Jazz Sea Cruise – January 1-19, 2018 Phone 352.205.1777 Fax: 352.415.0779
Riverboat Stompers
The Riverboat Stompers with guest Craig Ball performed peppy renditions of New Orleans favorites at Primavera Ristorante, with Craig Ball (cl), Neil Flewelling (ct), Frank Batchelor (tb), Steve Taddeo (dr), Phil Hower (p), Pierre Lemieux (tu), and Eric Baldwin (bj)
by Marce, videos by Pierre Lemieux
They began with Original Dixieland Jazz Band One Step, celebrating The ODJB’s recording of Jazz for the first time 100 years ago!
Neil and Frank filling in for Steve Straus.
Leader Steve Strauss was on temporary disability, so Frank Batchelor led the band and Neil and Frank took turns doing the vocals, having fun with You Took Advantage of Me.I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.
Phil Hower
Phill Hower introduced Rose of Washington Square. (He’s the only one who knows the verses.) Phil’s heroes are the great stride pianists of the 1920’s and ’30’s, and he emulates their techniques and style. with a strongly rhythmic left hand.
Frank did the vocal, Phil in absolute rapture on keyboard. Eric Baldwin took this solo on guitar
The theme from This Old House, Louisiana Fairy Tale is always a favorite!
Pierre Lemieux
Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen – Eric moved to banjo. Excellent solos all around, including Pierre Lemieux’s tuba. Pierre maintains that Trad Jazz beat in many bands!
Phil Hower and Pierre Lemieux have been with the Riverboat Stompers band since its inception in 1990.
Bei Mir Bis Du Schon (To me you are Beautiful)
Somebody Stole My Gal was WILD with Craig Ball clarinet. The high ferver continued with Coney Island Washboard Roundelay.
Steve Taddeo and Craig Ball
Steve Taddeo’s drumming was tasteful and appropriate, evoking Baby Dodds behind the soloists. He added an excellent drum roll solo on Floating Down to Cotton Town.
Eric Baldwin
We’ve been listening to Eric Baldwin play guitar for many years, but we really enjoyed Eric’s banjo playing!
Frank Batchelor
Frank Batchelor sang It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie, followed by fine band ensemble.
Muskrat Ramble
Phil started Sweet Lorraine; he knows ALL the verses. Eric returned to guitar; Neil took the lead, calling out the time for an upbeat Ain’t She Sweet.
Fine front line
Neil Flewellen
Neil playing a superb Sleepy Time Down South. Neil has been heard playing both in the Dixieland-style and swing all across New England.
He took the vocal on Bill Bailey, Please Come Home.
They closed with a relatively new tune, Moonlight. Steve Straus will be back with this Powerhouse Group at Primavera March 23rd and ….
NOTE THIS! The band will be taking its first Jazz Cruise January 5-19 on the Holland America Caribbean Dixieland Jazz Cruise, with Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz, New Orleans Nighthawks, & Grand Dominion, and more!
Join them… Phone 352.205.1777 Fax: 352.415.0779 Dixieland Jazz Sea Cruises
Bob Winter keys, Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Ted Casher clarinet and tenor sax, Phil Person trumpet and Herb Gardner trombone and vocals. Not shown: Elaine Wu and Watson Reid vocals.
The Hot Six were in rare form, playing to a full house at Primavera Restaurant. There was a highly receptive audience! Ted was back after an illness with his moose-enhanced clarinet, Bob Tamagni was back on drums after recovering from surgery. Eli led the band starting with God Bless America.
Elaine Wu
Lullaby of Birdland featured the return of spitfire vocalist Elaine Wu …we look forward to hearing her. She captivated the audience with Embraceable You.
Sophisticated Lady started with fine ensemble, with Elaine adding her fulsome voice. She will be retiring as a physician soon and will have fun being a full-time Jazz Vocalist. Hurray for us!
Ted Casher
They played many tunes that were new to us – a Hymn to Roses – Tango De La Rosa – Georgeous!
