wanted to quit. Louis did Wild Man Blues with his Hot Seven – we had hot banjo, and tuba too.
Bob Crosby’ Bob Cats recorded Irving Fazola’s I’m Coming Virginia.
Fats Waller’s Baby Brown had Dave Whitney on trumpet and vocal, and Scotty on cornet. They have a friendly, compatible competition going.
Song of the Wanderer was a really HOT ONE with Scott on banjo, then he was back on guitar for Someday Sweetheart.
Dave Whitney and Scott Philbrick have a friendly go-round on Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
A request (inevitably) started with a very truncated Saints, and quickly moved to Who’s Sorry Now, finishing with Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of my Jelly Roll.
As usual there was a full house enjoying the fine Dixieland and Swing of the Seacoast Stompers. You can hear them at the Acton Jazz Café on the first Saturday of every month, in the afternoon – easier driving for most of us.
To get the best seat, please make a reservation; email gwenn@actonjazzcafe.com with the subject line reading either RESERVATION or CONTACT, or call them at (978) 263-6161 after 5 pm. http://www.actonjazzcafe.com/ Use 5 Nagog Park Mall on GPS to get directions.
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Seacoast Stompers tunes played on March 1, 2014
Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 My Monday Date
3 Moonglow
4 Back o’ Town Blues
5 After You’ve Gone
6 Take Your Tomorrow
7 Love Is Just Around The Corner
8 Louisiana Fairy Tale
9 Fidgety Feet
Set 2
1 Avalon
2 Wild Man Blues
3 Can’t We Be Friends
4 I’m Coming Virginia (W/Verse)
5 Baby Brown
6 Wabash Blues
7 Song of the Wanderer
Set 3
1 Preacher, The
2 Mandy Make Up Your Mind
3 Someday Sweetheart
4 Who’s Sorry Now
5 Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)