Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner back on trombone, Bob Winter keys, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums.

by Marce

Eli and The Hot Six presented a delightful evening of great Jazz, introducing new tunes with inspired playfulness and skill, making it up as they went along. They enjoyed it as much as the appreciative audience.  Eli included two fine vocalists, Elaine Woo and Sarah Nova, and Carolyn Newberger on washboard.

Honoring Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa, Bob Tamagni introduced Swing, Swing, Swing,  His unique methods of maintaining the Trad beat on drums are priceless!  After the intro, the  Hot Six went WILD!

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Bo moved from trumpet to flugelhorn, Jimmy scatting, trombone and tuba trading 4’s.

Poor Papa, written by Hoagie Carmichael, was new with Jim singing the sad vocal, backed by tuba.

Mama’s got shoes, Mama’s got clothes
Mama’s got these and Mama’s got those
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he’s got nothin’ at all

The mood changed with a roaring take off of  Alexander’s Ragtime Band

 

Bob took a solo on Ida, with stunning harmonies and sudden key changes that took our breath away.  He would suddenly pause, leaving all of us anticipating the next note.
He loves playing with this band!

 

 

Eli introduced Elaine Woo, another Doctor, who is a Primary Physician in Geriatrics. She captivated the audience with It’s All Right To Me, and reading the lyrics to  Body and Soul off a telephone without missing a beat!

Carolyn was a vital spark on washboard, She joined Elaine on an upbeat  Darktown Strutters’ Ball.  What an amazing duo!  They returned with the band for an exilarating Route 66.

Artist Carolyn Newberger keeps busy sketching the musicians, when she’s not performing.  Her drawings, paintings and collage have achieved recognition and awards in juried and solo exhibition.  Here’s Jimmy:

Everyone was having fun!  But we had more surprises.

 

 

Eli and Elaine got together for
I Can Give You Everything But Love.  (No mistake in the title.)

Who knew Eli could sing, too?

 

 

 

Vocalist Sarah (Gardner) Nova teaches Jazz for kids at libraries and Kindergardens all over New England. She has several CD’s, Jazz for Lil Jumpers and Jazz For Babies; Its Raining Cats & Dogs! 

Having been raised with this music, she has an intuitive grasp of musical dynamics, The band backed her in stop time with the warning, Keep Your Hands Off It!  Sarah was invited to stay on for another tune,  Me Myself & I, with Dad backing her on trombone.

Herb was featured on the Platters’ Only You, singing, and playing rich, burnished tone on trombone..

Eli and The Hot Six continued with a rip-roaring Instrumental, Dinah, with Ted on tenor sax, and Bob Winter playing astounding keyboard.  This was pure joy!

 

 

Bo Winiker was featured on What a Wonderful World, playing trumpet and evoking Louis Armstrong with his vocal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ted took the breaks on clarinet with a new addition – an actual piece of moose horn that gives it a distinctive sound – as if he needed it!

 

 

 

 

Our favorite was a lullaby that Eubie Blake wrote for his wife, Good Night Angeline.  Jimmy puts heart and soul into this melody, like no other.  We could hear a soft dinging in the background.  It took some time to realize that Bob Tamagni was softly tapping an unseen tambourine on his bass drum.
His drum set is comprised of two drums and a hi hat (that he hardly used, except to tap the cymbal).

 

 

 

Basin Street was an instrumental with marvelous tuba by Eli and Jimmy scatting throughout the whole song.  The two are always in sync!

 

The repertoire and caliber of these musicians has made this a classic band. Fortunately for us,  Eli and The Hot Six will be here regularly at Primavera on the 3^rd Thursday of the month.  Spread the word and mark your calendars!

Check out their CD:
Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic Jazz  $17  Purchase