Jazz Tuber Trio Eli, Jimmy and Ted, Plus Bob Winter piano, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Jeff Guthery drums, Herb Gardner trombone, Carolyn Newberger washboard
It certainly was an exciting evening at the Sherborn In on November 12, with Boston Pops’ pianist Bob Winter joining The Jazz Tuber Trio. Bob Winter has been the pianist for the Boston Pops for over 30 years, but also has extensive experience in clubs, television, radio, and theaters, including performances with Henry Mancini, Teddy Wilson, Buddy DeFranco, Mel Torme, Luciano Pavarotti, Eddie Daniels, Stan Getz, Cleo Laine/John Dankworth, and Airto Moreira.
Bob Winter
Bob set the mood with piano intro to an upbeat Found a New Baby, just as New York’s Herb Gardner walked in carrying his trombone case. Surprise!
Herb Gardner moved to NY in 1963 and began touring with Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood, was a regular at the Metropole, Jimmy Ryan’s and Eddie Condon’s nightclubs. He’s appeared with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City. He just walked in, took out the trombone, sat down and started playing.
Ted Casher and Herb Gardner
We love this marvelous hot jazz. You never know what’s going to happen next! Instrumental titans playing delectable hot jazz!
No holds barred – combustible combinations of piano, tenor sax, trombone, Eli’s tuba maintaining a deep underpinning bassline, Jeff Guthery laying down the beat with brushes.
Jeff Guthery mostly uses brushes
Eli introduced vocalist Rebecca Sullivan, an accomplished vocalist and teacher, with a three-octave range. She’s learning something new at the New England Conservatory of Music, with Eli Newberger assigned as her mentor. She’s an emotionally powerful performer, singing very slowly, which takes considerable skill.
Silky-smooth Satin Doll, Rebecca sings it in her own style, stretching out words and syllables, adding unexpected emphasis, going from low to high when least expected.
In a more romantic tune, a lovely Someone To Watch Over Me. We were mesmerized and only caught a partial video.
I can’t Give You Anything But Love, Rebecca almost talking the vocal, backed by Winter on piano. Eli said “He plays in unconventional keys to support her exceptional range, with an amazing lower register.”
The unpredictable reed-man, Ted Casher began the Ukrainian Ochi Chyornye with tenor sax in Klezmer style, the band slipping in with Dark Eyes. Eli’s turbo charged bass riffs gave it energy and drive.
Rebecca, with Jimmy and Eli
Mean to Me, Rebecca feeling the song.
Jimmy took off in his own unique single-string banjo with Fidgety Feet, Jeff backing him with brushes on snare drum. Fans had fidgety feet! Winter finished the last chorus with multi-layered intense piano.
Carolyn Newberger had spent most of the evening listening to the music while drawing portraits of members of the band. Carolyn’s Portraits.
(Her works “In The Moment” had a Showing last month at The Harriet Tubman Gallery Boston.)
She sat in on washboard for Louis Armstrong’s 1936 Don’t Forget To Mess Around When You’re Dancing the Charleston, Jimmy on vocal. The washboard began to come apart, but Carolyn maintained her cool, set it on the floor, holding the instrument vertical and in one piece, never missed a note playing spoons through the whole tune. Bravo!
Eli plays tuba like a solo instrument with energy and drive on Perdido, supported by Jeff’s brushes, the ensemble connecting in breathtaking tempo, led by clarinet and tenor sax. Listeners were dancing in their seats!
They closed with romping polyphonic ensemble on Royal Garden Blues, Jimmy scatting, each instrument taking a final solo.
Great fun! And we’ll be doing it all again on December 3rd, with the addition of another titan, Boston’s famous Bo Winiker on trumpet! See you there?
Saxophonist Dan Moretti has released 17 CD’s during his 25 years of performing and touring throughout the states Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. While covering many genres of jazz from straight to Latin-Jazz and funk he has always been influenced by the Organ groups of the 60’s. Now Dan is doing his 18th recording live at Chan’s in Woonsocket on November 23rd. Dan and another Rhode Island Music legend Duke Robillard have had very divergent careers in music but they overlap in the world of blues and jazz. Duke will join Dan in this exciting night. The music will be a tribute to the Hammond B-3 groove-jazz generation including Stanley Turrentine, Gene Ammonds, King Curtis, Kenny Burrell, and Jimmy Smith. Moretti and Robillard will be joined by Hammond B-3 master Dave Limina, drummer Lorne Entres and bassist Jesse Williams for an exciting groove adventure into the jazz-blues world.
Dan Moretti
Dan Moretti
The passion for performing, writing and producing music has fueled Saxophonist Dan Moretti’s eclectic musical career. His personal sound and original writing have gained him international recognition as a performer, educator, composer and producer. His inspiration and broad pallet of styles has allowed him to collaborate with musicians across the cultures of Europe, Africa, South America and Asia through performances and educational seminars. With 17 original solo recordings behind him the muse seems to continues to flow in exciting new ways that leaves you wanting more.
History:
Dan started playing tenor sax and clarinet at the age of 12 and the following year he was fortunate to be invited to perform in the Rhode Island Youth All-State Jazz Band where he played at the world renown Newport Jazz Festival . This was the beginning of a long love and life with music. After high school Dan attended the University of Rhode Island for 2 years followed by the Rhode Island School of Music for 2 years under the direction of re-nown trombonist Hal Crook. After returning from a two year long tour with an original funk band Back Bay Brew based in Albany New York, Dan retuned to school and received a BS with a double major in Arranging-Composition and Music Education in 1975 from The Union Institute in Cincinnati. Throughout the mid 70’s and the early 80’s he continued to perform in the North East United States in various groups while also doing performances with some of the Soul and R&B stars of Atlantic Records. He maintained a connection with education by teaching privately and in the local school systems and music schools in the Southern New England area. In 1981 he became a recording studio co-owner at Celebration Soundsin Rhode Island where he honed his engineering and producer and composing skills for the following 12 years.
