Eli’s All Stars
by Marce
Bo Winiker trumpet, Ted Casher reeds, Herb Gardner trombone/vocal, Bob Winter piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Carolyn Newberger washboard, Jeff Guthery drums,
This band touches my heart and spirit. I arrived tired and stressed, but as soon as the music began it all faded away! They kicked it off with Kid Ory’s Muscrat Ramble that had the walls vibrating, then moved to Gershwin’s The Man I Love with a duet of Bo Winiker’s pure crystal-clear trumpet and Bob Winter’s burning piano.
Ted evoked Eastern European expertise with Russian/Jewish music, Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Secunda 1938) with a long joyful Klezmer verse on clarinet, and Jimmy singing the chorus.
Jimmy Mazzy feels the pain in the words when he sings.
Jimmy was featured, almost tearfully, on Irving Berlin’s How About Me? “It’s over, all over”. But not our music!
Caroline Newberger joined them on washboard for a tune they’ve never played here before, Washington and Lee Swing. It was sensational! Bob Winter joined Carolyn in a duet, with the front line playing stop time in the background – perfect!
Carolyn Newberger featured on Washington and Lee Swing
Chinatown is always attention-grabbing, especially with Jimmy’s scatting. Winter’s piano solo Till We Meet Again was #1 song in 1915-16. A love ballad, he started semi-classical then moved into swing, riveting concerto, finishing in sweet ¾ time.
The meister’s piano has amazing depths and textures.
It’s hard to follow that!
Bo Winiker managed it well with Louis Armstrong’s late 20’s Cornet Chop Suey, arranged by Herb Gardner.
Frank John, Eli’s new mentoree.
At intermission, Frank John, a new student that Eli is now mentoring, picked up Eli’s tuba and began to play around with the keys.
Frank is a promising first year student of Mike Roylance’s at New England Conservatory. He hit a fortissimo pedal G that Eli has never played. That’s one note below the bottom of the piano keyboard! We’ll be hearing more from him!
Herb Gardner is a man of many talents!
Herb sang and played the Cole Porter tune about the way young boys cavorted in the 1920’s, Let’s Misbehave. How did he know?
Ted Casher is his own man – plays his version of Body & Soul, with hints of Coleman Hawkins. It get’s to me every time!
My attempt at video – unfortunately the camera was wrong side up; fix resulted in black edges.
We had to leave early – preparing for Jeff & Joel’s House Party in Connecticut the next day. It was very difficult pulling away. We hung in for Bo’s essence of Louis in his spectacular Potato Head Blues, and Bob Winter’s unique interpretation of Oh By Jingo. I was really sorry to miss the rest.
This was the band’s last performance here at the Sherborn Inn for this year, as the Thursday night Jazz has been discontinued due to too many holiday parties.
Hopefully we’ll all be back next year! I really need that invigorating Jazz Fix!
 Eli Newberger |
 Jeff Guthery |