Ted took a melodic intro on tenor sax for Rose Room – in remembrance of Phil Harris and Alice Faye. He is amazing on any instrument – whether clarinet, tenor or soprano sax.
Watson Reed
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Watson Reid took center stage for a bright and buoyant Flat Foot Floogie with a Floy Floy; and later sang an unusually slow verse on Bill Bailey, embellishing and improvising the tune.
Herb Gardner
Versatile musician, Herb Gardner was featured on trombone and vocal with Close Your Eyes. His trombone traded fours with Ely’s tuba on Hoagie Carmichael’s New Orleans.
Since Herb moved back here from New York, we enjoy his many stories of all the legendary musicians he played with at the Metropole, Eddie Condon’s and more.
Limehouse Blues was a WILD instrumental, with each musician contributing his instrumental voice.
Phil Peson
Phil Person’s sweet muted trumpet was a riveting concerto with his range of tone and shading on Sugar.
Herb joined him, closing with a soulful vocal.
Eli Newberger, leader
Eli transformed that cumbersome tuba into a viable solo instrument on a sublime Memories of You. Jimmy Mazzy usually accompanies him, but was unavailable this evening.
It was a rambunctious, uplifting evening of fine music with Bob Winter playing many colors on piano and always sneaking in a few surprises. They do enjoy playing together!
Bob Winter and Eli Newberger
Bob Tamagni showed us he’s feeling just fine, ending this memorable evening with Tiger Rag:
Eli and The Hot Six were not at Primavera in February, but will return with Hot Jazz on March 16th with the full crew and Bo Winiker back on trumpet. Hope to see you there!!
With the film awards season in full swing, the 2017 showcase will appropriately feature works from a variety of movie soundtracks, including blockbusters like Star Wars, The Godfather, The Lion King, Rocky, along with selections from the Austin Powers and the James Bond series.
The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium. Ticket prices are $3 for UMass students; $5 for other students, seniors & children, and $10 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 413-545-2511, or online atwww.fineartscenter.com/musicanddance. Parking is available in the nearby Campus Center Garage, located on Campus Center Way. For more information, please refer to the UMass interactive parking map.
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About the UMass Amherst Department of Music & Dance
Founded in 1938, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Music and Dance is one of the largest and most respected of its kind in New England, offering students conservatory-quality training in the diverse and dynamic setting of a public research university. For more information, please visit www.umass.edu/music.
The Music and Dance Department is part of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, UMass Amherst
Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar and banjo, Stu Gunn double string bass, Rich Malcolm drums.
Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band enthusiastically opened the 2017 Thursday Jazz Season raring to play Traditional Jazz after a two month hiatus.
Stan McDonald, leader with Stu Gunn behind him
Stan kicked off many of the tunes on sax starting with Roses of Picardy. Phil Person took the lead with Stan playing counterpoint on many tunes for an evening of fine Traditional Jazz.
Phil Person
Phil Person adds his own unique voice on trumpet with beautifully simple phrasing, understanding this Trad Jazz that isn’t often heard at Berklee, where he teaches all levels of Ear Training. Listening is vital to improvising great jazz.
John Kafalas
Hot rhythm intro to Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You, Stan and Phil playing riffs on Kafalas’ trombone solo.
John Kafalas has been a member of the band in the past and fills in for the few times Gerry Gagnon is away.
(Check out his 1988 Jimmy Mazzy Podcasts on http://www.kafalas.net/jazzcast/)
When I Leave The World Behind was dedicated to my cousin, Donald Fleuette, who died at two o’clock that afternoon in a Providence Hospice. Thank you! It’s been a tough three months.
Blues in the Air started with a guitar intro, great solos by front line, ending with Stan soprano sax cadenza. They played great ensemble on Memphis Blues.