In 1985 Dan’s recording career was launched with the international release of “Sometime Inside”, an all original self-produced fusion-jazz recording that wasreleased on the Black Hawk Records label of San Francisco . Along with straight-ahead players Stan Getz and Phil Woods Dan became Black Hawk’s “Fusion” star. This first recording truly gave Dan his international profile, which was evident when he was asked to autograph this 1st recording in 1989 after a concert in Yaroslavl, Russia. Throughout his career Dan has toured in the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia and Russia performing and presenting clinics and seminars. His musical influences range from jazz and classical to funk and Latin-jazz and New Orleans grooves. Since the late 70’s, he has performed or recorded with a variety of artists across the musical spectrum. A short list includes: Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Robert Plant, Kid Rock, Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, The Temptations, Mike Stern, Omar Hakim, Jimmy Cobb, Dave Samuels, Dave Liebman, Marvin Stamm, and The Crusaders. Dan’s love of all styles of jazz has enhanced his performances in straight-ahead jazz as-well-as Latin, funk and soul and is evident throughout his current collection of 17 released solo recordings.
Dan has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1996 and currently is holding a full timeposition inthe CWP (Contemporary Writing and Production) department. He was given the school’s “Curriculum Development Award” in 2006 for his popular on-campus course “Groove Writing”. He has also been at the forefront of distance learning at Berklee where in 2003 he created the Berklee Online (Berklee’s distance-learning school) version of this course called “Arranging Contemporary Styles” and has been teaching this course to students all over the world. In 2012 he converted this same course back to Berklee with one of the first on-line on-campus courses for Berklee. In 2008, his book “Producing and Mixing Contemporary Jazz” was released on Hal Leonard-Berklee Press. In 2010 Dan collaborated with Matthew Nichol and Oscar Stagnaro on the book “Essential Grooves”for Sher Music, which is required for all Groove Writing sections at Berklee. In 2009, Dan was awarded the prestigious MacColl-Johnson fellowshipfor jazz composers, which enabled him to write and produce a project in 2011 with an Italian traditional orchestra called ThePiccola Orchestra La Viola (POLV), bringing together his musical and Italian roots. In 2012 Dan worked with Tutti Dynamics and helped develop the first fully interactive multi-camera and multi-track video versions of the styles in the Essential Grooves book. www.tuttidynamics.com. These Tutti grooves are now being used on campus at Berklee.
From 2002 until the present, Dan has also been active in Europe and the states performing his music and presenting seminars in Italy, Turkey, England, Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Africa, Ecuador and Gibraltar as-well-as being a sideman with artists like Nile Rodgers and Chic. In the summer of 2006 he had the opportunity to perform in the house band at the 40th anniversary of The Montreux Jazz Festival tribute to Atlantic records with Nile Rodgers. This was also a full circle experience being that that’s where it all began for Dan. The performers he played with which included Dan writing charts and backing up were: Robert Plant, Stevie Nicks, Chaka Khan, Kid Rock, George Duke, Solomon Burke, and Steve Winwood.
Guitarist. Bandleader. Songwriter. Singer. Producer. Session musician. And a one-man cheering section for the blues, in all its forms and permutations. And every one of those names has shared recording studio space or stage time with a man who is a legend in the blues community.
The Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C.Handy Awards) have named Duke Robillard “Best Blues Guitarist” four years out of five (2000,2001,2003,2004) making him the second most honored guitarist for that award! He was also nominated in that category in 2005, 2007 and again this year of 2008.
In 2007 Duke received a Grammy nomination for his “Guitar Groove-a-rama” CD and was also honored with the prestigious Rhode Island Pell Award for “excellence in the arts” along with actress Olympia Dukakis, actor Bob Colonna, and R.I. Choreographer/Festival Ballet director Mihailo “Misha” Djuric.The Pell award is named for Senator Claiborne Pell who help establish the the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities in 1965.
Other awards over the last decade include three Canadian Maple Blues Awards in 2001, 2002, and 2003 for “Best International Blues Artist,” The Blues Foundation’s “Producer of the Year” award in 2004, The French Blues Association “Album of the Year” award in 2002 (Living with the Blues) and “Guitarist of the Year” awards in 1999 and 2002.
BB King himself has called Duke “One of the great players,” The Houston Post called him “one of God’s guitarists. And the New York Times says “Robillard is a soloist of stunning force and originality.
None of that goes to Robillard’s head. He’s still on the road, still playing as many as 250 dates a year. And still proving, night after night, that his true talent is bringing people out to hear the music, appreciate the show, and dance to the blues.
Duke had his first band in high school — he was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island — and he was fascinated from the beginning by the ways in which jazz, swing, and the blues were linked. In 1967, he formed Roomful of Blues, and the band was tight enough and tough enough to accompany two of its heroes, Big Joe Turner and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson on record and in live appearances.
Always ahead of his time, Duke’s first band pre-dated the renewed interest in jump blues by more than a decade — and almost 20 years later, in 1986, when he recorded with jazz sax master Scott Hamilton, he recorded a collection of classic big band tunes from the ’30s and ’40s, thus skillfully pre-dating the neo-Swing craze of the mid ’90s.
Roomful of Blues — which still continues, forty years later — gave Duke his first exposure to a wide public, and when he left after a dozen years, he played briefly with rockabilly king Robert Gordon, then cut two albums with the Legendary Blues Band (a sterling collection of former members of Muddy Waters’ band). He led his own band until 1990, and then replaced Jimmy Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
In 1993, as he was about to sign a world-wide recording deal with Virgin/Pointblank, he met Holger Petersen, head of the Canadian independent label Stony Plain, at a folk festival in Winnipeg. In conversation, he mentioned he wanted to record a complete album of blues, without the r & b and jazz influences of his work to date.
