Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders with Fred Vigorito and Noel Kaletsky
Fred Vigorito cornet, Dave Whitney trumpet, Noel Kaletsky clarinet/soprano and alto sax, Henry ‘Thins’ Francis piano, Ron l’Herault trombone, Dave Zox bass, Steve Taddeo and Tessa Allia drums
Fred Vigorito Director
Steve Taddeo announced the Swing Senders Band, then stepped aside and let Fred Vigorito direct the rest of the evening, picking out the songs and musicians to play them.
Fred Vigorito (Galvanized Jazz Band) and Noel Kaletsky (Bill’s Seafood All Stars) have never been here before; but when they hit a few notes on Indiana with The Swing Senders, everything crystallized!
Fred remembered that when he was with the Easy Riders in 1964, Barry Goldwater asked if they knew that song. They did not, but changed that immediately and played it for him when he was running for President. Back Home Again In Indiana.
Basin St. Blues. Ron L’Herault trombone and vocals – and closing with a superb coda.
Basin Street
Freddy said the Galvanized Jazz Band used a different trombone player every week at the Chowder Pot in Connecticut, where they played for close to 30 years. Using the finest trombonist in the country gave the band a new sound every time. Galvanized is now featured once a month at Aunt Chilada’s, 3931 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT
He asked Ron if he knew the Original Dixieland Jazz Band One step. They all did. Noel took out the soprano sax. Taddeo tapped drums in background.
Without a pause, they segued into Fidgety Feet.
Dixie Jass Band One Step
1923 The New Orleans Rhythm Kings played Tin Roof Blues. Noel and Clark both played it on clarinet. Lovely! Tessa Alia was on drums.
Steve Taddeo was featured on the Jack Palmer / Spencer Williams 1926 tune,
Found a New Baby. Drummer Tessa Allia watches him!
Noel and Fred “sing”.
We could feel the musical energy building!
Fred said “How do we follow THAT?” “with Two singers who can’t sing.” Fred and Noel sang The Sheik of Araby, with the audience chipping in “Without Your Pants On”.
Dave Whitney took the vocal on Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home? With Fred and Dave trading 4’s. Clark and Noel on saxes. Fred closing with soft cornet.
Fred and Dave trading fours, Dave Zox background
Harold McAleer videotaping every tune!
There was much discussion among the musicians before they began the 1922 China Boy featuring Noel on soprano sax.
China Boy
Steve talked about drumming from 1938 to today, with a tribute to Buddy Schutz who played with the Benny Goodman Quartet.
The front line played the first chorus of Pagan Love Song, with Clark on clarinet and Noel on alto sax. Thins marvelous piano. The band stepped up a key, all in unison. They are so incredibly skilled on their instruments, making impromptu improvisations! Thin’s piano prodding marvelous sounds out of the piano.
Henry ‘Thins’ Francis and John Clark were featured on the first 16 bars of Eubie Blake’s Memories of You, with each of the members taking unique solos.
They blew the roof off with the 1911 Panama – with Clark on bari sax, front line blazing, raising an octave, up, up, and up, repeating the ending three times! Awesome!
The Band plays a ferocious Panama!
Nearing closing time – nobody wanted to stop, they encored with a Hot, Swing That Music, John Clark on vocal, two clarinets, Dave Zox playing like angel wings!
Tessa Allia
Steve put Tessa Allia on drums. Tessa goes to the Kennedy School in Waltham and is one of Steve;s students. Marvelous young lady. Steve Taddeo surprised us by singing – Flat Foot Floogie with a Floy Floy.
Steve Taddeo sings Flat Foot Floogie with a Floy Floy
Calming things down, Dave Whitney sang Louis Armstrong’s 1929 Black and Blue,
Dave Zox
Dave Zox was free swinging on Condon’s Oh Baby; it was like pouring hot fudge over marble!
Fred announced they would do two Armstrong tunes, then anything was possible!
They began with an instrumental Sleepy Time Down South, Whitney’s trumpet remarkably close to Louis. Then they did the last eight bars of Old Rocking Chair’s Got Me with Whitney singing, Tessa Allia drumming.
It was closing time, but nobody was leaving. We were in solid anticipation of whatever would come next.
Fred announced a “Lucky Strike Extra”. He called on Cole Bocciarelli, a young trumpeter from Connecticut, the son of a bass player (now playing with Hartford Jazz Orchestra at The Arch St. Tavern Monday nights.) Cole joined the band on High Society, playing splendid cornet, with Noel and John Clark taking turns doing Alphonse Picou’s soliloquy, then all the brass playing it together, Incredible!
Cole Boccoarelli joins the Band for High Society.
Whew! But that wasn’t the end.
Fred said he’d always wanted to do Rudy Valley’s version of the Kid Thomas Orchestra, I’m Confessing That I Love You. Tessa was back at the drums, all by herself.
John Clark and Noel Kaletsky on Bechet tune
They closed with both Noel on soprano sax and John on bari sax, always a hell-raiser, on Sidney Bechet’s Si Tu Vois Ma Mere.
Took our breath away!!
What a marvelous evening – none of us could have anticipated how great this would be. Fred and Noel thoroughly enjoyed being here and asked to return again.
Steve Taddeo is planning on repeating this evening – bringing in more great musicians from all over the country to Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Road, Lincoln MA. If he has his way, with the help of Harold McAleer, Lincoln’s Bemis Hall will become a place in New England to hear Our Kind of Music. Stay tuned!