Front Line, John Kafalas, Stan McDonald, Phil Person
Jack Soref was featured solo on a banjo/guitar with Sunny Side of The Street, backed by fine string bass and drum. He says the banjo/guitar was Django Rheinhardt’s original instrument. It’s a banjo with a guitar neck. Swing That Music was WILD! He also played Georgia Cabin on banjo.
Stu Gunn
Stu ensures they have the proper chords. He’s always listening, filling in any holes that might suddenly appear. He played fine slap bass on Everybody Loves My Baby.
He is first call on string bass and also plays symphonic classical music in several orchestras. Knows his stuff!
Rich Malcolm uses many subtle tricks keeping the Trad Jazz Beat – you need to watch him carefully to catch them. On Marchand de Poisson he turned the drum sticks around and played them with the backside giving it more emphasis. Instead of rim-tapping or using a wood block, he taps on a couple of sticks wired between the drums.
Backward sticks
Tapping on sticks instead of rim
Dardanella started with a 4-bar rhythm vamp, Stan playing fine chorus on soprano sax, and ending with a band stinger!
They closed with Louis’s Sleepy Time Down South.
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will be playing the first Thursday of every month at Primavera Ristorante. Check out the Primavera Schedule. Thank you, Ellen McDonald!
Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keyboard, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Carolyn Newberger washboard, no drums – Bob Tamagni was absent because of recent surgery.
The group members are obviously excellent jazz musicians. They have an obvious camaraderie and love of what they’re doing that is charming and infectious. Eli sprinkled informative and entertaining commentary between songs.
They started with Jimmy Mazzy giving a poignant vocal of Closer Walk With Thee, Phil Person trumpet taking the intro, Ted Casher joining him on clarinet, then Herb’s trombone backed by Jimmy banjo, Eli tuba solo with a deep, sonorous tone, maintaining that contemporary classic beat. Jimmy’s banjo took it out.
We were surprised with something this audience never heard here – a tune by Charlie Parker – Hard Times. Honeysuckle Rose was more familiar, with I Got Rhythm bridge. The guys were all scatting in sync. Not bad!!
We were glad to see Ted Casher back!
Ted was featured on tenor sax with Just Me, Just You. Ted was just released from the hospital few weeks ago! He certainly is dedicated to this music, sounded fantastic!
Jimmy Mazzy
Change of pace with a Bix Beiderbecke tune, with Jimmy singing I’m Coming Virginia.
Jimmy Mazzy enjoys iconic status as both a banjoist and vocalist on the American jazz scene. For more than forty years, this consummate musician has delighted followers of traditional jazz with his uniquely lyrical banjo style and his wonderfully haunting vocals.
Bob Winter
Bob Winter plays skillful, soft commentary behind the soloists and vocals. Eli asked him to play the rarest Rag he knows – Bob picked the1947 Sunday.
Since 1980, Bob Winter has been the pianist with the Boston Pops and Pops Esplanade Orchestras, with Keith Lockhart and John Williams, conducting at Symphony Hall and for many tours and recordings. Bob joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music in 1972, where he is still a professor of piano.
Jimmy and Eli
Eli dug way back to find Earl Hynes’ Monday. The band jumped right into it. Jimmy was keeping the beat in the absence of drummer Bob Tamagni, who recently had surgery. He will return in January. Jimmy and Eli played a dazzling duet.
Dr. Newberger is classically trained at Juilliard and Yale, he is a virtuoso jazz tuba and keyboard player who has cut more than 40 records with the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, which he co-founded in 1970. Dr. Newberger also won three national readers’ polls for best jazz tuba player! Often with banjo player/singer Jimmy Mazzy, he delights his audiences with musically illustrated lectures on character building.
Dark Eyes – Ochichyornye, Ardent fan, Valentina Cass, originally from Crimea, translated the words from Russian:
Black eyes, passionate eyes, Burning and beautiful eyes! How I love you, how I fear you, It seems I met you in an unlucky hour!
Clarinet with moose-horn insert
Ted brought a taste of klezmer with fantastic clarinet on a tune relating to Nikolai Romanovich. His clarinet has a moose-horn insert that gives is a unique sound.