Petersen was interested; Virgin gave the go-ahead, and the resulting album, Duke’s Blues, earned rave reviews. It was so successful, in fact, that Virgin soon licensed the record from Stony Plain and released it around the world (except in Canada, where it continues in the Canadian company’s catalogue.
In the years since his relationship with the Canadian label has been astonishingly fruitful. As a soloist , he has released eleven CDs, plus one with label mate Ronnie Earl and one with The New Guitar Summit. Duke’s next release will be in May/June of 2008
Just as remarkable have been the projects he has produced (and played on) for Stony Plain, including two albums with the late Jimmy Witherspoon, two with Kansas City piano king Jay McShann, comeback CDs for Billy Boy Arnold and Rosco Gordon, a swinging confection with the Canadian band The Rockin’ Highliners, and a superb album of guitar duets with the jazz legend Herb Ellis.
As if this growing catalogue was not enough, he has found time to share studio gigs with Bob Dylan (the Daniel Lanois-produced Time Out of Mind sessions), Ruth Brown, the late Johnny Adams, John Hammond, Pinetop Perkins, and Ronnie Earl, among many others. He now has his own 24-track studio in his home, and he has become deeply involved in graphic design and photography as well as record production.
Duke Robillard is a man in command of a full range of creative talents — unique in the blues, and rare in the music industry as a whole. He is, in fact, a complete artist at the height of his power.
Jesse Williams
Jesse Williams
Jesse Williams has been teaching music since 1991. He teaches at Milton Academy, Phillips Academy, Berklee College of Music’s Summer Performance Program, Beaver Country Day. He developed and directed the Jazz Program at Shady Hill School for 12 years.
He has performed throughout the world at major jazz festivals for 20 years, has recorded on two Grammy Nominated recordings, and has performed with the likes of Al Kooper, Duke Robillard, Jay Giels, Bucky Pizzarelli, Karin Alyson, Jay McShann (Charlie Parker), John Hammond, Ruth Brown, Harry Allen, Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Maria Muldaur, Charles Neville, Johnnie Johnson, and many others.
He has appeared on PBS, Sesame St., Mountain Stage, AMC, National Film Archives, as well as multiple commercial spots. Mr. Williams holds a B.A. from Berklee College of Music. He is currently bassist for the New Black Eagle Jazz Band.
FLYER Chan’s Jazz and Blues Club, 267 Main St. Woonsocket R.I. 8 pm November 23, 2013. Call 401-765-1900 for reservations.
We’re doing it again October 11-12, 2014 Columbus Day weekend! See below for tickets.
By Marce, videos by Eric Devine (CineDevine)
These House Parties are simply unique; they could only have been conceived by the iniquitous genius of Jeff Barnhart. He didn’t even realize the feat he’d achieved by bringing in Daniel Barda and Alain Marquet of the Paris Washboard, and New York’s Emily Asher and Gordon Au to mix and match with our local talent. They inspired our musicians, and vice-versa, it became euphoric, eliciting a loud “WOW” from Barnhart after every number.
The audience participates, sitting so close to the musicians they all became part of a “Family”. Friday night was Special with only Barda trombone, Marquet clarinet, Jeff Barnhart piano, and Bill Reynolds drums. Reynolds said that the fans were so close, he would hit one drum, then the tom, and then there was the face of a woman.
This was Bill’s first appearance at the House Parties, as well as the Paris Washboard. They play all over Europe, we were fortunate to have them here. It didn’t take them long to realize they had a master drummer behind them! They relaxed and had fun, playing their hearts out.
Breeze
Bill even played washboard on Washboard Wiggles (still hitting the top hat with his right foot) to complete “The Paris Washboard”.
Daniel asked Frank Batchelor to join them for It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie. Frank took lessons from him while in Switzerland one week, and plans to do it again in Paris. Great job, Frank!
Frank Batchelor trombone, joins Daniel and Alain for It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie
Daniel has growling trombone, and Alain trades fours with drums on Minor Drag.
Just One of Those Things – Fantastic!
I’ll See You In My Dreams
Jeff said, “The story is that Isham Jones was a real tightwad. When his wife bought him a piano for his 30th birthday, he was furious, sent her to bed and stayed up all night and wrote four songs to pay for it, I’ll See You In My Dreams, Spain,Swinging Down The Lane, It Had To Be You.”
Joel Schiavone joined them for the last two numbers, Running Wild, and Washington and Lee Swing.
But we had Daniel and Alain here, and all looked forward to a fine weekend!
Marilyn Snow likes to sit up close.
Did we mention that this is the Schiavone’s living room? All furniture is removed from two rooms, and 40 chairs (with pads) are set up. We are literally elbow-to-elbow, but then, we’re Family. Some are even standing up back.
Shirley Bombaci and Al Bernard
Shirley Bombaci is here recruiting for next June’s Hot Steamed Jazz Festival. (June 20-22, 2014.) She was successful with Gordon Au, maybe more. Al Bernard is definite.
At the J&J House Party, one band plays a tune maybe two, exits left. Next band enters from the right – for three 4-hour sessions. In between, we’re shouting for “NOEL!” Kaletsky is always off somewhere kibitzing with Family.
Special guests are here from New Jersey, including some from NJJS, the New Jersey Jazz Society.
Bruce Gast
Bruce Gast, NJ promoter, finds a front seat.
(Seats are first reserved, first choice.)
