Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante
Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Tom Boates trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot keyboard, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
The Wolves were on FIRE at Primavera, playing hot freewheeling Traditional Jazz to an erudite, attentive audience. This was Joy of music with a Bang! John Clark selected tunes from their 13 CDs in preparation for their performance at the end of June at America’s Dixieland Festival, Olympia, WA http://www.olyjazz.com/. We were privileged to participate!!
They meant business, bringing heavy equipment, Jeff on flugelhorn and a 1927 limited edition Vintage Bach Stradivarius trumpet, dating back to the first quarter of the 20th century. John Clark with his clarinet, alto and bariitone sax.
Tom Boates
Tom Boates usually drives two hours from Connecticut to get here. But Tom was already in the neighborhood for his son’s wedding, and raring to go, with his whole family here to support him. His zealous tailgate trombone elevated the whole band to another plane!
It was a beautiful June Night, and that tune set off this fantastic evening, followed by a captivating Memphis Blues.
Ross Petot, extraordinary stride pianist
Ross Petot is back now that school is out. He is a teacher, composer and arranger.
He was featured on complex, rhythmic, stride piano on Don’t Be Late.
John Clark’s clarinet on Cushion Foot Stomp from their Street Beat CD was phenomenal. A Good ol’ good one, a swinging Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Jimmy vocal with Dave Didriksen simply tapping on a clutched cymbal.
Jimmy Mazzy picks one of his umpteen tunes
They gave Jimmy a choice, which is always dangerous with his familiarity with millions of tunes from 1919 to the 30s; the members never heard some of them. He chose a relatively late one, If I Didn’t Care, a tune made popular by the Ink Spots in 1939; the band eased in behind him.
They honored the late Banjo Bob Sundstrom with Elmer Schoebel’s Prnce of Wails. Tom took a vocal on the 1920’s Here Comes The Hot Tamale Band,
John Clark on baritone sax
John Clark’s baritone sax was spellbinding on Sidney Bechet’s Passport to Paradise.
This was their maiden voyage for this tune.
Dixieland: they challenged the ODJB with The Original Dixieland One Step that is on their 13th CD – Baker’s Dozen. It’s their latest and available now. (Their first CD was The Wolverine Jazz Band Live, recorded by Ed Williams in 1999 at the Sherborn Inn.
Rick MacWilliams hidden behind monstrous tuba
Rick played the poignant melody on tuba with his drum colleague keeping time tapping on woodblock.
Jelly Roll Morton was well represented with Original Jelly Roll Blues. FrankieTrumbauer’s on There’ll Come a Time, from their Michigander Blues CD, featured Tom’s virtuosic trombone.
John Clark has been singing more tunes (at the insistence of his #1 fan, Betty Weaver). He sang all the verses of Oceana Roll from memory! Dr. Jazz verse sung by Tom, with exciting exchange between trombone and banjo, and Tom scatting to the end.
Jeff Hughes on flugelhorn
Jeff played a full, rich, smoky flugelhorn for Don Redman’s Save It Pretty Mama.
Ross played the chimes on piano on King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band Chimes Blues, followed by another K.O. with Jimmy scatting on a lively Shake It and Break It.
Drummer Dave Didriksen sparks the band by providing solid support every note of the way.
Dave Didriksen keeps the beat
There was never a dull moment; the crowd was feeding off the energy of the band and the band was feeding off the responsive crowd! (Be prepared, Washington!)
They calmed down with Jimmy singing an Elvis tune, Love Me Tender, with each musician taking a solo between Jimmy’s many smoldering stanzas. They finally closed with On The Mall, from their CD of the same name – trombone and clarinet connected, trombone going wild! Fans left elated!
On the following Saturday,, on a warm and sunny June afternoon, the Greater Boston Vintage Society featured The Wolverine Quintet on the S. S. Samuel Clemens, a reproduction of a 3-deck riverboat at Rowe’s Wharf; on a 3-hour Boston Harbor Cruise. It was their first Dixieland Jazz Boat, and filled with Swing Dancers. We had a ball!!
We’lll have many chances to hear this top Traditional Jazz Band again, when it returns from Washington, as John noted in his email:
“We will be heading out to the West Coast to do America’s Dixieland Festival in Olympia, WA for the last weekend in June, but we have quite a few concerts when we get back:
Sherborn Town Concert Weds 7/1 630-8 (weather permitting)
Willows at Westboro Weds 7/8 7-830
Wayside Inn Tues 7/14 (info and tickets at http://www.wayside.org/node/286)
Bar Harbor Summer Music Sunday 7/19 8-10pm (info and tickets at http://barharbormusicfestival.org/2010_calendar.html
Weston Town Concert Weds 7/22 7-830 (weather permitting)
St, Matthew’s in Acton Sunday 8/2 6pm
West Boyleston Town Concert Sunday 8/9 5-7pm (weather permitting)
Natick Senior Center, Thursday 8/20
Stark Park, Manchester, NH Sunday 8/23 2-4pm (weather permitting)
Walpole Town Concert Tues 8/25 6-8pm (weather permitting)”