One of the busiest jazzmen in New England, clarinetist and saxophonist Ted Casher’s career spans studying and teaching at the Berklee College of Music, clarinet performances with front-rank traditional jazz stars like Louis Armstrong, starring as solo clarinetist in bands that revive the legacies of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Ted is renowned for his fluent improvisations, exquisite sound, klezmer inflections and boffo sense of humor.
To appease the Mouldy Fygs in the audience Eli added a very fast South Rampart Street Parade, starting at a pretty good clip, with the front line in marvelous polyphony.
Phil Person
Phil Person was featured on fabulous trumpet with Hoagie Carmichael’s New Orleans.
Phil Person is leader of the Phil Person Sextet, Quintet, and Quartet, and teaches all levels of Ear Training at Berklee. He adds his own unique voice on trumpet to the Hot Six with beautifully simple phrasing, deep understanding of the emotions of the music, and respect for the other players. He’s a true gentleman, who always listens and plays with a light touch.
Ted was asked to play something – he came up with Struttin’ With some Barbecue. He didn’t tell anyone what he was going to play but after a few notes, they all weaved their way in. HOT Tune!
Herb Gardner sings
Herb Gardner was featured singing and playing rich, burnished tone on trombone with Slow Boat to China.
Trombonist Herb Gardner moved to NY in 1963 and began touring with Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood as well as becoming a regular at the Metropole, Jimmy Ryan’s and Eddie Condon’s nightclubs. During the ‘60s and ’70s, he appeared with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City area such as Roy Eldridge, Gene Krupa, Henry “Red” Allen, Bobby Hackett, Jimmy Rushing, Doc Cheatham, Max Kaminsky and even Wingy Manone. We’re pleased he’s back in Massachusetts!
The evening was filled with corny jokes – mandated by the boss. Eli requested a funny Dixieland tune. Carolyn Newberger joined them with a delightful performance on washboard for I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. Carolyn is Eli’s wife and partner, and an artist in her own right.
Carolyn Newberger joins the band on washboard.
This is Contemporary Classic Jazz, drawing from some of the best players on the traditional jazz scene. The group’s approach honors the New Orleans tradition of ensemble improvising while featuring the solo brilliance of its distinctive, contemporary musical personalities.
Eli and The Hot Six will be back in 2017 every 3rd Thursday except February. Bob Tamagni will be back January 19th – even if he has to play with one hand. He can do anything with drums! Join us for some great Classic Contemprary Jazz and Swing!
Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher reeds, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keys, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Bob Tamagni drums
Eli & The Hot Six played fantastic contemporary jazz Thursday November 17th at Primavera Ristorante in Millis, MA. They enjoy playing together; it’s always a fun evening watching and listening to this band! Next month they will be the ONLY band playing here – save the Date, December 15th 7-9:30pm
The Front Line enjoyed playing riffs and challenging each other as Eli pointed to each of them. They worked on tunes they have never played before and others they haven’t played for years. It was a revelation!
Ted Casher, Phil Person, Herb Gardner
They began with a song Jimmy hadn’t sung in 20 years, Down By The Riverside, with the others chanting “ain’t gonna” before his every line.
Ted Casher on soprano sax
Ted Casher usually plays clarinet and tenor sax, but this evening he played mostly soprano sax. Tenor sax came out for a very fast Salt Peanuts with Jimmy scatting his chorus. At the end of the evening he played a smoky Where or When on tenor sax, the slowest that he’s played it in years.
Jimmy Mazzy is the only person who can emulate Bessie Smith’s sensual emotions.
Jimmy sang Louis Armstrong’s You’ll Never Walk Alone and absolutely astonished everyone singing the last chorus very slowly in heartfelt Mazzy style. There is only one Jimmy Mazzy in the whole world and we were privileged to hear him on Bessie Smith’s Christmas Songs: Christmas Comes But Once a Year and At The Christmas Ball.