Glenn Ott serves lunch
Saturday began with a delicious lunch provided by Carol and Glenn Ott. Then it took off
Personnel: Emily Asher trombone, Alain Marquet , Joel Schiavone, Freddy Vigorito cornet, Ian Frankel piano , Bill Reynolds, Al Bernard tuba, Lou Bocciarelli string bass, Tom Palinko drums, Joel Schiavone, Noel Kaletsky soprano sax/clarinet, Gordon Au trumpet, Bill Reynolds, Bob Barta banjo, Jeff Barnhart piano. Check out the song list below.
First Band Saturday – Oh Baby, A real rabble-rouser!
The first band consisted of Emily Asher, Alain Marquet, Joel Schiavone, Freddy Vigorito, Ian Frankel , Bill Reynolds, Al Bernard. Oh Baby,Blues,
Baby Won’t You Please Come Home –Emily nails it!
Second band Jeff Barnhart, Noel Kaletsky clarinet, Daniel, Gordon Au trumpet, Bob Barta banjo, Lou Bocciarelli string bass, Tom Palinko drums Am I Blue, Linger a While. I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling,
And so it goes – for 3 four-hour sessions. Twelve hours of Trad Jazz.
Jeff Barnhart, instigator
Jeff Barnhart creates the musician’s list – names a leader, and ‘suggests’ a tune or tempo. In the last Party, some of the musicians had never even met. But professional as they are, they blew the roof off – spontaneously challenging, sparring with each other.
Joel Schiavone’s banjo holder
Of course, this being the home of Your Father’s Mustache, Joel Schiavone has his Banjo Frenzy and Sing Along.
Banjo Frenzy – Sing Along, California Here I Come, Ma He’s Making Eyes At Me, Toot Toot Tootsie, Suzie, Swanee,
Egyptian Ella
These are all the Tunes from Jeff & Joel’s House Party, October 11-13, 2013 with some videos.
FRIDAY
Personnel: Daniel Barda trombone, Alain Marquet clarinet, Jeff Barnhart piano, Bill Reynolds drums/washboard, Frank Batchelor trombone, Joel Schiavone banjo
I Never Knew, Daniel Barda, Alain Marquet, Jeff Barnhart, Bill Reynolds I Believe in Miracles
Lounging at the Waldorf I’ll See You In My Dreams Spain Just One of Those Things
Breeze
Minor Drag
Maple Leaf Rag
How Can You Face Me
It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie, with Frank Batchelor
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Love For Sale
Frolic Sam (Duke’s for Tricky Sam Nanton)
Washboard Wiggles – Paris Washboard with Bill Reynolds on washboard
“Paris” Washboard with Bill Reynolds on washboard (and top hat)
Ol’ Rocking Chair – Jeff Barnhart vocal (not time for Joel yet.) Running Wild, (It TIME – Joel Schiavone – WILD banjo and Alain clarinet, had the floor shaking!) Washington and Lee Swing (had the whole audience clapping in time, Jeff playing stride)
How can it get any better than this??
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Personnel: Emily Asher trombone, Alain Marquet , Joel Schiavone, Freddy Vigorito cornet, Ian Frankel piano , Bill Reynolds, Al Bernard tuba, Lou Bocciarelli string bass, Tom Palinko drums, Joel Schiavone, Noel Kaletsky soprano sax/clarinet, Gordon Au trumpet, Bill Reynolds, Bob Barta banjo, Jeff Barnhart
Oh Baby, with Emily Asher, Alain Marquet, Joel Schiavone, Freddy Vigorito, Ian Frankel, Bill Reynolds, Al Bernard – real rabble rouser! Blues,
Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling, Jeff B, Noel Kaletsky clarinet, Daniel, Gordon Au trumpet, Bob Barta banjo, Lou Bocciarelli string bass, Tom Palinko drums Am I Blue
Linger a While
Someday You’ll Be Sorry, Emily Asher, Ian Frankel, Bob Barta, Lou Bocciarelli, Bill Reynolds
Emily Asher on trombone
Emily sings Someday You’ll Be Sorry
Cake Walking Babies, Joel, Alain, Gordon, Freddy, Daniel, Albie, Ian, Bill Shine – added Noel Kaletsky on soprano sax
Banjo Frenzy – Bye Bye Blues, Joel, Noel, Bob, Albie, Jeff, Tom
Sing Along, California Here I Come, Ma He’s Making Eyes At Me, Toot Toot Tootsie, Suzie, Swanee,
Egyptian Ella
Banjo Frenzy with 3 banjos photo by Sue Finn
When I Found You, Emily, Ian, Bob, Gordon, Noel, Bill
Dinah, Daniel, Freddy, Alain, Albie, Jeff, Bill drums – Everyone respects Bill Reynolds drumming, even Albie and his tuba. Never saw this before!! Then Freddy gets everyone wired for a barn-burning finale.
Abbondanza: Jeff, Daniel, Freddy, Alain, Albie, Bill Reynolds
I’m In Heaven, Barta does every year for his wife
Mood Indigo: Bob B. Lou B. Daniel, Emily, Tom, Jeff
You Do Something To Me: Ian Frankel and Lou Bocciarelli
Keeping Out of Mischief Now: Ian solo
Ian Frankel photo by Sue Finn
China Boy: Joel, Bob, banjos, Noel, Alain, Gordon, Lou, Ian, Bill two banjos
Bogalusa Strut: Noel, Daniel, Alain, Bob, Ian, Gordon, Albie, Bill Dans Les Rue D’Antibes
Honky Tonky Town: Daniel, Emily, Freddy, Noel, Joel, Albie, Tom, Jeff 4806
I Would Do Most Anything For You: Fred, Emily, Alain, Joel, Jeff, Albie, Tom 4807
You’re Nobody’s Sweetheart Now: Trio, Jeff, Alain, Bill
called for NOEL!
