That was the Finale of the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2014 – Jimmy Mazzy singing “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when…”   Many of us started to cry.  The Jazz at the Festival was fantastic, but the attendance was not.

by Marce
Videos by Eric Devine

Traditional and Dixieland Jazz has been featured at the Essex Steam Train since 1986 – when it was The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival.  When TGCTJF moved to Moodus CT, a dedicated group of Trad Jazz aficionados, including Joe and Shirley Bombaci, hoped to maintain some Traditional Jazz in Essex.  With staunch volunteers and supporters, they created the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival,  that celebrated it’s 20th anniversary in 2012.  I’ve been to every one, and it’s been very difficult getting my heart around this.

In 2014, Ten bands performed in simultaneous sessions under two tents on the grounds adjacent to the Essex Steam Train.   A Gospel service on Sunday was performed by Jeff Barnhart, who also led the Festival All Star Band.

Eric Devine (CineDevine) published many of the VIDEOS Check them out. A few are presented here.

The Festival began Friday night with Art Hovey’s talented students – The “Route 17 Stompers”  mostly from Durham, Connecticut, which is just up Route 17 from the site of the old Millpond Tavern; hence the name.

The Bands:

–         Jeff Barnhart, Connecticut’s own jazz pianist virtuoso

–         Galvanized Jazz Band from Connecticut with Cynthia Fabian
Fred Vigorito cornet, Fred Vigorito Jr. cornet  Russ Whitman reeds, Bill Sinclair piano, Ben Griffin trombone, Art Hovey tuba/bass, Tom Palinko drums

–         Dan Levinson’s New Millennium All Stars with Molly Ryan from New York, and John Hokum trombone, Mike Davis cornet, Jan Frankel piano, Rob Akins bass, Rich Levinson drums,

–         Sunnyland Jazz Band
Bob Barta – Banjo, Vocals
John Klumpp – Trumpet, Vocals
Art Hovey – Tuba

–         Wolverine Jazz Band from Massachusetts
John Clark – reeds
Jeff Hughes – cornet
Tom Boates – trombone
Ross Petot – piano
Jimmy Mazzy – banjo / vocals
Rick McWilliams – tuba
Dave Didrickson – drums

 

–         Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band from Connecticut

Tom Brown – Trumpet
John Clark- Reeds
Noel Kaletsky – Reeds
Skip Hughes- Trombone
Ben Griffin – Trombone
Shari Lucas – Piano
Steve Keeler – Guitar
Albie Bernard – Tuba
Bill Logozzo — Drums
Michele Berting – Vocals

–

 

 

Gospel Service on Sunday was officiated by Jeff Barnhart, with help from Jason Senn and The Festival All Stars: Noel Kaletsky, Lou Green, Emily Asher, Lou Bocciarelli, Al Bernard, Skip Hughes, Tom Palinko

Emily Asher and Skip Hughes

Lou Bocciarelli and Al Bernard

Skip Hughes put heart and soul itno Old Rugged Cross. Jeff said it: “That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is what we call sharing our gifts!”

WOW!

–         Ivory and Gold

–         Ben Maugher’s Vintage Jazz Band from Pennsylvania
Ben Mauger (cornet), Brian Priebe (trombone), Bob Rawlins (reeds), Bob Kreitz (piano), Bruce Campbell (Bass), Larry Bortz (drums)

–         Riverboat Ramblers led by local musician and entertainer John Banker, with Joe MacWilliams keyboard, Sherman Kahn reeds, Bab Barta banjo, Sal Ranello drums and washboard.

–         Festival All Stars led by Jeff Barnhart – Jeff collected many musicians for different sets.  This one has Jeff Hughes trumpet, Noel Kaletsky and Craig Ball reeds, Al Bernard sousaphone, Tom Palinko drums.

 

–    Jazz Jesters from Massachusetts

Jeff Hughes – trumpet
John Clark – reeds
Craig Ball – reeds
Jimmy Mazzy – banjo / vocals
Ross Petot – piano
Albie Bernard – tuba
Steve Taddeo- drums

 

The Hot Steamed Festivals always concludes with The Galvanized Jazz Band marching from the Louis Armstrong Tent to the Hole in the Wall Gang Tent to join whatever band is playing there – this time it was Jeff Hughes’ Jazz Jesters, with Jimmy Mazzy banjo and vocals. They were joined by Sarah Spencer.

The music and musicians at the 2014 Hot Steamed Jazz Festival were fantastic.  Many of the Fans who have been here since the beginning were here, but with more canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.  But as in other Festivals across the country, there weren’t enough of us to make the Festival break even.

We were told by management of The Essex Steam Train that we can’t hold it here anymore.   As Jimmy was singing the Finale, “We’ll  meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when”, we left the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in tears.
Eric Devine (CineDevine) published many of Bands’ VIDEOS Check them out.