Bob listens and accentuates Eli’s tuba
Eli and Bob Tamagni have lively exchange on a rambunctuous South Rampart St. Parade
They paid tribute to W.C. Handy on his birthday with a stunning Saint Louis Blues, with Phil’s fine solo on trumpet with the band in stop time. Eli held long difficult notes on tuba, Piano trading fours with tenor sax. They were having a ball!
Bob Winter enjoys being with this band. It’s a break from the Boston Pops.
Bob Winter was featured with deep, lush sound on a tune written by Charlie Chaplin, Smile
Phil Person filled in for Bo Winiker on trumpet
Guest trumpet Phil Person was featured on a soulful I Want a Little Girl, with band backing him in stop time. (Herb took the vocal!)
Herb Gardner played at Eddy Condon’s in NY
Herb Gardner was featured on vocal and trombone, extending the slide to its maximum length in Dixieland Style for Write Myself a Letter.
Bob Tamagni keeps the beat with many tricks
Tamagni has a minimalist Trad Jazz drum set, keeping time with tambourine on the banjo player’s national anthem, Waiting For The Sunshine. It was one of those never-ending tunes with each musician taking a final solo, Bob finally closing it on drums.
Their lyricism and expertise shaped the festive mood this evening. They closed with Eli leading on China Boy. It shows how they enjoy being together!
Eli and The Hot Six will be the only Thursday Jazz Band at Primavera in December – on the 15th at 7pm. Mark your calendars!.
by Marce
Tunes:
Down By The Riverside
Salt Peanuts
Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
South Rampart Street Parade
Saint Louis Blues
Lover
Christmas Comes But Once a Year
At The Christmas Ball
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
The World is Waiting For The Sunrise
I Want a Little Girl
Washington and Lee Swing
I Cover The Waterfront
China Boy
15 Musicians mix and match in 15 hours of foot stompin’ spontaneous jazz at Jeff and Joel’s House Party held October 9th-11th 2015 in Branford, CT.
videos and comments by Eric Devine, with a few from others….
check back periodically as MORE are added!!!
Eric Devine said, “I’m back from an amazing weekend filming Jeff & Joel’s House Party. You would think that I would be tired after 3 days of filming but I just can’t wait to get started editing. There were so many fabulous moments this year. I owe a great thanks to Jeff and Joel for allowing me to be part of the family and putting on such a great event. I have some memory cards to sort now and hope to soon share some highlights.”
(You Tube – CineDevine)
Eric: “I am starting to get approvals to post songs from Jeff & Joel’s House Party #7. This year featured the fabulous Paris Washboard in a Friday night set. In this tune from Friday night Jeff Barnhart and Louis Mazetier team up to school the audience in four handed piano playing. This set also featured social guess trombonist Frank Batchelor. Hope you enjoy this one.. ” http://www.pariswashboard.org/
Sweet Lorraine
From one of the sets Paris Washboard played at the 7th edition of Jeff & Joel’s House Party, Stéphane Séva brings us a lovely vocal rendition of this 1928 composition by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. Enjoy
Oh Baby! Here is another hot jazz tune from the 7th edition of Jeff & Joel’s House Party! enjoy. (Marce: It’s great to see Eli on piano again!!)
Piano: Eli Newberger
Cornet: Fred Vigorito
Soprano sax: Noel Kaletsky
Clarinet: Alain Marquet
Trombone: Daniel Barda
Banjo: Joel Schiavone
Bass: Lou Bocciarelli
Washboard: Stéphane Séva
Noel Kaletsky went wild on Avalon!! Lou Bocciarelli shows his stuff on string bass.
Trumpet – Danny Tobias
Clarinet: Noel Kaletsky
Trombone: Daniel Barda
Piano: Louis Mazetier
Bass: Lou Bocciarelli
Drums: Tom Palinko
“Many thanks to the incredible musicians and the folks who traveled from far and wide to enjoy the remarkable and joyous weekend of music. We send condolences to those who were absent due to unforeseen circumstance. We at JJHP are beyond proud to bring musicians and music lovers together. Thank you all.”