Sugar: Noel, Alain, Ian, Bill, Lou China Town
China Town
Sweet Georgia Brown: Daniel, Bob, Lou, Bill, Ian
I’ll Be Your Friend With Pleasure, Gordon & Freddy, Jeff, Bill, Bob
Some Of These Days: Alain, Daniel, Emily, Gordon, Noel, Bob, Jeff, Albie East Coast Trot
End of Saturday Session 1
SATURDAY EVENING
Same Personnel:
Emily Asher trombone, Alain Marquet , Joel Schiavone, Freddy Vigorito cornet, Ian Frankel piano , Bill Reynolds, Al Bernard tuba, Lou Bocciarelli string bass, Tom Palinko drums, Joel Schiavone, Noel Kaletsky soprano sax/clarinet, Gordon Au trumpet, Bill Reynolds, Bob Barta banjo, Jeff Barnhart
Maple Leaf Rag: Jeff Barnhart solo
Georgia Camp Meeting: Fred & Gordon, Alain, Daniel, Joel, Albie, Bill R.
Joe Avery’s Blues: Emily, Albie, both Bill & Bob sharing drums, no piano
Oh Honey: Emily, Noel, Jeff, Bob, Albie, Bill I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling
Joel Sing Along: Joel, Tom, Jeff, Albie, Bob This is WHY we have House Parties!! Those Were The Days
Take Me Out to The Ball Game
Maisie
The Band Played On
East Side, West Side
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Glory Glory Halleluiah
Dixie
Happy Feet: Gordon singing, Daniel, Noel, Bob, Lou, Bill
Judy Stewart couldn’t sit anymore – had to get up and dance!
Hold My Hand: Daniel, Alain, Bill, Jeff
Daniel, Alain, Jeff, and Bill
There Is a Girl I Love: Daniel & Alain with Jeff, Bill
Minor Drag: Bill Reynolds on washboard
Bill Reynolds takes out washboard to complete “The Paris Washboard”
Bill and his Washboard
Row, Row, Row – Joel Schiavone
“And then he’d Row, Row, Row, right up the river he would row, row, row………..”
And on that note, I had to leave.
2014 – Oct. 11-12, Columbus Day Weekend, Jeff & Joel’s House Party. Tickets are already selling: Maureen (203)208-1481. (She works most days, so return calls will be in the evening.)
Trumpeter, Mike Mitchell of Novel Jazz, wails away during a sweet ballad. The Novel Jazz Septet will be performing classic jazz at Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta, ME, on Thursday 21 November, 2013, 7PM to 9:30PM. The performance will also feature Barney Balch (trombone), Mickey Felder (piano), Bryan Jones (alto sax), Dave Clarke (guitar) plus special guests Ezra Rugg (string bass) and Chris Rogers (percussion). This evening continues the 9th year of Novel Jazz concerts at Skidompha, bringing live jazz to mid-coast audiences. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. (Photo by Elaine Jones)
NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO SKIDOMPHA PUBLIC LIBRARY, NOVEMBER 21st
Novel Jazz will return to Skidompha Public Library, Main Street, Damariscotta on Thursday, 21 November 2013, from 7-9:30 PM for a special evening of jazz in the library’s atrium. This is the band’s 9th year of concerts at Skidompha, which began with the observation that lovers of books often are lovers of jazz. Moreover, the superb acoustics of Skidompha’s atrium, plus the seating “in the round”, make it a superior place to see and hear the performance, all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond) for several decades.
As is their habit, they’ll be playing a wide selection of compositions from the Great American Songbook but they’ll also feature works by jazz greats Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, their musical “cornerstones”. Performing will be Barney Balch (trombone), Mike Mitchell (trumpet), Mickey Felder (piano), Dave Clark (guitar), Bryan Jones (alto saxophone), and two special guests Chris Rogers (percussion) and Ezra Rug (acoustic bass).
Those of you who have heard these guests know you are in for a treat. Chris Rogers has been performing on drums for more than 40 years. He is a highly versatile performer, playing a myriad of different styles; he has toured throughout New England, Canada and overseas. Chris strives for simplicity, purity, and precision in his playing. He has a number of major label recordings to his credit, and is a requested studio player.
Ezra Rugg studied acoustic bass with New York session player Ben Street, electric bass with local legend Glen Dubois, Afro-Cuban percussion with Al Delgado, and drums with Steve Grover. Doubling as a recording engineer, Ezra has produced albums with local groups Tree By Leaf, Shawn Mercer, the Straight Up Jazz Trio, and Shades Of Blue. He also produces jingles for local radio. Ezra has been frequently featured on MPBN radio as part of Rich Tozier’s jazz program.
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. We encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form. The library is located on Main Street in downtown Damariscotta. Call 207-563-5513 during business hours for more information.
Don’t miss Novel Jazz the week before Thanksgiving at Skidompha Library… jazz to warm your toes on a cool autumn eve!
Dan Gabel trombone/vocals, Nikolas Anadolis piano, and Steve Taddeo drums
Blackstone Valley Music students opened with a fine a capella Trio, Vito Caccavelli guitar/voice, Nathaniel Thompson voice, Jane Walker violin/voice
Nathaniel Thompson voice, Vito Caccavelli guitar/voice, Jane Walker violin/voice
Wee Dark Engine Room:
In that wee dark engine room,
Where the chill seeps through your soul,
How we huddled round that wee pot stove
That burned oily rags and coal.
How the winter blizzards blow, and the whaling fleet’s at rest,
Tucked in Leigh harbor’s sheltered bay, safely anchored ten abreast.
The whalers at their stations, as from she’d to she’d they go,
Carry little bags of coal with them, and a little iron stove.
They sang every chorus, taking us on the ship with this powerful, warm song about a little iron stove. They closed with Amazing Grace, a well known spiritual. We’re thankful to Blackstone Valley Music for encouraging these young musicians in their love of music!
Dan Gabel’s Tag Trio was the feature – Tag for Taddeo, Anadolis, and Gabel.
Dan Gabel TAG Trio
Nikolas Anadolis is from Greece, and had just returned from playing piano in Romania and Germany. A fine trio they are, and definitely enjoy playing the music of the 30’s and 40’s. They added some new material, and a few Folk songs from various countries.
Dan Gabel, crooner
They began with their theme, Whispering, Dan Gabel beginning with the verse, crooning in his best Bing.
Dan Gabel brings out Tommy Dorsey.
All of Me, was a “good ol’ good one” with Nikolas’ flying fingers all over the piano, Taddeo playing boom-chick softly with brushes. From the mid-20’s, If I Had You brought out the Tommy Dorsey sound.
Steve Taddeo using soft brushes on drums
They moved to Cole Porter tunes, always good terrain, with two pop tunes and one not so well known. Dan really laying it on thick like Eddy Cantor in the 1928, Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love, winding it up in a British accent.
Cole Porter’s 1946 I Love You in a rhumba beat, Nikolas exhibiting his classical training. From 1956 High Society, the seldom heard I Love You Samantha. Found a New Baby, tom tom drums took the intro, with Dan on growling trombone, Taddeo let loose on drums.
Nikolas stretched out on this solo with Hoagie Carmichael’s Nearness of You.
Classic Masterpiece!
A played a Greek folk tune that Nik taught Dan translates to Leave Your Cares to the Wind. Love Is Just Around The Corner, was recorded by guitarist George Van Epps around 1946-49 with drummer Nick Fatool, (born in Millville MA in 1915).
They left us with a parting song, Fat Waller’s fabulous Honeysuckle Rose, delightful piano, Taddeo still on brushes. (He never let the full Gene Krupa loose the way he usually does.) The audience still said this was the finest performance they’ve heard in this series of Music at Mendon.
Music at Mendon is supported by the Congregation with some grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. This was the last presentation for the year; they will return in March 2014, and we’re sure there’s be some form of Dan Gabel Trio!
Steve Taddeo has his own Swing Senders Swing band in Waltham, and also Directs the Dick Donovan Big Band Monday nights at the American Legion,140 River Rd. Middleton MA.
Dan Gable and The Abletones Big Band play on the first Friday of the month at the Scandinavian Athletic Center at 438 Lake St. in Shrewsbury at 7:30pm
Nikolas Anadolis attended music academies in Greece. He applied to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received a full International Presidential Scholarship. www.nikolasjazz.com//.
Nik & Dan will be playing in a Community Outreach Program, spreading cheer all over New England over the coming Holidays. Watch for them!
Scott Philbrick Cornet, Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball reeds, Lee Prager trombone, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard tuba, Bobby Reardon drums
At The Jazz Band Ball, the Seacoast Stompers warned us in advance that this was going to be delectable hot Jazz, with another full house at the Acton Jazz Café. They added some new songs, Why Do I Like To Myself About You? and included some old Dixieland Chestnuts, Royal Garden Blues, After You’ve Gone, Baby Brown.
Stadler makes full use of the Café’s beautiful Yamaha Baby Grand. He plots a loose course, giving the musicians room to make suggestions, and they do – most of them are accustomed to leading their own bands.
Frank Stadler leads band from the Yamaha Baby Grand
Bobby Reardon keeps the band in time. Photo by Harold McAleer
Albie pushes with his powerful tuba, Jimmy’s single string banjo at high velocity, Bobby Reardon steering them discreetly.
Albie and Jimmy
With that fabulous rhythm behind them, the front line is free to explore with great solos and ensemble, mixing harmonies. This Joint is Jumpin’!
Jimmy’s vocals come from the heart; as if he’s crying for his lost love. If I Had You,
Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, Old Fashioned Love, A Hundred Years From Today, Song of the Wanderer.
He’s scatting on Japanese Sandman.
Whitney interweaves innumerable snippets of tunes with his trumpet, and also does some vocals: the 1930’s tune Fats wrote on a restaurant bill, I’m Confessing, Mobile, Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby. He’s scatting on Baby Brown.
Craig Ball, leader of White Heat Swing Orchestra
The ensemble connects on Sheik of Araby. Craig Ball’s clarinet is almost kissing the mic on Stevedore Stomp. He’s in soft tone on I’m Beginning to See The Light.
Dave and Scott go at it!
Trumpet and cornet are teasing and testing each other on Devil and The Deep Blue Sea. As Time Goes By Dave’s sweet trumpet is backing Scott’s cornet. They take turns leading and comping on all the tunes.
Lee Prager fills in the short gaps
LEE Lee Prager is constantly listening, filling in any gap. That takes talent!
We look forward to the amazing exchanges between the trombone and cornet. There’s a friendly duel between Lee and Scott at least once in every session – trombone keeping up with the cornet’s myriad notes up and down the register. It’s all in great fun!
By now the tension is so hot Jimmy loses it on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing. Trading fours scatting with the band, he bursts out with his infamous scream, signifying another winning session!
They will repeat it on the first Saturday of next month, December 8th. Don’t miss it!
Seacoast Stompers tune list – Nov 2, 2013 – Acton Jazz Cafe
Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 As Time Goes By / Sleepy Time Down South
3 Royal Garden Blues
4 After You’ve Gone
5 Why Do I Lie To Myself About You
6 If I had You
7 Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
8 I’m Confessing
9 Song of the Wanderer
Set 2
1 Sheik of Araby
2 Mobile
3 Please Don’t Talk About Me
4 Old Fashioned Love
5 Baby Brown
6 All Of Me
Set 3
1 Joint is Jumpin, the
2 Hundred Years From Today, A
3 Stevedore Stomp
4 Japanese Sandman
5 Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
6 I’m Beginning to see the Light
7 It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing
The first thing you need to know is that Lake Street, Shrewsbury, is NOT on the Lake. If you can see the lake, you’re either in Worcester or on Quinsigamond Ave. in Shrewsbury. Lake St. comes off Route 9 at one end and Rt. 20 at the other end – where it sharply veers off away from the Lake.