Maureen Cunningham was given a special cup for all her hard work. She and other volunteers work all year to make Jeff and Joel’s House Parties successful!
Freddy Vigorito said “Thank you Jeff and Joel and volunteers for a fabulous weekend of incredible Jazz and delicious food! And thank you Jazz fans for your support! On to Oct 13-15, 2017 and special guests Banu Gibson, Vince Giordano and many others.” http://www.Jeffandjoelhouseparty.com
by Marce
Videos by CineDevine
(more upcoming)
September 24, 2016
Dan Levinson clarinet/tenor sax, John Clark baritone sax/clarinet, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Bill Cable trumpet , Paul Monat cornet, Dan Gabel trombone, Ross Petot piano, Justin Meyer string bass, Bill Doyle guitar, Steve Taddeo drums, Elise Roth and Paul Agnew vocals.
Dan Levinson with Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders All-Stars
New York’s incomparable Dan Levinson joined Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders for a fabulous evening of Jazz and Swing. The 10-piece band of All Stars began Hot with a At Sundown, and it never cooled down. CineDevine videos will be added soon.
Steve called up Abletones Big Band effervescent vocalist Elise Roth for a swinging Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.
People sat on the edge of their seats listening to Dan Levinson and John Clark playing a rousing duet on Slow Boat To China.
Warm and engaging Paul Agnew sang Pennies From Heaven backed by Dan Levinson on clarinet and then Paul returned with the whole band for Ain’t She Sweet.
Paul Monat dug out his best Wild Bill Davison for Memories of You, with Dan Levinson playing counterpoint.
Elise Roth
Elise Roth returned with What a Little Moonlight Can Do, with both Jeff Hughes and Bill Cable trumpets, and Ross rippling up and down the piano keys.
Ross Petot
Ross Petot had Bemis’ marvelous vintage piano singing!
Steve walks up the aisle beginning his ‘walk around’.
The whole band backed up Steve Taddeo’s infamous ‘Drum Walk Around’ on Don’t Be That Way, with Harold McAleer video taping the whole thing. “Did you get that Harold??”
Steve tapped his way up the aisle to the back of the hall, to Marce’s table, and slammed Eric Devine’s Grandfather’s cymbal. (His Grandfather played jazz in the 50’s and 60’s in Chicago: Eugene T. Beckman 1906-1989).. As always, Steve ended the walk-around on Justin Meyer’s string bass.
An outstandiing quartet of Dan Levinson, Ross Petot, John Clark, and Steve Taddeo amazed the audience with a jazzy version of Irving Berlin’s 1927 Russian Lullaby.
Dan Gabel, leader of Abletones Big Band and High Society Orchestra.
Dan Gabel’s sophisticated trombone was featured on More Than You Know, reminiscent of Glenn Miller.
Elise continued with You Made Me Love You, with fantastic trumpet solo by Bill Cable.
Dan Levinson was featured solo on tenor sax, beginning with the verse of Song of Songs.
Finale: They blew the roof off on Steve Taddeo’s theme song – Dinah.
Finale – Dinah! Levinson also went WILD!! Bill Doyle’s rhythm guitar behind Ross’s piano solo.
Dan Levinson said he enjoyed being here and thanked everyone for their support. It was great playing with old friends he’d met at The Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festivals, and he made some new ones. He hopes to return next year.
Steve Taddeo said his All-Stars would be ready!
Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn double bass, Rich Malcolm drums
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band played uplifting and foot-tapping Traditional Jazz Thursday night at Primavera Ristaurant, with Stan and Phil taking turns on the melody or improvising around it, Gerry’s smooth (or growling) trombone, Jack’s marvelous gypsy guitar, Stu’s artful string bass supporting Rich’s one-beat drum-rolls behind the fine solos.