A=Scandenavian Athletic Club on Lake Street Shrewsbury
Back in the 40’s, is was The Gazebo, and featured famous artists such as the Artie Shaw Orchestra. It was a fitting setting for Dan Gabel and The Abeltones on this First Friday, November 1, 2013. It’s a warm, friendly place, with large shiny, slippery, wood dance floor, and full bar; perfect for dancing, listening, mingling and sharing all things Big Band.
This was the premiere of the First Friday Series at SAC Park. They began with dance lessons. Being the day after Halloween, the musicians all wore costume hats and performed powerful music to a delighted crowd of Swing and Ballroom dancers. Swing, Ballads, Boogies, Cha Chas, Waltzes, Tangos, you name it – they played it, with a new splendid singer, vocalist Elise Roth.
Video by C.S. Imming
Bill Doyle, guitar
The Halloween set included Artie Shaw’s Nightmare, Nelson Riddle’s Witchcraft. Moon songs, Moon River,Blue Ray.
Will Bradley’s Orchestra recorded this swingin’ jazz tune in 1940 – Celery Stalks at Midnight. Drummer Jim Gancarz took the vocals, while Gabel took over the drums!
Bill Doyle’s nightmarish headset was flashing green lights.
Tunes were dedicated to the Red Sox’s winning team, who had just captured the World Series. Massachusetts, and a tune that Dan wrote, Live Free or Die. There was a terrific tenor sax duel between Ed Harlow and Mike ? on a tango, Sally’s Song. Dan changed the words to Everybody Loves Rhode Island to Everybody Loves the Red Sox.
He wrote Abletones’ Jive – cleverly introducing each musician. They will return on the first Friday of every month, sharing all things Big Band. If you can’t wait, check out their CDs.
Jeff Hughes trumpet, Pete Tillotson bass, Ross Petot piano
Jeff Hughes trumpet, Dan Weiner guitar, Ross Petot piano, Pete Tillotson string bass, Dave Didriksen drums, Debby Larkin vocals, Jeff Stout trumpet
What an extraordinary evening – All Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn, who could ask for anything more? Jeff Hughes and Dan Weiner are the front line, but everyone gets a piece of the action.
They kicked it off with Benny Carter’s 1930’s When Lights Are Low. Duke dedicated some tunes to Johnny Hodges, “Jeep”, his alto sax player from Boston. Jeep’s Blues, featured Tillotson’s string bass, and The Jeep is Jumpin’ featured Didriksen’s drumming.
Debby Larkin, one of New England’s finest vocalists, stepped in for Everything But You. She introduced the band to this; it was the first time they’ve ever played it, with Jeff on flugelhorn. He went back to his Benge trumpet for In a Mellow Tone (the chords borrowed from the 1922 Rose Room). Jeff gets amazing tones out of that July 1941 handmade trumpet; brilliant, blazing sounds, like a complete brass section!
Billy Strayhorn’s Johnny Come Lately featured Ross and ‘The Boys’. Dan’s strong 4×4 guitar traded with Tillotson’s bass. Deb was back with a sexy little song, Squeeze Me, the bass softly playing melody right along with her vocal.
Our Queen of the Sherborn Inn, Lynn Sickle was back after six weeks of rehab, sitting in her special seat by the piano. This time she had her family with her. Deb sang Lynn’s favorite song, All of Me and we all shared in a tasty piece of cake provided by Manager Phil Cocco. Phil said “Lynn has made our lives uplifting for over 15 years.”
Lynn and Bob Sickle welcomed back with cake.
Lynn and Bob Sickle and family.
Jeff’s flugelhorn had a full, rich, smoky sound on Strayhorn’s signature tune, Lush Life. It’s a very difficult tune for musicians to play.
Jeff Hughes plays Lush Life on flugelhorn.
John and Gisela Brunaccini dance all evening!
Deb returned with nice dance tune with Ross piano, All Too Soon. John and Gisela Brunaccini were back, traipsing the light fantastic.
Ross was featured on an exhausting tempo with the rhythm section on his own arrangement of Juan Tizol’s – Caravan. Dan Weiner played a fluid and imaginative special guitar feature, Jobim’s Theme from Black Orpheus. The last time we heard it here was with Don Alessi. Tradition continues.
Dan Weiner featured on Black Orpheus, with drummer Dave Didriksen
Duke Ellington collaborated with four composers for I’m Beginning to See The Light, Debby vocal. The band’s marvelous ensemble was apparent on Ben Webster’s Cottontail. They moved to a Spanish beat with Billy Strayhorn’s After All. Jeff played Chelsea Bridge with crystal clear open bell trumpet.
He was joined by another Jeff, Jeff Stout, “one of the finest trumpets in the entire world”. The two raised the roof on Perdido! WILD!
Jeff Hughes, Jeff Stout, formidable trumpets
Jeff Stout and Debby have been married 21 years; Jeff joins us at the Inn whenever Deb is here. They introduced Take Love Easy. She said, “Musicians like it when they hear it.”
Jeff Stout joins Debby on Take Love Easy
Ross’s pearly notes were again featured with rhythm, What Am I Here For? a Duke tune not often heard, great rhythm and piano. Deb was back with A train, they let the drums go, then two trumpets took over. Fabulous!
Jeff’s flugelhorn caressed a great ballad that Duke wrote, Warm Valley. (It was not geographical.) They closed with his Good Queen Bess.
They sent us home with a good thought – We’ll Be Together Again, Jeff ending it in a soaring trumpet flourish.
Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball tenor sax/clarinet, Ken Steiner string bass, Ross Petot piano, Dave Bragdon drums.
White Heat Quintet is a solid Swing Band with memorable Benny Goodman tunes, some Bix, Gershwin, a tribute to Louis Armstrong, and tonight, even some Rudy Vallee.
Craig Ball on tenor sax
Craig started the evening on gut-wrenching tenor sax on Linger a While, presenting a sample of what was forthcoming this evening.
Whitney did his tribute to Louis Armstrong with multi-layered trumpet playing on Gypsy, with a vocal backed by Ross’s fine piano, Craig said, “No wonder he’s called Dean of Swing Trumpet”!
Get Happy was a blistering tune. Bragdon let loose on drums and they wrapped it up with WILD trumpet and clarinet challenging each other, setting sparks flying.
Ross was featured on piano with Gone With The Wind, resurrecting James P. Johnson; Dave’s soft, rolling brushes on snare drum backed Ken’s string bass solo.
Ken Steiner slapping that bass!
Found a New Baby, Whitney led on trumpet, Craig comping on clarinet. We can’t get enough of Ken Steiner’s fantastic slap bass, strings bouncing off the finger board!
San, began with the verse, Whitney’s trumpet sounding like Bix Beiderbecke when he was with Paul Whitman; fun Turkey Trot. Craig’s Benny Goodman clarinet on Begin The Beguine brought back fond memories.
I Would do Most Anything For, Whitney on vocal, drum and string bass were right behind him, Craig playing fast run on clarinet. It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing – Barnburner! They followed with something sweet and slow, Deep Night, written by Rudy Vallee for Vagabond Lover. This was a first for us.
Ross is actually smiling!
Then it was Gershwin time – Ross playing ragtime, Nice Work If You Can Get It, segueinginto a fine Swing number. If you’re looking for SWING, this is the place!
For the last half hour, Craig called for a Swing Jam, inviting musicians to join them. First man up was Marty Lieberman on clarinet with Bye Bye Blackbird. (Marty is responsible for starting Sam’s Jam about 30 years ago.) Peter Gerler joined them on guitar for I Never Knew.
Laurie Young
Vocalist Lorrie Young likes Billie Holiday, stepped up with Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine. She’ll be back here in a few weeks. Her ‘alter ego’ Stacie Brandon joined her for How High The Moon. (We hope the names are correct.)
Jeff Hughes just listening in the audience finally stepped up with his mellow, melodic flugel horn; I Let a Song Get Out of My Heart, with warm interplay with Whitney’s trumpet. When these two get together, it’s pure magic!
The White Heat Swing Quintet finished with Wholly Cats, that the Benny Goodman Sextet did in 1940 in NYC with Charlie Christian, Cootie Williams, George Auld, Artie Bernstein and Harry Jaeger.
Trumpet and flugel horn duet trading fours in vibrato, fiery clarinet, Ross offering just the right chords on piano, Peter Gerler’s supple fingers on guitar, Bragdon’s driving drums, Steiner slapping that bass – closed a formidable evening of Sensational Swing!
A Group of ‘swingers’ passing by from the dining room stopped dead in their tracks, surprised to find such great Swing here at the Sherborn Inn. They loved it! Let’s hope they return and bring friends.
Stan McDonald clarinet/soprano sax, Jeff Stout trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Didriksen drums.
Blue Horizon Jazz Band, now celebrating 18 years at the Sherborn Inn, performed another evening of fine Traditional Jazz, with a superb front line backed by the splendid rhythm section.
Stan started on clarinet for Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, moving to soprano sax, complemented by the powerful trumpet of Jeff Stout and tailgate trombone of Gerry Gagnon. Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You, Rose of the Rio Grand. Four or Five Times is always played in a slow beat.
All By Myself – Berklee Professor Jeff Stout was introduced to ‘new’ old tunes played by the Bechet-Spanier Big Four. The Big Four consisted of soprano sax and trumpet with only guitar and bass – but the Blue Horizon also has invaluable trombone, piano and drum.
Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me, Stan conjuring the echo of Sidney Bechet on soprano sax, with trumpet and trombone following in rhythmic harmony.
Stan McDonald sings Lotus Blossom
Lotus Blossom, Stan singing one of his favorites.
Ross’s lovely piano solo was backed by Dave’s soft brushes on snare drum. Stan closed it with crisp high note on soprano sax.
Ross Petot, pianist extraordinaire
PIanist extraordinaire, Ross Petot’s artistry as a stride pianist is renowned; he played improvised New Orleans stride on W. C. Handy’s Ole Miss, backed by Peter Gerler’s guitar.
Kansas City Man Blues was a sublime piece of ensemble playing. Bechet recorded it with Bob Wilbur in 1947.
Gerry Gagnon, Dave Didriksen, Jeff Stout
Al Ehrenfried
Marie Elena was played in Habanera style, front line inspired by the burning tempo. Didriksen listened carefully, anticipating where they were heading, with Al Ehrenfried’s pulsing string bass beside him. Exciting!
Gerry Gagnon belts it out!
Lonesome Road, Stan began on vocal, then gave Gerry Gagnon a chance to belt it out. Astounding! He could reach the back of a theater without a mic!
Stan doesn’t stray far from Bechet, returning with Marchand de Poisson.
They Closed with rapturous Indian Summer, this month’s theme. This timeless song was written by Victor Herbert in 1919 but not made famous until 1940 by Sidney Bechet. In 1978, Stan recorded his own compelling version (available on Blue Horizon Records). http://bluehorizonjazzband.com/