They played many of our favorite tunes: Set 1
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me
Georgia On My Mind
Blue Turning Gray Over You
My Gal Sal
Tijuana
Set 2
Some Sweet Day
Bechet’s Fantasy
Spreading Joy
Lotus Blossom
Out of Nowhere
All By Myself in the Morning
Set 3
Nuages
Dear Old Southland
When I Leave The World Behind
I Remember When
After You’ve Gone
Le Marchand de Poisson
Stan McDonald
Phil Person
Gerry Gagnon
Stu Gunn
Rich Malcolm
Jack Soref
Stan McDonald and Phil Person
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return on the next first Thursday of the month, October 6th.
Thank you Stan and Ellen McDonald for keeping this art form alive!
Trombone
Leader Dan Gabel, also vocals & megaphone
Saxes/Clarinet
Austin Yancey tenor sax
John Clark alto
Richard Garcia alto
Trumpets
Adam Mejaour
Kai Sandoval
Keyboard
Herb Gardner
Rhythm:
Bill Doyle guitar/banjo
Rick MacWilliams tuba
Steve Taddeo drums
Dan Gabel brought his upligting Ten-piece High Society Orchestra to Primavera Ristorante for a rehearsal on Thursday, relaxed, without the usual mandatory suits and ties. They were challenged by Dan, though, with the sight-reading of charts and arrangements they have never seen before. They read charts like we read books – they were amazing! It was a wonderful evening of dance music played during the depression of the 20’s and 30’s; way before their time!
In a 1927 tune that Bix did with Whitman, From Monday On, John Clark’s alto sax traded fours with Dan Gabel’s trombone . Marvelous! They sounded just like the Paul Whitman Band!
Rolling Along With The Breeze was breathtaking with the three clarinets
Three clarinets, Austin Yancey, John Clark, Richard Garcia
The orchestra played a lovely Irving Berlin medley, all doing second endings on a nice waltz, Marie and Coquette. Gabel says he’s known as “The Waltz King”. We agree.
Tuba and trombone were in sync for Frank Skinner’s Big City Blues.
Bill Doyle
There was a dance craze in the 1920’s, called The Baltimore, with a tune by the same name.
Rhythm guitarist Bill Doyle was great on banjo.
Clark likes arranger Archie Bleyer. They played both up and down parts on Up a Lazy River, with none of the usual stops – georgeous!
Dan on megaphone.
Dan took out the megaphone for a rousing vocal on an early Bing Crosby tune, Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella.
Upbeat – especially great banjo!
He also sang ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night.
The saxes were featured on Sax Appeal. Fletcher Henderson’s Sugar – I Call My Baby My Sugar, was crisp and very fast, John Clark featured on alto sax.
Austin Yancey tenor, John Clark alto, Richard Garcia alto
I Surrender Dear (Bing Crosby) featured Adam Mejaour’s open, expressive trumpet, with Dan pushing out high notes on fine trombone.
The trombone and trumpets really got into the Big Band feeling, swaying back and forth, onPlease.
Kai Sandoval and Adam Mejaour on trumpet
There was a request for Take The A Train, piano intro, featuring Richard Garcia on alto sax.
Dan Gabel is President of the American Big Band Preservation Society, which gives him access to about 1500 arrangements. He gave them a medley of really old tunes:
The Bowery, Sidewalks of New York, Little Girls in Blue, Maizie, Daisie Bell, Comrades, Little Annie Rooney, She May Have Seen Better Days, The Band Played On, After The Ball is Over. We couldn’t believe our music coming out of young musicians, some still in Berklee and The Conservatory! Dan says he did this because he loves this music. So do we, Thank You, Dan!!
They closed with a WILD Archie Bleyer arrangement of China Boy.
There were three familiar faces on rhythm, newcomers to this orchestra:
Herb Gardner
Rick MacWilliams
Steve Taddeo
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra was very busy this summer, handsome in their fine crisp uniforms, consistently playing for sell-out crowds, especially for young people and dancers. This kind of music is in good hands with them!
